No. 25 Wrestling Downs Penn Saturday on Senior Night for Cheesesteak Trophy, 30-9

Saturday, February 17

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7 p.m.

Drexel University

Penn

No. 25 Wrestling Downs Penn Saturday on Senior Night for Cheesesteak Trophy, 30-9

2/17/2018 9:09:00 PM | Wrestling

PHILADELPHIA – The No. 25 Drexel wrestling team retained the Cheesesteak Trophy for the third straight year on Senior Night Saturday with a 30-9 win over Penn at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Dragons closed the regular season at 12-4 (6-4 EIWA), while Penn fell to 9-8 (6-6 EIWA).

Starting at 141 pounds, the Dragons and Quakers traded the first four matches. However, the Dragons held tough and used a bonus-point win at 174 and a decision at 184 to vault themselves into the lead before taking control by closing out with forfeits at heavyweight and 125 pounds and a tech fall at 133.

Julian Flores got the night started by riding out Gianni Ghione for a 2-1 win at 141 pounds. After dropping a decision at 149 pounds, No. 22 Garett Hammond outlasted Joe Velliquette at 157 pounds, 8-7. After Penn tied it again with a decision at 165 pounds in sudden victory, No. 32 Austin Rose took control of his match and worked his way to a 17-7 major decision over Brian Krasowski at 174 pounds. At 184 pounds, No. 26 Alex DeCiantis held off Joe Heyob for a 7-4 win. The 197-pound match proved one of the closest matches as Penn's No. 9 Frank Mattiace outlasted No. 17 Stephen Loiseau, 4-3. In the heavyweight match, Josh Murphy found himself trailing Tyler Hall, 3-1, in the third. However, a late takedown tied the match at 3-3, and the takedown injured Hall, forcing him to medically forfeit the match with 20 seconds remaining. After Penn forfeited 125 pounds, No. 4 Austin DeSanto worked one of his signature first-period technical falls, dominating Tristan DiVincenzo, 21-3, in just 1:48 of action.

Before the match, Drexel honored its 13 Class of 2018 seniors – Anthony Canfora, DeCiantis, Nick Elmer, James FitzPatrick, Zack Fuentes, Ben Grobman, Hammond, Ian Hammond, Carmen Mauriello, Murphy, Ryan O'Connor, Rose and Tanner Shoap.

The Dragons next head to the EIWA Championships hosted by Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y. on March 3-4.

No. 25 Drexel 30, Penn 9
141: Julian Flores (DU) DEC Gianni Ghione (PENN), 2-1 (w/ riding time)
149: Joe Oliva (PENN) DEC Evan Barczak (DU), 10-7
157: No. 22 Garett Hammond (DU) DEC Joe Velliquette (PENN), 8-7
165: No. 23 May Bethea (PENN) DEC No. 31 Ebed Jarrell (DU), 12-10 (SV-1)
174: No. 32 Austin Rose (DU) MAJ Brian Krasowski (PENN), 17-7
184: No. 26 Alex DeCiantis (DU) DEC Joe Heyob (PENN), 7-3
197: No. 9 Frank Mattiace (PENN) DEC No. 17 Stephen Loiseau (DU), 4-3
HWT: Josh Murphy (DU) medical forfeit over Tyler Hall (PENN) (6:40)
125: Zack Fuentes (DU) by forfeit
133: No. 4 Austin DeSanto (DU) TF Tristan DiVincenzo (PENN), 21-3 (1:48)

Attendance: 531