The Black Knights, who dented the win column for the first time since downing East Stroudsburg, 27-7, on Dec. 7, improve to 3-3-2 (3-0-0 EIWA). Rutgers, meanwhile, falls to 7-3 (3-3) on the season.
"It's good to be back home after a tough road trip to Oklahoma and Texas," said Army head coach Chuck Barbee. "The guys really bounced back well against a tough and well-coached team. We challenged our guys a lot this week and they came out with a vengeance. They stepped it up and they really showed us something this afternoon."
William Simpson began the match with a 5-3 sudden victory decision over Ryan Jablonski at 125 pounds. Simpson jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a quick takedown, and he took that two-point advantage into the second period. Following a scoreless second stanza, Jablonski scored three points on a near fall late in the third to assume a 3-2 lead. Simpson earned a point for riding time to force the extra session. He then scored the bout-winning takedown midway through the sudden victory period to earn his 15th win of the season.
In the 133-pound bout, Baughan had little trouble with Kellen Bradley as the Black Knight junior claimed a 10-2 major decision. Baughan jumped out of the gates with a pair of takedowns and a near fall to seize a 7-2 lead after the first period and he never looked back en route to the victory. Baughan's triumph extended the Black Knights' edge to 7-0 in the team score.
After Lief Gilsdorf dropped a 9-2 decision to Steve Adamcsic at 141 pounds, Army's Patrick Simpson regained the Black Knights' seven-point lead with a 6-0 decision over Mike Ferrara at 149 pounds. Simpson, who is now a team-best 17-5 on the year, registered a takedown and a near fall in the first period and rode that momentum throughout the remainder of the match.
Rowan kept the ball rolling Army's way with a 13-3 major decision versus Jamie Lijo in the 157-pound bout. Rowan, a freshman from Langhorne, Pa., used a combination of three takedowns and two near falls to pick up the victory.
Anderson breezed past Matt Pletcher at 165 pounds as the Virginia Beach, Va., product captured a 14-4 major decision. Leading 4-1 after two periods, Anderson exploded with four takedowns in the third stanza to earn his third major decision of the year. Anderson's win gave the Black Knights a commanding 18-3 lead through six bouts.
Army's domination continued in the 174-pound match as Chad Marzec scored a 4-1 decision over Michael Whalen. It was the first dual match victory of the season for Marzec, who leveled his overall record at 6-6 on the year.
Black Knight senior Luke Calvert clinched the match for Army with a 3-1 decision at 184 pounds. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native, who has won three straight bouts and eight of his last nine matches, gave Army an insurmountable 24-3 lead with just two bouts remaining. With the bout all-square at 1-1 and time about to expire, Calvert produced a crucial takedown with just seven seconds remaining in the final period to lock up the win.
Senior Charles Martin turned in a workmanlike effort in the 197-pound match versus Lamar Brown and eventually took a 4-1 decision to up Army's lead to 27-3 going into the heavyweight bout. Martin remained perfect on the season in dual matches (2-0), while upping his overall record to 10-6.
Freshman Michael Sprigg added the exclamation point with a 3-1 sudden victory decision over Mike D'Amico in the heavyweight bout. After wrestling to a 1-1 standstill after regulation time, Sprigg took D'Amico down to the mat near the conclusion of the sudden victory period.
Army has won seven of the last 10 meetings versus Rutgers and the Black Knights lead the all-time series, 27-8-1.
Army Defeats Merchant Marine, 45-9
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Luke Calvert, Austin Milster and Michael Sprigg earned wins by fall and Charles Martin secured a technical fall in his bout as Army's wrestling team rolled past Merchant Marine, 45-9, Sunday evening at West Point's Christl Arena. Army, who downed Rutgers earlier in the day, upped its record to 4-3-2 on the season, while Merchant Marine falls to 2-6 this year.
With Army leading 12-6, Milster began Army's 33-3 run by pinning Seth Ching in 6 minutes 59 seconds in the 149-pound contest. It was the first dual match victory of the year for Milster, who improved his overall record to 10-6 on the year.
Army was awarded a win by forfeit in the 157-pound bout, and the Black Knights held a 24-6 lead halfway through the match.
Senior Jon Anderson produced a 12-2 major decision over Troy McGuiness at 165 pounds as Army continued to cruise. Anderson, who improved to 12-3 overall and 5-0 in dual matches with the win, came up with five takedowns during his dominating performance.
Nate Van de Venter temporarily halted Army's momentum with a 3-2 decision over Jon Mathias in a hard-fought battle in the 174-pound bout.
Calvert pinned Matt Jones in 6:19 in the 184-pound bout. The senior thoroughly dominated his competition, piling up seven takedowns prior to the pin.
Martin followed with an effort that was just as dominant as the senior scored a 16-1 technical fall versus Eric Rohan at 197 pounds. Martin jumped all over Rohan, accumulating three near falls and a takedown in the first period. Leading 11-0 after the first stanza, Martin finished the job early in the second period with another takedown and a fourth near fall.
Michael Sprigg closed out Army's lopsided victory with a win by fall in 1:29 in the heavyweight bout.
Army grabbed a quick 12-0 lead as the match began with Merchant Marine forfeiting the 125- and 133-pound bouts.
Merchant Marine got on the scoreboard when Danny Song pinned Lief Gilsdorf in 3:24 at 141 pounds. That was as close as the Mariners would get, however.
The Black Knights return to action Jan. 21-22 when they travel to Oswego, N.Y., to compete at the 37th annual New York State Championships. Army is the two-time defending champion at this event, which begins Friday (Jan. 21) at 9 a.m.
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