PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team ran into a buzzsaw in the form of No. 5 Lehigh in The Palestra, having the injury bug bit at an importune time on the way to a 41-6 loss to the Mountain Hawks.
 
The Quakers were without five expected starters in the dual meet, and Lehigh took advantage with bonus points in five bouts – including three pins and a forfeit – en route to the win.
 
No. 18 Joe Heyob picked up the lone win for the Quakers, defeating No. 4 Ryan Preisch via injury default at 184 pounds. The two were locked up in a close battle in the third period when Preisch had to default. Heyob had just scored a reversal to make the score 5-3 in favor of Preisch with 1:30 remaining and was on his way to nearfall when Preisch's ankle was caught up in the turn and he was unable to continue.
 
Penn's lead was brief as Lehigh picked up the lone upset in the dual meet with a 3-0 decision win for Jake Jakobsen over No. 10 Frank Mattiace at 197 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Jakobsen rode Mattiace for the entire second period – drawing two stall calls and a penalty point along the way – before picking up an escape and riding time in the third period for the win.
 
Lehigh would add to its lead with a pin from No. 9 Jordan Wood at heavyweight and a forfeit victory for defending national champion No. 5 Darian Cruz at 125 to head into halftime with a 20-6 lead.
 
The Mountain Hawks halted any chance of a Penn comeback in the first match out of the break with a win from Nick Farro at 133 pounds. Gianni Ghione was tied with Farro, 1-1, in the final seconds of regulation before Farro tripped Ghione to his back for a takedown and two nearfall at the buzzer to secure a 5-1 victory. No. 20 Luke Karam followed with an 8- 2 decision over Jake Lizak to extend Lehigh's lead to 26-6.
 
The Mountain Hawks would add two more pins over the final three matches, with Courtlandt Schuyler pinning Joe Oliva at 0:31 at 149 and No. 14 Cole Walter capping the dual with a pin of freshman Ryan Farber at 165.
 
No. 5 Lehigh defeats Penn, 41-6
174: No. 4 Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) TF Khamari Whimper (Penn), 15-0 (3:08) Lehigh leads, 5-0
184: No. 18 Joe Heyob (Penn) INJ. DEFAULT No. 4 Ryan Preisch (Lehigh), 5:30 Penn leads, 6-5
197: Jake Jakobsen (Lehigh) DEC No. 10 Frank Mattiace (Penn), 3-0 Lehigh leads, 8-6
285: No. 9 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) FALL Tyler Hall (Penn), 2:45 Lehigh leads, 14-6
125: No. 5 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) wins by forfeit Lehigh leads, 20-6
133: Nick Farro (Lehigh DEC Gianni Ghione (Penn), 5-1 Lehigh leads, 23-6
141: No. 20 Luke Karam (Lehigh) DEC Jake Lizak (Penn), 8-2 Lehigh leads, 26-6
149: Courtlandt Schuyler (Lehigh) FALL Joe Oliva (Penn), 0:31 Lehigh leads, 32-6
157: Ian Brown (Lehigh) DEC Jon Errico (Penn), 6-2 Lehigh leads, 35-6
165: No. 14 Cole Walter (Lehigh) FALL Ryan Farber (Penn), 1:11 Lehigh leads, 41-6
 
The Red and Blue are off for exams and the holiday break before returning to the mats at the Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern December 29-30.