NEW LONDON, Conn. – A battle of ranked teams came down to a tiebreaker and the fifth-ranked Johnson & Wales University wrestling team came out on top. The Wildcats and No. 14 Coast Guard Academy were tied 16-16 after the last bout with JWU winning on criteria.
The tiebreaker was decided on total points won, which JWU had the 63-58 advantage.
Johnson & Wales improved to 5-1 with its 23rd-straight win over the Bears. Coast Guard dropped its opening dual meet.
The Wildcats trailed 16-5 after seven matches. Justin Lopez got the comeback started with his 5-3 overtime win at 125 pounds. Fifth-ranked Hayden Brown produced an 11-1 major decision versus Liam Logue at 133 pounds. Another major decision, this time a 15-4 triumph by Jordan Robinson at 141 pounds tied the team contest at 16-16.
Third-ranked Da'mani Burns got the evening started with a 12-9 victory at 149 pounds. The Bears won five of the next six bouts, including 285 pounds where No. 4 Patrick Irwin beat #6 Michael DiNardo, 2-0. Christian Murphy was a 7-5 overtime winner at 165 pounds.
JWU is back on the mat December 21 in a quad meet that includes #4 Wabash and #17 Messiah.
#5 Johnson & Wales 16, #14 Coast Guard Academy 16 # JWU-CGA
149 #3 Da'mani Burns (JWU) dec. AJ Pagiarulo (CGA) 12-9 3-0
157 Matt McGowan (CGA) dec. Darius Joyce (JWU) 7-4 3-3
165 Christian Murphy (JWU) dec. Nick Moreno (CGA) 7-5 (OT) 6-3
174 #3 AJ Aeberli (CGA) dec. Seon Bowker (JWU) 4-1 6-6
184 #9 Paul Detwiler (CGA) major dec. Nick Caracappa (JWU) 18-5 * 10-5
197 Jeremy Berson (CGA) dec. Tommy Wrzesien (JWU) 5-3 13-5
Hwt #4 Patrick Irwin (CGA) dec. #6 Michael DiNardo (JWU) 2-0 16-5
125 Justin Lopez (JWU) dec. Parker Brunkala (CGA) 5-3 OT 16-8
133 #5 Hayden Brown (JWU) major dec. Liam Logue (CGA) 11-1 16-12
141 Jordan Robinson (JWU) major dec. Caden Mareno (CGA) 15-4 16-16
* JWU docked a team point
# JWU wins on criteria C, 63-58