In the final home match of the year, senior Matt Palmer sealed the victory of the Lions with an 11-1 major decision over ninth-ranked Matt Herrington at 174. Palmer, rated no. 10 in the nation in the weight class, earned two near falls in the second period to take a 7-1 lead. Palmer added a late take down in the third period to earn an 11-1 victory and four team points. Palmer's win gave Columbia a 19-12 lead with only one match remaining, clinching the Lions' defeat of the Quakers.
"(Matt) Palmer gave us a dominating performance," said Columbia's Brendan Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling. "This was the kind of situation where Palmer thrives. Under pressure, he turns it up a notch and clinched the team's win with his performance."
Columbia opened the match with three straight victories, beginning with junior Nick Sommerfeld's close 12-11 decision over Jack Sullivan at 197 pounds. The two wrestlers both had take downs in the first period befor Sommerfeld got the upperhand with a 7-5 lead entering the third. Sullivan scored a take down to pull within one point, but Sommerfeld took him down two more times. Despite a late reversal by Sulivan, Sommerfeld prevailed giving the Lions three points to start the match.
At heavyweight, first-year Kevin Lester earned a hard-fought 13-8 victory over Ben Reiter. Lester took down Reiter twice in the opening stanza, but Reiter escaped twice and had a take down of his own, tying the match at 4-4. Reiter opened the third period on top, but Lester pulled a quick reversal giving him an 8-5 advantage. The newcomer manageed two more take downs in the final minute to earn Columbia another three points.
With a 6-0 team score, junior Brandon Kinney kept the momentum on the Lions' side, as he scored a sudden death overtime take down at the 125 pound weight class. Kinney took down Matt Eveleth in the first period, but Eveleth managed an escape. Eveleth escaped again in the second period, and with no riding time advantage to either wrestler, the match went to overtime. At 7:30, Kinney pulled a quick move o take down Eveleth and gave the Lions a commanding 9-0 lead.
"We felt coming into the match that we could beat Penn, and were happy we got these three wins to start," Buckley said. "Sommerfeld and Lester wrestled well, and Kinney wrestled hard in overtime and got us three more points."
At 133, 18th-ranked Matt DeLorenzo wrestled second-ranked Matt Valenti. Valenti took a 1-0 lead into the third period with the only point awarded because of a penalty to DeLorenzo. Valenti took down DeLorenzo twice in the third to take a 7-2 decision, cutting the Columbia lead to 9-3.
Sophomore Sal Tirico, also 18th-ranked, took on Brett McCurdy at the 141 pound class. Tirico scored the only take down of teh match in the first period and held on for close 6-3 victory.
First-year Matt Dunn wrestled Rick Rappo at 149 with a 12-3 Columbia team advantage. Rappo got on the board early with a quick take down and then a near fall later in the first period. Dunn fought back with a reversal, but Rappo countered with a reversal of his own to take a 6-2 lead. Dunn managed a near fall in the second, but could not pin his opponent. Rappo started down in the third and escaped to tie the score, 6-6. With only seconds remaining and the home crowd behind him, he newcomer took Rappo down to earn a 9-6 decision. Dunn's victory gave Columbia a 15-3 lead with only four matches remaining.
The Quakers bounced right back at 157, as Matt Dragon, ranked 14th in the nation, pinned senior Devin Mesanko 3:45 into their match. Mesanko had a 2-0 lead early, but Dragon escaped. Dragon started on top in the second period and rode Mesanko until pinning him.
With the score 15-9 in favor of the Lions, Penn kept the pressure on earning a victory at 165 pounds. Zach Shanaman defeated senior Ricky Turk 11-6 to cut he Columiba team lead in half.
Next, was Matt Palmer's impressive 11-1 major decision over Matt Herrington, which clinched the first victory by Columbia over Penn since January 29, 1993.
"This was the most aggressive Matt (Palmer) has been in years," Buckley stated. "With a performance like this, it's clear that he can sense the conference and national tournaments around the corner."
The bout at 184 was the final match of the evening, senior Justin Barent won an 11-4 decision over 13th-ranked Lior Zamir. Zamir controlled the action early, but Barent managed a take down and a near fall in the second to take a 6-3 lead. Both wrestlers fought hard in the final minutes, and Barent emerged as the victor, giving Columbia three more points and conclude the 22-12 win over Penn.
"Barent wanted to close out his home career with a win," said Buckley. "He's never out of any match and showed heart fighting back. That's what champions do. They just keep working."
The final home match at Columbia for the team's nine seniors, saw the Lions win seven matches against Penn in one of the finest home victories in recent memory.
"This is probably the best win at home since I've been coach at Columbia," Buckley stated. "I'm grateful to these nine seniors for helping to create this experience which will last a lifetime. Hopefully there is more to come for us. We still have two league matches left and wanted to take care of business next wek. We'll make sure that we work hard to finish strong in the conference."
* * * * *
Matt Palmer had beaten Matt Herrington before. It was five years ago, but it seems like yesterday to the Lion standout.
"I had ‘bumped' up to 174," he recalled after today's Penn match, "and I beat him, 4-2, in the dual match here in Levien Gym."
Palmer was a standout first-year 165-pounder then, before the onslaught of injuries that would spoil most of his college wrestling career. In the intervening years, he met Herrington twice, losing both times — once, he remembered clearly, by one point in a dual match, the other by three points in the EIWA semifinals. Herrington had gone on to great success — high national rankings, All-American honors, selection to represent the East in the Coaches All-Star Meet this season.
But a different Matt Palmer returned to Columbia in January for his final semester. He was rested, unencumbered by injuries, and raring to go. Two weeks ago, Brendan Buckley noted, "Matt Palmer is back!"
Herrington realized it soon after the start of their 174-pound bout today, right after Palmer's first takedown. "I wouldn't let up," the Lion said.
Palmer put a tight hold around the Penn star's body, and refused to let him go. He ended the first period with three near-fall points, and continued scoring in the next two periods. His 11-1 major decision gave Columbia four team points, clinching the match at 19-12.
"I was really excited for the team" he said. "I knew I was near a major decision, and what it would mean. I was looking for it.
"We had a game plan — a lot of offense, fakes — we wouldn't let Herrington dictate [the progress] of the match."
Buckley beamed when Palmer's name was brought up. "When he gets like this," he said, "Matt can smell the conference and the nationals. He's really looking forward to these next few weeks." ;
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