Stanford Falls Short at Penn

PHILADELPHIA – Despite bonus points from Joey McKenna, Peter Russo and Nathan Butler, the 15th-ranked Stanford wrestling team was unable to overcome a slow start, falling to Penn 19-17, Sunday, at the Palestra.

Penn jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the dual, but Stanford (5-2) won the next four bouts to get back into the team score race. Penn (1-3) scraped back to win the final two matches and secured its first dual win of the season under former Stanford assistant coach Alex Tirapelle.

It all came down to the 157-pound bout, which pitted Penn's May Bathea against Paul Fox. Bethea scored the first takedown of the match, but Fox quickly countered for a reversal to knot it up at 2-2. Bethea would get the escape and another takedown late in the period to lead 5-2 after one. He chose down to start the second and made it 6-2. Fox then became the aggressor, picking up two takedowns of his own in the period to cut Bethea's lead to 8-6 going into the final frame. Fox started in the down position and posted the escape to make it 8-7 in favor of Bethea. Fox was unable to convert anymore shot attempts as Bethea held on for the win.

Stanford scored its first team points of the dual as Butler recorded a 10-1 major decision over Tyler Hall at 285 pounds. Butler, ranked 10th in the nation, scored three takedowns, an escape and racked-up 5:26 of riding time in the win. He was also awarded two points for stalling called on Hall, solidifying the major for Butler. 

True freshman Gabriel Townsell, ranked 14th at 125 pounds, registered a 6-2 decision over Jeremy Schwartz of Penn. Townsell led 2-1 after the first period. Schwartz tallied the escape to start the second, but Townsell scored a last second takedown at the end of the period to lead 4-2. He tacked on an escape and a stalling point in the third period as he improved to 11-7 on the year and 3-1 in duals.

A 9-0 major decision over Penn's Tristan DeVincenzo by Russo at 133 pounds pulled the Cardinal within two at 13-11 in the team score. Russo earned a takedown in the first period and was able to ride out DeVincenzo. Starting down in the second, Russo recorded a reversal and turned DeVincenzo for four near fall points. Russo rode DeVincenzo for the entire third period to end with 5:35 of riding time in the win.

McKenna, who is ranked third in the country, pinned A.J. Vindici in 50 seconds to give Stanford the 17-13 lead in the dual. McKenna got to a headlock and was able to throw Vindici and secure the fall. It was the seventh of the season for McKenna, who paces the Cardinal in falls. McKenna also leads the team in overall wins with 21.

The dual started at 165 pounds, where redshirt junior Keaton Subjeck led 4-1 after the opening period against Penn's Brooks Martino. Subjeck added an escape to begin the second, but gave up a takedown late as Martino cut the lead to 5-3. An escape to start the third by Martino made it 5-4 in favor of Subjeck. After a tough scramble, Martino converted a takedown with three seconds left on the clock to upset 18th-ranked Subjeck.

Penn continued to pour it on Stanford as Casey Kent posted a 10-2 major decision over redshirt senior Peter Galli at 174 pounds. It was Galli's first loss at that weight as he started the season at 165. At 184 pounds, Joe Heyob defeated Zach Nevills by a 6-2 decision to make it 10-0 Quakers. 

In a match-up of top 20 opponents at 197 pounds, No. 15 Frank Mattiace of Penn edged No. 20 Josh Marchok, 3-2. There was no score after the first between Mattiace and Marchok. Marchok notched the escape to start the second, but gave up a takedown to Mattiace. Tied 2-2 going into the final period, Mattiace chose down and was able to get the escape, proving to be the difference in the bout.

Penn also won at 149 pounds, where Joe Oliva registered a 4-0 decision against Stanford redshirt junior Tommy Pawelski.

Stanford returns to The Farm next week to host Air Force on Friday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. and No. 13 Arizona State on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. Both matches will be held at Erickson Courts in the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation.

Penn 19, No. 15 Stanford 17