Wrestling Splits Duals on Opening Night

Thursday, November 8

Bakersfield, Calif.

8:00

Drexel University

Cal Poly

11/8/2012 10:56:00 PM | Wrestling

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Drexel wrestling team went 1-1 in its first day of the 2012-13 season, winning its season-opening dual against Cal Poly 28-11 before falling in a dramatic 25-18 decision to Cal State Bakersfield in the nightcap.

The Dragons never trailed against Poly. Austin Sommer had the first pin of the season for Drexel, while Brandon Palik also recorded a fall. The pair also had falls in the second dual against Bakersfield, but it was not enough as the hosts came back from an early 9-0 deficit to take a late lead. The match still went down to the final bout before Bakersfield came away with the victory.

The Dragons got off to a strong start against Cal Poly, with Shane Fenningham earning a 5-0 decision over Dillen Rocha. After Sommer pinned Stefan Weiderman 1:52 into the match at 157, Drexel was up 9-0. The Dragons' next win came at 174, where Connor Moran defeated Mitch Woods, 9-5. When Brandon Palik pinned JT Goodwin at 1:12 of the 197 match, the Dragons held a commanding 18-8 advantage.

Drexel did not take its foot off the pedal from there. Three of the final four matches went to the Dragons, with Jamie Callender coming back to the lineup after making just three appearances last year and winning at heavyweight, 12-4 for a major decision victory. Jake Goodwin at 125 and Frank Cimato at 141 each won decisions, giving the Dragons a dominating 28-11 victory.

In the second match of the evening, the Dragons once again got off to a fast start against Cal State Bakersfield thanks to Fenningham and Sommer. Following the same script as the Cal Poly match, Fenningham got a decision and Sommer pinned Adam Fierro 2:08 into their match at 157. Bakersfield won the next three matches however, including a fall at 174 to take a 12-9 overall lead.

The Dragons grabbed the lead right back at 197 when Palik got his second fall of the day, taking down Frankie Hurtado 4:06 into the bout. Callendar's second decision put the Dragons up 18-12, but Bakersfield came back with a decision, a major decision and a fall in the final three matches to win the overall match, 25-18.

Drexel will get back on the mats on Saturday, when they head to Fresno for the Road Runner Open.

Drexel (D) 28, Cal Poly (CP) 11
149 Shane Fenningham (D) def. Dillen Rocha, 5-0
157 Austin Sommer (D) pins Stefan Weiderman @1:52
165 Connor King (CP) def. Charles Aungst, 6-4
174 Connor Moran (D) def. Mitch Woods, 9-5
184 Sean Dougherty (CP) def Bryan Sternlieb by TF (15-0) @7:00
197 Brandon Palik (D) pins JT Goodwin @1:12
285 Jamie Callender (D) def. Atticus Disney, 12-4
125 Jacob Goodwin (D) def. Evan McKirdy, 7-5
133 Devon Lotito (CP) def. Clayton Lutzow, 9-4
141 Frank Cimato (D) def. Brandon Rocha (CP), 11-6

CSU Bakersfield (CSUB) 25, Drexel (D) 18
149 Shane Fenningham (D) def. Dalton Kelley, 11-5
157 Austin Sommer (D) pins Adam Fierro @2:08
165 David Meza (CSUB) def. Charles Aungst, 7-5
174 Bryce Hammond (CSUB) pins Connor Moran, @2:45
184 Reuben Franklin (CSUB) def. Bryan Sternlieb, 9-4
197 Brandon Palik (D) pins Frankie Hurtado, @4:06
285 Jamie Callender (D) def. Sammy Cervantes, 10-6
125 Tyler Iwamura (CSUB) def. Jacob Goodwin, 6-0
133 Ian Nickell (CSUB) def. Clayton Lutzow, 8-0
141 Timmy Box (CSUB) pin Frank Cimato @6:45