Rutgers Wrestling Falls to Terriers
Jan 29 | Wrestling
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Despite strong efforts by freshmen Joe Sacco (Johnson City, NY) and Rob Kaiser (Lodi, NJ), the Rutgers wrestling team fell to Boston University 26-13 Saturday evening in the College Avenue Gymnasium. The Terriers won four of the first five matches to open up a fourteen point lead the Knights couldn't overcome. The Knights fall to 5-5 on the season.
The match began at 174, where Sacco started the Knights off with an 11-2 major decision of Jason Bakanowski. With the match tied late in the first, Sacco took Bakanowski down with a headlock to take a 5-0 lead. Sacco scored another five-point headlock in the third period to secure his third major decision of the season. Tom Sforza got things going for the Terriers with a 5-4 decision over senior Chris Ressa (Andover, NJ). Ressa took a 3-2 lead into the third period, but an escape and late takedown by Sforza sealed the match. John Decruz put the Terriers ahead for good with a first period pin of freshman Ken Stiles (Little Falls, NJ)at 197. A Rutgers forfeit at 285 extended the BU lead to 15-4.
Michael Galorenzo scored a decision over junior Rickey Ringel (South Plainfield, NJ) to open the Terrier lead to fourteen. Sophomore Dan Hilt (Manalapan, NJ) stopped the Terrier run by posting a 5-2 victory over Brett Frimer. With the matched tied 1-1 in the third, Hilt took Frimer down to his back to secure the victory. Joey Rivera took an early lead on sophomore Steve Adamcsik (Chester, NJ) and cruised to a 9-0 victory in their 141 pound match. Reyes Gonzales clinched the match for BU with an 8-0 decision over sophomore Mike Ferrara (Effort, PA), putting the Terriers up 26-7 with two matches remaining.
Rutgers closed the gap with wins in the last two matches. Sophomore Gene Zannetti (Edison, NJ) overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat Justin Blumenthal 9-5 at 157. At 165, Kaiser scored an escape with ten seconds left to beat Zach Johns, 3-2. The win improved Kaiser's dual meet record to 3-1 and season record to 9-6.
The Scarlet Knights return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 2, when they host the Rider Broncs at 7:00 p.m. in the College Avenue Gymnasium.
Boston University 26, Rutgers 13
174-Joe Sacco (RU) maj. Jason Bakanowski 11-2 4-0 RU
184-Tom Sforza (BU) dec. Chris Ressa 5-4 4-3 RU
197-John DaCruz (BU) pin Ken Stiles 1:30 9-4 BU
285-Courtney Howard (BU) forfet 15-4 BU
125-Michael Galorenzo (BU) dec. Rickey Ringel 9-5 18-4 BU
133-Dan Hilt (RU) dec. Brett Frimer 5-2 18-7 BU
141-Joseph Rivera (BU) maj. Steve Adamcsik 9-0 22-7 BU
149-Reyes Gonzales (BU) maj. Mike Ferrara 8-0 26-7 BU
157-Gene Zannetti (RU) dec. Justin Blumenthal 9-5 26-10 BU
165-Rob Kaiser (RU) dec. Zach Johns 3-2 26-13 BU
