Wrestling splits in weekend at home, jumps to 4-7 overall | The Triangle

Wrestling splits in weekend at home, jumps to 4-7 overall

Photo courtesy Drexeldragons.com
Photo courtesy Drexeldragons.com

The Drexel University wrestling team lost its first home dual at the Daskalakis Athletic Center on the night of Jan. 22 against Binghamton University, but came away with its first home victory Jan. 24  against the United States Military Academy.

The Dragons were defeated 16-15 by the Binghamton Bearcats in their first home dual Jan. 22, which was spirit night at the DAC. The loss dropped their record to 4-7 in the season and 1-3 against Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association opponents.

Drexel took a 9-0 lead after redshirt sophomore Zach Fuentes, redshirt junior David Pearce, and redshirt junior Kevin Devoy Jr. won by 7-2, 5-4, and 3-2 decisions in the 125-pound, 133-pound and 141-pound weight division matches, respectively.

The Dragons’ first loss in the dual came when redshirt junior Matthew Cimato, who was ranked 13th in the nation in the 149-pound weight division entering Friday, lost a 2-0 decision to Binghamton’s freshman Frankie Garcia. Cimato’s loss to Garcia was his first in dual competition this season, snapping a 10-match-winning streak.

Following Cimato’s loss, redshirt sophomore Ryan O’Connor lost a 14-5 major decision in the 157-pound match, which made the dual score 9-7 in favor of Drexel. Redshirt sophomore Austin Rose managed a 7-2 win by decision in the 165-pound match to put the Dragons up 12-7 over the Bearcats.

After consecutive wins in the dual by O’Connor and Rose, Drexel experienced three straight losses. Redshirt sophomore Nick Elmer lost a 2-1 decision in the 174-pound match, sophomore Stephen Loiseau lost a 3-0 decision in the 184-pound match, and redshirt freshman Nezar Haddad lost a 12-8 decision in the 197-pound match.

With only the heavyweight match remaining in the dual, the Dragons found themselves trailing the Bearcats 16-12. Needing a major decision to tie the dual, sophomore Joey Goodhart managed a 1-0 victory by decision in the heavyweight match, which made the final score of the dual 16-15 in favor Binghamton.

Post their heartbreakingly close one point loss to Binghamton last Friday, the Dragons picked up their first home victory Sunday, Jan. 24 against Army in dominant fashion. The Dragons’ 25-7 defeat of the Black Knights improved their record to 5-7 on their season and 2-3 in their conference.

The Dragons came out on fire, winning their first four matches of the dual to take a 13-0 lead over the Black Knights.

Zack Fuentes got things started for Drexel with an 8-2 victory by decision in the 125-pound match. Then redshirt senior Franco Ferraina won the 133-pound match in a 9-6 decision, giving Drexel a 6-0 lead in the Dual.

Devoy Jr.’s 9-0 major decision in the 141-pound match pushed Drexel’s lead over Army to 10-0, and Cimato’s 8-4 decision in the 149-pound match gave the Dragons a 13-0 lead over the Black Knights.

The Black Knights got their first points in the dual when Drexel’s freshman Mike Comunale lost the 157-pound match by a 16-6 major decision to Army’s junior Russell Parson Jr. Parson who came into the day ranked 19th in the nation in the 157-pound weight division, and his victory over Comunale made the score 13-4 in favor of the Dragons.  

Comunale’s loss was followed by three straight Dragon victories in the dual. Rose, Nick Elmer and Steven Loiseau won the 165-pound match, 174-pound match, and 184-pound match respectfully by decisions, which extended Drexel’s lead to 22-3.

After Haddad lost an 11-7 decision in the 197-pound match, Goodhart won a 5-1 decision in the heavyweight match, which made the final score of the dual 26-7 in favor of the Dragons.
Next up on the schedule for the Drexel wrestling team is Sacred Heart University. The Dragons will take on the Pioneers at 7 p.m., Feb. 5 in the DAC.