Courtesy of goarmysports.com

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Junior Paul Hancock pinned his opponent in the 165-pound bout and junior Tyler Rauenzahn registered a major decision at 149 pounds to lead the Army wrestling team to a 22-15 victory versus Drexel in a non-conference dual match Thursday evening at Gillis Field House.

Army (2-2) won five of the first six bouts to grab a 19-3 lead, and the Black Knights coasted to their second dual win of the season. Drexel, meanwhile, saw its modest two-match win streak snapped as the Dragons fall to 3-5 on the year.

The match began at 125 pounds and Army sophomore Hunter Wood gave the Black Knights an early 3-0 lead following a 9-5 decision versus Drexel’s Jacob Goodwin. Wood began the bout with a takedown and a near fall to open up a quick 5-0 advantage and the second-year grappler cruised to the victory.

Drexel leveled the score at 3-3 following Clayton Lutzow’s 9-5 victory opposite Army senior Jordan Thome in the 133-pound matchup. Lutzow trailed 4-2 after the first period, but a pair of takedowns in the second stanza gave the Dragon the lead for good.

Army moved back in front, 6-3, thanks to senior Connor Hanafee’s 8-7 decision against Drexel’s Frank Cimato at 141 pounds. Hanafee held a tenuous 4-3 advantage entering the final stanza, but a pair of third-period takedowns helped propel him to the hard-fought victory.

Rauenzahn then took a 19-7 major decision from Nicholas Maccini in the 149-pound bout to extend the Black Knights’ cushion to 10-3. Rauenzahn racked up nine takedowns and accumulated more than three minutes of riding time en route to the dominant victory.

Freshman Brian Harvey made it three straight Army wins as the first-year performer slipped past Kenyatta Brown, 2-0, at 157 pounds. Harvey finished with more than a minute and a half of riding time on his way to the decision, which gave Army a comfortable 13-3 advantage at the midway point of the match.

Hancock followed with a pin of Charles Aungst in the 165-pound bout as Army opened up a 19-3 lead. Hancock needed just 4 minutes, 3 seconds to record the win by fall.

Drexel cut into Army’s lead in the 174-pound match as Kevin Matyas pinned Army freshman Travis Mallo in 4:28. The six-point victory pulled the Dragons to within 19-9 with three bouts remaining.

Senior Collin Wittmeyer clinched the match for Army with his 9-4 decision opposite Bryan Sternlieb at 184 pounds. Wittmeyer, who accumulated nearly three minutes of riding time, parlayed three takedowns and one reversal into the victory, which gave the Black Knights an insurmountable 22-9 lead.

Drexel won the final two bouts to account for the final margin. Brandon Palik slipped past Army freshman Bryce Barnes, 3-1, in the first overtime period at 197 pounds, and Jon Max Wright defeated Black Knight junior Curtis Garner, 8-3, in the heavyweight bout.

Army returns will be idle until Jan. 1, when the Black Knights travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., to compete at the Southern Scuffle.

Match Notes: Army improves to 8-5 all-time versus Drexel.

Army 22, Drexel 15
125: Hunter Wood (A) dec. Jacob Goodwin, 9-5
133: Clayton Lutzow (D) dec. Jordan Thome, 9-5
141: Connor Hanafee (A) dec. Frank Cimato, 8-7
149: Tyler Rauenzahn (A) maj. dec. Nicholas Maccini, 19-7
157: Brian Harvey (A) dec. Kenyatta Brown, 2-0
165: Paul Hancock (A) pinned Charles Aungst, 4:03
174: Kevin Matyas (D) pinned Travis Mallo, 4:28
184: Collin Wittmeyer (A) dec. Bryan Sternlieb, 9-4
197: Brandon Palik (D) dec. Bryce Barnes, 3-1 (sv1)
285: Jon Max Wright (D) dec. Curtis Garner, 8-3