Penn beats Princeton, to claim its seventh straight Ivy League title

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Vanessa Kreckel Smith (Penn)
02/24/2002


The 8th ranked University of Pennsylvania wrestling team won its sixth consecutive match in defeating Princeton, 23-13 to own their seventh straight Ivy title. The Quakers used the strength of bonus points in three matches including an eleven second fall by Joe Henson at 149 lbs to give Penn the victory.    Penn jumped out to the early 3-0 team lead when freshman Matt Feast (Cressona, PA) defeated Jon Looke 12-9 at Heavyweight. Feast trailed 9-6 with :20 remaining and scored a five point move and a riding time point come away with the victory.    The Quakers gave up the next three bouts to Princeton as freshman Mike Crooks (Reno, NV) fell 10-1 to Brian Kirchbaum at 125 lbs. Sophomore Jeff Eveleth (Severna Park, MD) dropped a decision to John Knorring. Knorring jumped out to 8-0 lead after a takedown and a set of nearfall three's. After a scoreless second period, Eveleth put points on the board late in the third period as he scored two consecutive takedowns making the final score 10-4.    Brett Vanderveer came out strong scoring a takedown in the first and second period before Juan Venturi dished out a takedown and nearfall three to sweep the victory 13-7.    Senior No. 10 ranked Joe Henson (Hanover, Pa) got the Quakers back on the board with an impressive fall over Milo Adams at 149 lbs. Henson threw Adams to his back and recorded the fall in 11 seconds, putting Penn one point within reach of Princeton 10-9.    Senior All-American Yoshi Nakamura (Elyria, Ohio) burst out to a 10-3 lead in the first period over Albert Pendelton with five takedowns, scoring three more and a reversal in the third to win 21-8.    At 165 lbs., the Quakers Greg Hallahan (Rocky River, Ohio) gave Penn another three team points as he hung on to Jon Bunt in the tie-braker to win 7-7. Hallahan scored two reversals and a takedown in the third to tie up Bunt's two early takedowns and three escapes, putting Penn ahead 16-10.    In a battle of two nationally ranked wrestlers, No. 6 Greg Parker of Princeton defeated No. 5 Rick Springman, 12-6. Springman scored two early takedowns in the first, where Parker picked up a point for Springman locking hands, and scored a reversal knotting it at four. The second period, spent almost entirely on the mat in a scramble, saw Parker pick up three nearfall points. Springman opened the third period with a takedown, still trailing 8-6 before Parker scored a takedown and a riding time point to win 12-6.    Penn proved their strength as Marcus Schontube (Lowell, Indiana) at 184 lbs. and Mike Faust (Baltimore, MD) at 197 lbs. prevailed for the Quakers. Schontube pulled out a 13-1 major decision over Anthony DeBartolo. Schontube oppened the bout with a seven point advantage scoring a set of nearfalls and a takedown.    Mike Faust came out on top of his third consecutive overtime match. Knotted at three at the end of regulation, Faust scored a takedown with :06 remaining on the clock to give him the 5-3 victory over Matt Fisher.    Penn will host EIWA rival, Lehigh University tomorrow at 2 p.m. in The Palestra.    #8 Pennsylvania 23, Princeton 13  285 #15 Matt Feast (Penn) dec. Joe Looke (PU), 12-9  125 Brian Kirschbaum (PU) maj. dec. Mike Crooks (Penn), 10-1  133 J. Knorring (PU) dec. Jeff Eveleth (Penn), 10-4  141 Juan Venturri (PU) dec. Brett Vanderveer (Penn), 13-7  149 #10 Joe Henson (Penn) wbf 0:11 Milo Adams (PU)  157 #2 Yoshi Nakamura (Penn) majdec. Pendelton (PU), 21-8  165 Greg Hallahan (Penn) dec. Jon Bunt, 7-7 sv  174 #6 Greg Parker (PU) dec. #5 Rick Springman (Penn), 12-6  184 Schontube (Penn) majdec. A. DeBartolo (PU), 13-1  197 Mike Faust (Penn) dec. Matt Fischer (PU), 5-3 sv