Providence, R.I. – The Brown wrestling squad celebrated
its Senior Day with a split against Ivy rival Harvard and Lehigh at
home on Saturday afternoon, knocking off the Crimson 33-12 in the
most impressive match of the season for the Bears before falling to
nationally ranked Lehigh 33-6. In an exceptionally balanced
effort, Bruno got one win apiece from nine different wrestlers over
the course of the two matches, helping Brown earn the split.
In the early match, the Bears took on Harvard, looking for their
first Ivy win of the season. After a 10-5 Crimson decision at
125, Brown turned in an exceptional string of performances, earning
victories by fall in four of the next five events to take control
of the match. Sophomore T.J. Popolizio began the streak at
133, pinning Harvard’s Chad Eason in just 2:22 to give Brown
a 6-3 lead after two events.
Brown got two more pins at 141 and 149, as Zach Kulczycki and Phil
Marano earned the victories in 3:18 and 3:28 respectively,
essentially putting the match away for the Bears, as they raced out
to an 18-3 lead. The Crimson then earned a pin at 157,
continuing the run, before Brown came back with yet another, as
Jeff Lemmer pinned Harvard’s Michael Sadler at 165, winning
in 6:30, and giving Brown a 24-9 lead.
Though the pace slowed slightly from there, the Bears still
continued to pick up wins, as Ziad Kharbush earned an 8-3 decision
over David Lalo at 174. After a Harvard decision at 184, the
Bears took the last two events. At 197, senior Branden
Stearns wrestled an impressive bout to pick up a 12-5 win, just
missing a major decision, followed by classmate Larry Otsuka
winning a tight 3-2 heavyweight bout to close out the first match
with a 33-12 Brown win.
In the afternoon match Lehigh, which came into the afternoon ranked
in the top-10 nationally, assumed quick control of the action and
did not let up. After senior Greg Einfrank took an opening
win at 125, winning a 13-6 decision, the Mountain Hawks took the
next six events, opening up a 25-3 lead.
At 184, senior Bran Crudden regained some momentum for the Bears,
fighting to a tough 3-2 decision over Lehigh’s Manuel
Schubert. Lehigh then came back at 197 with a technical fall
over Branden Stearns, however, and closed out the match with a 4-1
decision at 285, holding on for a 33-6 win over the Bears.
Brown will be back in action next weekend, when the Bears travel to
Ithaca to take on the Cornell Big Red.
Brown vs. Harvard 02.13.10
125: Chad Eason (H) dec. Greg Einfrank 10-5; Har. Leads 3-0
133: T.J. Popolizio (B) pin Chad Eason (H) 2:22; Brown leads
6-3
141: Zach Kulczycki (B) pin Fermin Mendez (H) 3:18; Brown leads
12-3
149: Phil Marano (B) pin Spencer Friedman (H) 3:28; Brown leads
18-3
157: J.P. O’Connor (H) pin Max Lewin (B) 0:29; Brown leads
18-9
165: Jeff Lemmer (B) pin Michael Sadler (H) 6:30; Brown leads
24-9
174: Ziad Kharbush (B) dec. David Lalo (H) 8-3; Brown leads
27-9
184: Louis Caputo (H) dec. Bran Crudden (B) 6-0; Brown leads
27-12
197: Branden Stearns (B) dec. Sean Murphy (H) 12-5; Brown leads
30-12
285: Larry Otsuka (B) dec. Spencer DeSena 3-2; Brown wins 33-12
Brown vs. Lehigh
125: Greg Einfrank (B) dec. Mitch Berger (L) 13-6; Brown leads
3-0
133: Matt Fisk (L) maj dec. Cort Choate (B) 11-0; Lehigh leads
4-3
141: Seth Ciasulli (L) pin Zach Kulczycki (B) 2:37; Lehigh leads
10-3
149: Joey Napoli (L) dec. Phil Marano (B) 5-0; Lehigh leads
13-3
157: Brian Tanen (L) pin Max Lewin (B) 4:41; Lehigh leads 19-3
165: Brandon Hatchett (L) dec. Jeff Lemmer (B) 10-4; Lehigh leads
22-3
174: Robert Hamlin (L) dec. Ziad Kharbush (B) 10-4; Lehigh leads
25-3
184: Bran Crudden (B) dec. Manuel Schubert (L) 3-2; Lehigh leads
25-6
197: Joe Kennedu (L) tech fall Branden Stearns (B) 17-2; Lehigh
leads 30-6
285: Justin Allen (L) dec. Tyler Cowman (B) 4-1; Lehigh wins 33-6