The 2025 Army/Navy "Star Match" Preview

On Sunday afternoon, one of the biggest rivalries in college athletics will make its way to the wrestling mat. No, we’re not talking about Iowa and Penn State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, or any other rivalries that might initially come to mind for wrestling fans. It’s something bigger than that. 

It’s Army/Navy - which is dubbed the “Star Match.” Whenever these two service academies meet, in any sport, it’s a big deal. Army head coach Kevin Ward once told me that when his squad wins, “his email will be full of congratulatory messages from high-ranking officers who may not even be wrestling fans.” Army’s West Point campus has a tunnel where every win over Navy, in every sport, is listed on the wall. 

What makes this rivalry unique and special is that, somewhere down the line, these two service branches might need to rely on each other and fight together against a common enemy. Each branch is filled with selfless individuals sworn to defend our country. Just to receive admission to either institution, you have to have excellent high school grades and demonstrate leadership skills - in addition to anything on the athletic field. 

All that being said, both branches are filled with men and women who are leaders and highly competitive in all facets of life. One of which is sports. Despite any similarities between the athletes and their service to our country, they hate losing to the other academies. 

When these two academies meet on the wrestling mats, you can “throw the records out.” It doesn’t really matter who might have the better team in each year. 

The “Star Match” takes place every year and rotates between the two schools. Army will host the festivities on Sunday.  

Even though Army won, 18-17, last season, the Naval Academy leads the all-time series 52-11-5. 

The wrestling version of this rivalry has taken off since Kevin Ward arrived at West Point in 2014. His first win over Navy snapped a 17-year winless streak for the Black Knights and he had guided Army to four-straight wins (2017-20) - a feat that hadn’t been accomplished previously by an Army coach. 

Not coincidentally, after the 2020 season, Navy made a coaching change and brought in the legendary Cary Kolat. Immediately, Kolat proceeded to reel off three straight wins over Army. 

That brought us to 2024 which saw Army regain control with a one-point win. Will Ward’s team start another streak or will Navy return the favor on their rival’s home mat? 

Last year’s results:

157: Nate Lukez (Army) maj Jonathan Ley (Navy)  11-1  (4-0 Army)

165: Gunner Filipowicz (Army) dec Andrew Cerniglia (Navy)  5-4  (7-0 Army)

174: Ben Pasiuk (Army) dec Danny Wask (Navy)  7-3 (10-0 Army)

184: David Key (Navy) dec Dillon Sheehy (Army)  4-1 (10-3 Army)

197: Cael Crebs (Navy) dec Wolfgang Frable (Army)  7-1 (10-6 Army)

285: Grady Griess (Navy) 7-2 Lucas Stoddard (Army)  7-2 (10-9 Army)

125: Ethan Berginc (Army) tech Dayton DelViscio (Navy)  18-3 (15-9 Army)

133: Braden Basile (Army) dec Brendan Ferretti (Navy)  5-4 (18-9 Army)

141: Josh Koderhandt (Navy) maj Logan Brown (Army)  13-3  (18-13 Army)

149: Kaemen Smith (Navy) maj Matthew Williams (Army)  17-8  (18-17 Army)

Key matches this year:

141 (favor Navy) Richard Treanor #32 in rankings vs Josh Koderhandt #7 

Only ranked matchup of the night (no previous meetings)

Koderhant 4-0 all time vs Army opponents, 3-0 in this dual 

157 (toss up) – Dakota Morris (Army) vs Jonathan Ley (Navy) 

Ley is 5th in EIWA rankings, Morris is 6th (no previous meetings)

165 (slight lean Army) – Gunner Filipowicz (Army) vs Dylan Elmore (Navy)

Filipowicz #17 in rankings

Elmore just beat Mulvaney, Mulvaney just beat Filipowicz – all within last two weeks

184 (toss up) Jake Gilfoil (Army) vs Daniel Williams (Navy)

Williams #2 in EIWA, Gilfoil UR

Gilfoil is a FR, Williams is a SO – both competing in their first Star Match

197 – Wolfgang Frable (Army) vs Peyton Thomas (Navy)

#28 vs #33 in the national rankings

Frable is #5 in the EIWA, Thomas is #3