Thursday night in a convincing 28-9 win against Drexel at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
The victory closed the Rutgers dual season at 14-7, as the Scarlet Knights will now rest and prepare for the 2015 Big Ten Championships from March 7-8 in Columbus, Ohio.
“I liked the way we wrestled,” said head coach Scott Goodale. “I think we wrestled really, really good on top. Our guys are starting to believe in that top-game and we’re winning matches there.”
A pin by 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) in the second match of the night set the bonus-point trend and gave the Scarlet Knights a 6-3 lead they would not relinquish. The No. 9/7/11/9-ranked Ashnault, who has won six-straight, built upon his team-best overall and dual record entering the postseason, as he closes the regular season 23-4.
A bout later, No.18/14/16/19 149-pounder Ken Theobold (Toms River, N.J.) turned Matt Cimato twice in the third period for five near fall points and a 9-1 major decision. The win allowed Theobold to surpass his career-best win total from last season, making him 23-5 on the year.
Redshirt junior 157-pounder Anthony Perrotti (Roseland, N.J.) continued his resurgence with his sixth win in a row, Thursday’s coming in the form of a 15-0 tech fall. Perrotti (18-6, 13-5 Duals), who continues to climb in the national rankings, has won four of his last six matches in bonus-point fashion.
No. 15/17/19/13 heavyweight Billy Smith (Wantage, N.J.) made it two wins in a row with an 11-2 major over Drexel’s Alex Foley, his second victory against Foley on the year. Smith (14-6, 11-6 Duals) is now three wins shy of the 70-victory mark for his career.
Along with the bonus points, RU registered a trio of wins by decision, the first coming at 174 pounds from redshirt sophomore Phillip Bakuckas (Hammonton, N.J.). Bakcukas (18-11, 12-9 Duals) and Stephen Loiseau went through seven minutes of scoreless wrestling to force sudden victory, where Bakuckas connected on a takedown 29 seconds in for the 2-0 decision.
Also earning wins by decision were junior 197-pounder Hayden Hrymack (Point Pleasant, N.J.) and 125-pounder Josh Patrick (Rector, Pa.). Hrymack (12-9, 6- Duals) took control in the first period with a takedown and three-point near fall and cruised to a 7-2 victory with riding time.
Patrick (22-9, 3-2 Duals) and the Dragons’ Zach Fuentes battled for the full seven minutes at 125 pounds. Patrick worked from the top position in the second, where the two traded escape-takedowns for a 6-5 Patrick edge heading into the third.
With 1:19 left in the final period, Patrick slipped away from Fuentes for the 7-5 edge, fighting the Dragon off for the remainder of the match.
Mikey Simmons (Middletown, Pa.) saw his first dual action of the year against Drexel’s Nick Elmer, losing 3-1.
The other two Drexel victories on the evening came at 184 and 133 pounds.
Redshirt sophomore Anthony Pafumi (Westfield, N.J.) lost a tough one at 184 pounds, where he fell, 4-2, in the second round of tiebreakers. Pafumi (13-13, 5-10 Duals) shook free in a hurry after starting TB1 down, but a takedown by Alex DeCiantis at the buzzer gave the opponent a 3-2 advantage.
Pafumi cut him loose to start TB2 needing a takedown and had DeCiantis’ right leg clutched as time winded down, but was unable to kick him to the mat for two.
Drexel’s No. 15/14/16/14 Kevin Devoy Jr. rebounded after surrendering the first takedown to No. 17/15/NR/16 Scott DelVecchio (South Plainfield, N.J.) to start the night at 133 pounds.
Following a reversal from Devoy to close the first and a ride out in the second, DelVecchio (18-8, 12-6 Duals) couldn’t to get in on Devoy’s legs for the takedown to force sudden victory.
The Scarlet Knights enter preparations for their first trip to the Big Ten Championships, scheduled for March 7-8 in Columbus, Ohio.
Results:
133: No. 15/14/16/14 Kevin Devoy Jr. (DU) dec. over No. 17/15/NR/16 Scott DelVecchio (RU), 4-2; Drexel leads, 3-0
141: No. 9/7/11/9 Anthony Ashnault (RU) wins by fall over Andrew Mauriello (DU), 2:52; Rutgers leads, 6-3
149: No. 18/14/16/19 Ken Theobold (RU) major dec. over Matt Cimato (DU), 9-1; Rutgers leads, 10-3
157: No. 13/18/10/16 Anthony Perrotti (RU) tech fall over Noel Blanco (DU), 15-0; Rutgers leads, 15-3
165: Nick Elmer (DU) dec. over Mikey Simmons (RU), 3-1; Rutgers leads, 15-6
174: No. NR/19/NR/NR Phillip Bakuckas (RU) dec. over Stephen Loiseau (DU), 2-0 (SV); Rutgers leads, 18-6
184: Alex DeCiantis (DU) dec. over Anthony Pafumi (RU), 4-2 (TB2); Rutgers leads, 18-9
197: Hayden Hrymack (RU) dec. over Brandon Litten (DU), 7-2; Rutgers leads, 21-9
285: No. 15/17/19/13 Billy Smith (RU) major dec. over Alex Foley (DU), 11-2; Rutgers leads, 25-9
125: Josh Patrick (RU) dec. over Zach Fuentes (DU), 7-5; Rutgers wins, 28-9
Rankings (-/-/-): InterMat / The Open Mat / WIN Magazine/ Flo Wrestling (Feb. 17)
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