"While the Army score might not reflect it, I felt we wrestled well today," said 16th-year head coach John Sacchi. "We were very competitive in every match. I feel we are improving and just need to keep working on some small things. I was pleased with our intensity the whole day."
In its first match versus Army, Rutgers (4-3, 3-2 EIWA) got wins from Matt Pletcher (Eastampton, N.J.) and Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.). At 165 pounds, Pletcher took an early 2-1 lead after a takedown in the opening period and added an escape from the defensive position in the second. In the third, Army's Ed Gibbons cut the lead to one with an escape, but another takedown from Pletcher with 38 seconds remaining and a point for riding time lifted the Scarlet Knights to the bout win.
With the win at 197 pounds, Brown improved to 3-0 in dual match action this season. Brown, in one of the day's most exciting matches, scored on a takedown with eight seconds remaining in the fist overtime period to get the win over Army's Connor Sanders. Both Brown and Sanders scored escapes from the defensive positions as the match was tied at one at the end of regulation. The match was Brown's first overtime bout of the season.
The Scarlet Knights scored bonus points in four matches en route to a 34-9 victory over USMMA in the final match of the day. Dan Hilt (Manapalan, N.J.) scored 12 backpoints in the first period en route to the 16-0 technical fall win over the Mariners' Anthony Day at 133 pounds.
At the 141-pound bout, Kyle Milanese (Delran, N.J.) posted his first pin of the season over USMMA's A.J. Melton. Milanese scored an early takedown and turned Melton to record the pin 2:11 into the bout. In the next match-up, Jack Barrett (Metuchen, N.J.) five takedowns to earn a major decision victory over the Mariners' Seth Ching at 149 pounds.
Jamie Lijo (Stanhope, N.J.), who returned to the mat for the first time this season due to injury, recorded a pin over USMMA's Danridge Giltz at 157 pounds. In the first period, Lijo jumped out to a 10-1 lead, including eight backpoints. The pin came 6:15 into the match.
Pletcher won his second match of the day, a 10-0 major decision over Trevor Muhler in the 165-pound bout. Pletcher scored five early points and scored three more nearfall points in the final period en route to the win.
Mike Whalen (Lake Hiawatha, N.J.) won an 8-2 decision, including three takedowns, over USMMA's Troy McGuiness at 174 pounds. At 184 pounds, Mike Elshamy (Brick, N.J.) recorded his first win of the season, a 3-0 decision over the Mariners' Eric Rohan. Elshamy scored one takedown and earned a point for riding time (2:19) to earn the victory.
In the final bout of the day, Mike D'Amico (Kenilworth, N.J.) recorded a 3-2 decision over John Brunetti. D'Amico tallied all his points in the second period, escaping from the defensive position before getting a takedown at the 1:07 mark.
Rutgers will travel to Providence, R.I., on Saturday, Jan. 20, for an EIWA match-up with Brown University at 2:00 p.m. at the Pizzitola Center.
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