Saturday, November 19
High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ
11:00 AM
Princeton University
16
at
19
Rutgers (Battle At The Birthplace)
Players Mentioned
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Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
'Birthplace Battle' Lives Up To Hype; Kolodzik Tops Ashnault, But Rutgers Holds On For 19-16 Win
November 19, 2016 | Wrestling
The 'Battle at the Birthplace' more than lived up to the hype Saturday morning, as 16,178 fans were treated to a thrilling Garden State showdown in ideal weather conditions at High Point Solutions Stadium. Princeton got almost everything it wanted out of the experience, including a victory in the highlight match of the day.
They didn't get everything, though. 14th-ranked Rutgers, on the back of bonus points in three of its five victories, extended its win streak over No. 20 Princeton to 20 with a 19-16 win over the upset-seeking Tigers.
Princeton actually got the start it wanted, as its highly touted freshman duo of Ty Agaisse and Matthew Kolodzik ignited the Tiger crowd early with upset wins. Agaisse (125) fended off a takedown attempt in the first period, then scored an escape and a full ride to defeat Sean McCabe 2-0 in the opening match.
Rutgers evened the match at 3-3, and then High Point Solutions Stadium went full focus on the showdown match of the day. Rutgers' two-time All-American Anthony Ashnault, currently ranked third nationally, excited his fan base with a first-period takedown of Kolodzik, and the two traded escapes to leave Ashnault ahead 3-2 in the final seconds.
Kolodzik showed just why he was one of the most highly touted recruits in the country, though. He got in on a single and drove Ashnault to the mat, where he secured the two points with five seconds remaining to improve his young collegiate record to 5-0.
Rutgers, however, showed impressive resolve by winning the next three matches, including two by major decision. Princeton junior Jonathan Schleifer, a two-time NCAA qualifier, faced a must-win situation at 174, and he was pushed to the limit by Phil Bakuckas. The two managed only an escape apiece in regulation, and appeared destined for a second overtime session, but Schleifer got in on an underhook and used an ankle trip to score a 3-1 win.
Rutgers' Nicholas Gravina, ranked 14th nationally at 184, scored a 24-3 technical fall over Ian Baker, which allowed the two upperweights to manage their matches against Princeton's nationally ranked duo of Brett Harner (4th, 197) and Ray O'Donnell (18th, 285). Harner was never challenged in an 8-2 win over Anthony Messner, but Messner also made sure to stay off his back. The decision clinched the match for Rutgers, though O'Donnell was hardly fazed by the result; the NCAA qualifier improved to 4-0 on the season with a 12-4 major decision.
Princeton will now go from competing in a football stadium to competing at the World's Most Famous Arena. The Tigers will head to Madison Square Garden the Sunday after Thanksgiving to compete in the Grapple at the Garden. The Tigers will open at 10 am against Buffalo, and then will take on Maryland at noon.
#14 RUTGERS 19, #20 PRINCETON 15
125 – Ty Agaisse (P) dec. Sean McCabe 2-0
133 – #13 Tyson Dippery (R) dec. Pat D'Arcy 7-2
141 – #11 Matthew Kolodzik (P) dec. #3 Anthony Ashnault 4-3
149 – #14 Ken Theobold (R) dec. #19 Jordan Laster 6-4
157 – John Van Brill (R) major dec. Mike D'Angelo 14-3
165 – #6 Richie Lewis (R) major dec. Joe Tavoso 17-6
174 – #16 Jon Schleifer (P) dec. Phil Bakuckas 3-1, SV
184 – #14 Nicholas Gravina (R) tech fall #18 Ian Baker 24-3
197 – #4 Brett Harner (P) dec. Anthony Messner 8-2
285 – #18 Ray O'Donnell (P) major dec. Marc McDonald 12-8
They didn't get everything, though. 14th-ranked Rutgers, on the back of bonus points in three of its five victories, extended its win streak over No. 20 Princeton to 20 with a 19-16 win over the upset-seeking Tigers.
Princeton actually got the start it wanted, as its highly touted freshman duo of Ty Agaisse and Matthew Kolodzik ignited the Tiger crowd early with upset wins. Agaisse (125) fended off a takedown attempt in the first period, then scored an escape and a full ride to defeat Sean McCabe 2-0 in the opening match.
Rutgers evened the match at 3-3, and then High Point Solutions Stadium went full focus on the showdown match of the day. Rutgers' two-time All-American Anthony Ashnault, currently ranked third nationally, excited his fan base with a first-period takedown of Kolodzik, and the two traded escapes to leave Ashnault ahead 3-2 in the final seconds.
Kolodzik showed just why he was one of the most highly touted recruits in the country, though. He got in on a single and drove Ashnault to the mat, where he secured the two points with five seconds remaining to improve his young collegiate record to 5-0.
Rutgers, however, showed impressive resolve by winning the next three matches, including two by major decision. Princeton junior Jonathan Schleifer, a two-time NCAA qualifier, faced a must-win situation at 174, and he was pushed to the limit by Phil Bakuckas. The two managed only an escape apiece in regulation, and appeared destined for a second overtime session, but Schleifer got in on an underhook and used an ankle trip to score a 3-1 win.
Rutgers' Nicholas Gravina, ranked 14th nationally at 184, scored a 24-3 technical fall over Ian Baker, which allowed the two upperweights to manage their matches against Princeton's nationally ranked duo of Brett Harner (4th, 197) and Ray O'Donnell (18th, 285). Harner was never challenged in an 8-2 win over Anthony Messner, but Messner also made sure to stay off his back. The decision clinched the match for Rutgers, though O'Donnell was hardly fazed by the result; the NCAA qualifier improved to 4-0 on the season with a 12-4 major decision.
Princeton will now go from competing in a football stadium to competing at the World's Most Famous Arena. The Tigers will head to Madison Square Garden the Sunday after Thanksgiving to compete in the Grapple at the Garden. The Tigers will open at 10 am against Buffalo, and then will take on Maryland at noon.
#14 RUTGERS 19, #20 PRINCETON 15
125 – Ty Agaisse (P) dec. Sean McCabe 2-0
133 – #13 Tyson Dippery (R) dec. Pat D'Arcy 7-2
141 – #11 Matthew Kolodzik (P) dec. #3 Anthony Ashnault 4-3
149 – #14 Ken Theobold (R) dec. #19 Jordan Laster 6-4
157 – John Van Brill (R) major dec. Mike D'Angelo 14-3
165 – #6 Richie Lewis (R) major dec. Joe Tavoso 17-6
174 – #16 Jon Schleifer (P) dec. Phil Bakuckas 3-1, SV
184 – #14 Nicholas Gravina (R) tech fall #18 Ian Baker 24-3
197 – #4 Brett Harner (P) dec. Anthony Messner 8-2
285 – #18 Ray O'Donnell (P) major dec. Marc McDonald 12-8
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