Jan. 28, 2012

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Army and Harvard split the 10 bouts right down the middle, but it was senior Daniel Mills’ pin in the heavyweight matchup that sealed the Black Knights’ 24-17 upset victory over the 25th-ranked Crimson in an EIWA dual match on Saturday afternoon inside the Malkin Athletic Center.

Army (7-5, 4-1 EIWA) began the match with a 12-0 cushion as Harvard forfeited the 125- and 133-pound bouts. Freshman Scott Filbert (125 pounds) and junior Jordan Thome (133) were credited with victories.

Black Knight junior Casey Smith extended Army’s lead to 15-0 following a 6-2 victory over Patrick Hogan in the 141-pound matchup.

Harvard (4-5, 1-3 EIWA) trimmed the Black Knights’ advantage to 15-8 following major decision verdicts in the next two bouts. Eighth-ranked Corey Jantzen took down Army sophomore Ryan Bilyeu, 11-0, at 149 pounds, while fourth-ranked Walter Peppelman blanked Black Knight senior Jimmy Rafferty, 12-0, at 157 pounds.

Army freshman Cole Gracey made it 18-8 after defeating Ian Roy, 8-2, in the 165-pound bout, but Harvard reeled off three consecutive wins to pull to within 18-17 heading into the final match of the contest.

That set the stage for a winner-take-all heavyweight bout, and Mills wasted little time securing Army’s fourth straight victory by pinning Davig Ng in 56 seconds.

Army returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 5, when the Black Knights travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to compete at the 18th annual All-Academy Championships.

Match Notes: Army improves to 23-11 all-time versus Harvard … it marks the Black Knights’ second victory over a ranked opponent this season … Army knocked off then-No. 25-ranked Iowa State on Nov. 6, 2011 … Jordan Thome improves to 20-7 following today’s action … it marks his second straight 20-win season … Thome is now tied with Jimmy Rafferty for the team lead in victories … Cole Graceyhas won nine straight bouts … Daniel Mills’ pin was his second of the season.

Army 24, #25 Harvard 17
125: Scott Filbert (A) wins by forfeit
133: Jordan Thome (A) wins by forfeit
141: Casey Smith (A) dec. Patrick Hogan, 6-2
149: #8 Corey Jantzen (H) maj. dec. Ryan Bilyeu, 11-0
157: #4 Walter Peppelman (H) maj. dec. Jimmy Rafferty, 12-0
165: Cole Gracey (A) dec. Ian Roy, 8-2
174: Josh Popple (H) dec. Eric Gobin, 9-7
184: Cameron Croy (H) dec. Michael Gorman, 8-2
197: James Fox (H) dec. Derek Stanley, 1-0
285: Daniel Mills (A) pinned David Ng, 0:56

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior Jordan Thome registered a pin at 133 pounds, and three other Black Knights recorded major decisions to lead the Army wrestling team to a 24-15 victory over EIWA rival Brown on Saturday morning inside the Pizzitola Sports Center.

Junior Casey Smith (141 pounds), senior Jimmy Rafferty (157) and senior Daniel Mills (197) each picked up major decisions to help Army (6-5, 3-1 EIWA) to its third straight dual match victory.

Brown (3-4, 2-3 EIWA) took an early 3-0 lead as Billy Watterson edged Army freshman Scott Filbert, 9-7, in the 125-pound bout.

Army responded quickly with Thome pinning Beau Martino in 1 minute, 12 seconds at 133 pounds. Smith followed with a dominant 9-1 major decision victory versus Grant Overcashier in the 141-pound matchup to give the Black Knights a 10-3 advantage.

After Brown’s Ricky Bailey slipped past Army sophomore Ryan Bilyeu, 12-11, at 149 pounds, Rafferty delivered a 10-2 major decision opposite Max Lewin in the 157-pound bout to increase the Black Knights’ cushion to 14-6.

Army freshman Cole Gracey, who has been on fire of late, posted a 6-0 win versus Jeff Lemmer at 165 pounds, but Brown reeled off wins at the next two weight classes to pull to within 17-15 with two bouts remaining.

The Black Knights were able to hold off the Bears, however, with Mills taking down Ricky McDonald (11-1) at 197 pounds and senior Derek Stanley securing an 8-2 verdict against Marcos Aranda in the heavyweight bout.

Match Notes: Army improves to 17-5-2 all-time versus Brown … Jordan Thome’s pin was his ninth of the season … he leads the Black Knights with nine pins and 10 bonus-point victories … his nine pins tie his single-season career high, which he established as a sophomore last year … Thome has won seven straight matches … his 19 wins rank second on the team … Casey Smith’s major decision was the first of his career, and it marked the first bonus-point victory of his career … Jimmy Rafferty’s win was his 20th of the season … it marks his second straight 20-win season … Rafferty’s major decision was his second of the season … he has won eight of his last nine matches … Cole Gracey has won eight consecutive bouts … Daniel Mills’ major decision was his first of the season … Derek Stanley has won five of his last six matches.

Army 24, Brown 15
125: Billy Watterson (B) dec. Scott Filbert, 9-7
133: Jordan Thome (A) pinned Beau Martino, 1:12
141: Casey Smith (A) maj. dec. Grant Overcashier, 9-1
149: Ricky Bailey (B) dec. Ryan Bilyeu, 12-11
157: Jimmy Rafferty (A) maj. dec. Max Lewin, 10-2
165: Cole Gracey (A) dec. Jeff Lemmer, 6-0
174: Dave Foxen (B) dec. Eric Gobin, 8-6
184: Ophir Bernstein (B) pinned Michael Gorman, 4:28
197: Daniel Mills (A) maj. dec. Ricky McDonald, 11-1
285: Derek Stanley (A) dec. Marcos Aranda, 8-2