Duke, 10-4 overall on the year, reached the 10-wins benchmark for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign has four matches remaining on the year. The Blue Devils return to action in search of win No. 11 against ACC foe North Carolina Feb. 11 in Durham.
“To get over the hump to 10 wins was really good for the team,” said head coach Glen Lanham. “It was a good performance from the guys and I’m happy with our performances from our guys tonight.”
The Blue Devils picked up six wins in the dual, including two technical falls and two falls. Mitch Finesilver, at 133 pounds, dominated his opponent as he posted his first career tech fall. The true freshman jumped all over Tim Johnson and never let up as he continuously scored back points in search of the pin. The victory is Finesilver’s seventh of the season and fourth straight.
At 141 pounds, Evan Botwin followed suit with a 13-0 major decision to push his season record to 16-9. Botwin, showing marked improvement this year for the Blue Devils, owns 11 more wins this year alone compared to last season.
Duke's dominance continued at 149 and 157 with both Marcus Cain and Immanuel Kerr-Brown earning major decisions. Cain, after getting out to a fast start, bested Brendan Goldup 10-2 for his 14th win of the year, while Kerr-Brown beat Casey Mitchell 11-3 for his 18th victory.
Brian Dorsey made quick work of John Vrasidos as he turned the Pioneers’ 165-pounder in the closing seconds for his fifth pin of the year. Dorsey improves to 16-7 overall and 4-2 in duals.
Sacred Heart picked up a trio of victories over the next three matches against Duke seniors Michael Wright, Dylan Ryan and Brendan Fowler. Ryan suffered a heartbreaking defeat as Elliot Antler scored a takedown in the waning seconds for the regulation victory.
At 197 pounds, former Duke lacrosse standout and Duke football player Fowler put forth a valiant effort in coming up short against Sasha Oliinyk. Fowler, at the close of the Duke wrestling season, will have lettered in three varsity sports at Duke and won a pair of national titles with the lacrosse program.
“I wanted to give some seniors a shot to wrestle for Duke a final time,” Lanham said. “Dylan Ryan and Brendan Fowler have been really good for the program. Fowler coming in for his first year and Dylan has been here for four years. They definitely earned the shot tonight and they wrestled hard like I knew they would.”
Brendan Walsh closed the dual out with a bang with a pin in the early part of the second period. Holding a narrow lead to start the second session, Walsh quickly turned Dan Hayden and picked up his second pin of the season.
The Blue Devils have one final home match remaining Feb. 11 against the Tar Heels. Duke closes out its season on the road with a trio of tough matches at Virginia Tech, Michigan and Michigan State.
Results:
125 – Patrick Skinner (SHU) dec. Thayer Atkins (Duke), 7-6 Duke 0, Sacred Heart 3
133 – Mitch Finesilver (Duke) tech fall Tim Johnson (SHU), 16-0 Duke 5, Sacred Heart 3
141 – Evan Botwin (Duke) major dec. Kyle Brady (SHU), 13-0 Duke 9, Sacred Heart 3
149 – Marcus Cain (Duke) major dec. Brendan Goldup (SHU), 10-2 Duke 13, Sacred Heart 3
157 – Immanuel Kerr-Brown (Duke) major dec. Casey Mitchell (SHU), 11-3 Duke 17, Sacred Heart 3
165 – Brian Dorsey (Duke) fall John Vrasidos (SHU), 2:53 Duke 23, Sacred Heart 3
174 – Conan Schuster (SHU) tech fall Michael Wright (Duke), 16-0 Duke 23, Sacred Heart 8
184 – Elliot Antler (SHU) dec. Dylan Ryan (Duke), 3-1 Duke 23, Sacred Heart 11
197 – Sasha Oliinyk (SHU) dec. Brendan Fowler (Duke), 9-4 Duke 23, Sacred Heart 14
285 – Brendan Walsh (Duke) fall Dan Hayden (SHU), 3:43 Duke 29, Sacred Heart 14
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