Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Sacred Heart
Players Mentioned
Wrestling Defeats Sacred Heart, Falls Short In Comeback vs. Hofstra
January 10, 2015 | Wrestling
The Princeton wrestling team split a pair of home EIWA matches Friday night in Dillon Gym. A pair of first-minute pins by sophomore Brett Harner were among the Tiger highlights during a night that included a 30-8 win over Sacred Heart and a narrow 22-20 loss to Hofstra.
In the opener, Princeton won eight of 10 matches during a 30-8 victory over a young Sacred Heart squad, led by former Tiger assistant Andy Lausier. Three Princeton freshmen earned wins during the match, including the first home victory for 133-pounder Jordan Reich. His 15-2 major decision over Timothy Johnson was one of five Princeton victories that included bonus points.
The Tigers took control of the match early, winning the first four matches (the dual began at 174). Following a decision for junior Judd Ziegler, Harner — coming off his placewinner finish at Midlands — pinned Elliot Antler in 59 seconds. Junior Abram Ayala, who is ranked 13th nationally and placed fifth at Midlands, followed with a 17-5 major, while sophomore heavyweight Ray O'Donnell added an 11-4 win.
Both Harner and Ayala moved over the 20-win mark during the evening.
Sophomore Jordan Laster and freshman Francesco Fabozzi and Jonathan Schleifer also added victories for the Tigers.
The nightcap was a back-and-forth match, but Hofstra's 6-4 advantage in wins overtook Princeton's ability to claim bonus points in each of its wins.
The Tigers were out to an early 10-3 lead after a fall for Harner and another major decision by Ayala, but Hofstra won the next four matches to claim a 16-10 lead heading into the 149-pound match.
Princeton seemed to turn the match around at 149, as reserve Nick Maselli — in for the injured Adam Krop — sprinted out of the gates with a trio of takedowns before turning and pinning Alex Mirante in 2:44. That evened the match score at 16-16, but it also left a pair of freshmen to determine the fate of the evening.
Fabozzi was up first, and he went toe-to-toe with Jahlani Callender throughout a scoreless first period. Unfortunately, Callender was able to gain control in the second, and he ultimately caught Fabozzi late for a pin that clinched the team victory. Schleifer did earn a perfect evening for himself with a major in the final match of the night.
"With every match, I've learned something," said Schleifer, who moved to 17-6 on the season. "I have been lucky enough to be able to go to video with coaches, to see my mistakes, and tp capitalize on what I've been doing well."
Schelifer also believes that the best is yet to come for his team, which still has its full Ivy League season and the EIWA Championships still to come.
"You can call us sleepers, or a dark horse," he said. "We have the talent and the work ethic, and we have been doing well. We just need to get over that hump. We have it, and we know we have it, but we need to tap into it."
Princeton will now be off for the Finals break, but will return to Ivy League competition Jan. 30 at No. 3 Cornell.
PRINCETON 30, SACRED HEART 8
125 – Patrick Skinner (SH) maj. dec. Jake Intrator 12-4
133 – Jordan Reich (P) maj. dec. Timothy Johnson 15-2
141 – Jordan Laster (P) maj. dec. Jay Oakes 17-7
149 – Brendan Goldup (SH) maj. dec. Max Rogers 9-1
157 – Francesco Fabozzi (P) dec. Casey Mitchell 11-4
165 – Jonathan Schleifer (P) dec. John Vrasidos 13-6
174 – Judd Ziegler (P) dec. Conan Schuster 8-4*
184 – Brett Harner (P) wbf. Elliot Antler 0:59
197 – Abram Ayala (P) maj. dec. Sasha Oliinyk 17-5
285 – Ray O'Donnell (P) dec. Dan Hayden 11-4
* match started at 174
HOFSTRA 22, PRINCETON 20
125 – Bryan Damon (H) dec. Ryan Cash 7-2
133 – Travis Passaro (H) dec. Jordan Reich 6-1
141 – Jamel Hudson (H) maj. dec. Jordan Laster 14-4
149 – Nick Maselli (P) wbf. Alex Mirante 2:44
157 – Jahlani Callender (H) wbf. Francesco Fabozzi 4:41
165 – Jonathan Schleifer (P) maj. dec. Nick Terdick 14-5
174 – Frank Affronti (H) dec. Troy Murtha 5-3
184 – Brett Harner (P) wbf. Cory Damiana 0:32
197 – Abram Ayala (P) maj. dec. Mike Oxley 16-6
285 – Mike Hughes (H) dec. Ray O'Donnell 8-2
* match started at 174