Wrestling Falls at Harvard, 26-14
February 10, 2006 | Men's Wrestling
ALLSTON, Mass. - In a matchup of the only Division I wrestling programs in Massachusetts, the Boston University wrestling team dropped a 24-15 road decision to Harvard on Friday evening. BU took home wins four matches, but the Crimson recorded two pins to outdistance the visitors. The Terriers fell to 5-9 on the year with the loss.
Redshirt freshmen Mike Roberts and Chris Tripp earned wins at 149 and 174, respectively, while senior Tom Sforza wrestled up a weight at 197 and recorded a victory. Freshman Josh Statum was responsible for BU's other points due to a Havard forfeit at 125.
The match began with the heavyweights, where seventh-ranked Bode Ogunwole gave Harvard an early 3-0 lead with an 8-2 decision over BU freshman James Connors. Following the 125 forfeit, the Terriers took an early 6-3 advantage.
A pair of ranked wrestlers gave the Crimson a lead it would not reinquish with victories at 133 and 141. Eighth-ranked Robbie Preston returned from injury and posted a first-period pin against freshman Bryan Matsuura before No. 15 Max Meltzer registered a 13-2 decision over sophomore Joey Whitaker.
Roberts cut the deficit to 13-9 with a 12-5 victory over Matt Button at 149, but senior Justin Blumenthal was on the losing end of a 14-6 major decison to Andrew Flanagan at 157, resulting in a 17-9 lead for Harvard.
At 165, senior Zach Johns and Mike Baria went to overtime knotted at 6-6 before a stalling point was assesed to Johns. A team point for unsportsmanlike conduct was docked for BU following the 7-6 decision and the Crimson held a 20-8 lead.
Tripp held off a third-period charge from Wes Walker to post a tight 6-5 decision at 174, cutting the deficit to 20-11, but freshman Elijah Vidal suffered a first-period pin to Louis Caputo at 184.
Sforza recorded at least one takedown in each period in his 197-pound bout en route to a 10-5 victory over Billy Colgan.
BU wil return to action on Friday, Feb. 17, when it closed out the regular season with a home dual versus Rider. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
Harvard 26, Boston University 14
285: No. 7 Bode Ogunwole (H) def. James Connors, 8-2
125: Josh Statum (BU) wins by forfeit
133: No. 8 Robbie Preston (H) WBF Bryan Matsuura, 1:31
141: No. 15 Max Meltzer (H) def. Joey Whitaker, 13-2 (md)
149: Mike Roberts (BU) def. Matt Button, 12-5
157: Andrew Flanagan (H) def. Justin Blumenthal, 14-6 (md)
165: Michael Baria (H) def. Zach Johns, 7-6 (sv)
174: Chris Tripp (BU) def. Wes Walker, 6-5
184: Louis Caputo (H) WBF Elijah Vidal
197: Tom Sforza (BU) def. Bolly Colgan, 10-5
