Faced with a 12-0 deficit after three matches, the University of Pennsylvania wrestling team needed every point it could muster the rest of the way, outlasting host Army West Point, 19-18, on tiebreaking criteria following a clutch win from Tyler Hall at heavyweight.
After a win from No. 10 Frank Mattiace at 197 pounds brought the Quakers within three points with one match left, Hall picked the right time to dial up his first career dual meet win. Not only did Penn trail, 18-15, on the team scoreboard the Red and Blue were behind in match points scored, 38-35. That meant if Hall were to win by decision, it needed to be by four points or more in order to win the criteria point for his team.
After a scoreless first period, Hall connected on a takedown in the second period for a 2-0 lead at the conclusion of five minutes. Hall would ride out in the third period on the strength of a reversal and would add riding time for the 5-0 win which gave his team the edge in match points, 40-38.
The Quakers spotted the Black Knights a 6-0 lead to start the dual with 125-pounder Daniel Planta not able to go due to injury. Army would then pick up a pair of decisions at 133 and 141 to build a 12-0 lead.
Senior co-captain Joe Oliva stemmed the tide and put six huge points on the scoreboard for the Quakers with a pin in the second period over Army West Point's Will Lucie. Oliva had two takedowns in the first period for a 4-1 lead, then locked up the fall to cut Penn's deficit in half.
Fellow co-captain Joe Velliquette would follow with a 9-5 decision at 157 over Nigel Ruiz. Velliquette led, 2-0, after one period and would score a second takedown and add four backpoints in the second to pull away. A third of Penn's captains, No. 18 May Bethea, made it three wins in a row with an 11-5 decision over Cael McCormick which tied the dual meet, 12-12.
Army West Point appeared to regain control of the dual with back-to-back wins. Ben Harvey scored a late takedown to secure a 3-0 decision at 174 over Khamari Whimper, and then Noah Stewart upended No. 17 Joe Heyob, 8-6, at 184. Heyob led, 3-2, after one period but gave up a late reversal in the second which gave Stewart a 6-4 lead he did not relinquish.
No. 10 Frank Mattiace gave his team a chance to comeback with a 4-3 decision over Rocco Caywood at 197 pounds. Mattiace broke a scoreless tie in the second period with an escape and would add a reversal in the third period to secure the win which set up Hall's heroics.
Results:
125: Army wins via forfeit, Army West Point leads, 6-0
133: Lane Peters (AWP) DEC Gianni Ghione (Penn), 9-2 Army West Point leads, 9-0
141: Austin Harry (AWP) DEC Jake Lizak (Penn), 5-3 Army West Point leads, 12-0
149: Joe Oliva (Penn) FALL Will Lucie (AWP), 4:20 Army West Point leads, 12-6
157: Joe Velliquette (Penn) DEC Nigel Ruiz (AWP), 9-5 Army West Point leads, 12-9
165: No. 18 May Bethea (Penn) DEC Cael McCormick (AWP), 11-5 Match tied, 12-12
174: Ben Harvey (AWP) DEC Khamari Whimper (Penn), 3-0 Army West Point leads, 15-12
184: Noah Stewart (AWP) DEC No. 17 Joe Heyob (Penn), 8-6 Army West Point leads, 18-12
197: No. 10 Frank Mattiace (PENN) DEC Rocco Caywood (AWP), 4-3 Army West Point leads, 18-15
285: Tyler Hall (Penn) DEC Bobby Heald (AWP), 5-0 Match tied, 18-18
*Penn wins on criteria 3.15.3 (Total match points scored only from decisions, major decisions and technical falls), 40-38
Penn is off next week, returning to the mats for an EIWA tripleheader on January 27. The Quakers host Bucknell, Binghamton, and Franklin & Marshall starting at noon.
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