"The most important part of tonight's event was that we improved from last week to this week," said third-year Navy head coach Joel Sharratt. "The guys did a better job of wrestling the Navy way which is line-to-line and whistle to whistle.
"Tactically we learned from some mistakes even in matches that we won. Our wrestlers want to be the best and a key trait of that is expecting excellence. Winning is not the goal, rather victory by the largest margin possible is what 10 guys are expecting every dual meet."
Navy scored bonus points in three bouts, including 17th-ranked Jadaen Bernstein's (Jr / Glen Gardner, N.J.) ninth extra-point victory of the season by way of a 19-3 win over American redshirt sophomore Joe Salvi at 174 pounds.
"Following a tough competition in Las Vegas, Jadaen demonstrated the character of a champion with a dominant performer tonight."
Nicholas Gil (So / Crystal Lake, Ill.), a 2016 NCAA qualifier, took advantage of the starting nod at 141 pounds, earning an opening-period pin (1:48) over sophomore James Giaccia.
"Nick Gil stepped right in and did not miss a beat at 141 and that's the heart this team needs," Sharratt pointed out. "You know he is preparing every day for the opportunity to wear the Blue and Gold."
Meanwhile, rookie 157-pound Zach Elvin (Harrisburg, Pa.) earned the Mids' third bonus-point victory of the match via a 16-4 win against redshirt senior Cole Moseley.
Navy fell behind early in the match when 19th-ranked Josh Terao dealt the Mids' Brant Leadbeter (Jr / Owings, Md.) a loss by technical fall, 18-0, at 125 pounds. The Mids won back-to-back matches, including Gil's win by fall that gave Navy the lead for good.
After taking a 13-point lead (21-8) seven bouts into the match, the Eagles were able to get within seven (21-14) following Jason Grimes' win by fall over Navy team captain Ryan Harman (Sr / West Linn, Ore.) at 184 pounds.
However, a hard-fought 3-2 victory by junior 197-pound Steban Cervantes (Chula Vista, Calif.) over Jeric Kasunic, would clinch the team victory for the Mids.
Sophomore 133-pound Cody Lambert (Tulsa, Okla.) and junior 165-pound Drew Daniels (Overland Park, Kan.) also came away victors at their respective weights for Navy.
"I would be remiss if I did not thank the many Naval Academy fans who were in town for tomorrow's big Army-Navy football game who came out to lend their support to our wrestlers this evening."
Navy will step aside from the mat over the next few weeks to focus on final exams and observe the holidays before returning Jan. 1-2 for the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Results:
125 - #19 Josh Terao (A) tech. fall Brant Leadbeter, 18-0; 0-5
133 - Cody Lambert (N) dec. Angelo Barberio, 4-1; 3-5
141 - Nicholas Gil (N) fall James Giaccia, 1:48; 9-5
149 - Michael Sprague (A) dec. Corey Wilding, 6-5; 9-8
157 - Zach Elvin (N) major dec Cole Moseley, 16-4; 13-8
165 - Drew Daniels (N) dec. Michael Eckhart, 6-1; 16-8
174 - #17 Jadaen Bernstein (N) tech. fall Joe Salvi, 19-3 (5:40); 21-8
184 - Jason Grimes (A) fall Ryan Harman, 1:24; 21-14
197 - Steban Cervantes (N) dec. Jeric Kasunic, 3-2; 24-14
285 - Brett Dempsey (A) dec. Ethan Stanley, 7-1; 24-17
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