PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University wrestling teams are separated by just 0.4 miles and share resources under the umbrella of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center. Such close proximity and a desire to work together to obtain success in freestyle and Greco makes it unsurprising that the dual meet between the two teams was decided by just one point.
 
The unfortunate part for Quakers fans was that the lone bonus point in the dual went to the Dragon who escaped The Palestra with a 16-15 win.
 
Penn trailed, 16-9, with two bouts remaining but won both of those matches to close within the singular point. Senior A.J. Vindici put together a four-point throw in the final 10 seconds at 141 to stun Nick Widmann, 5-4, to close the Red and Blue to within four points with one match left.
 
Needing bonus points, No. 14 Anthony Artalona was stymied by Drexel's Parker Kropman throughout the match, but the Penn rookie was at least able to secure a 6-4 win in overtime to pick up his 13th win of the season.
 
The decisive point came at heavyweight where Drexel sent out its most-experienced wrestler – No. 20 Joey Goodhart – against one Penn's true freshmen in Ben Goldin. Armed with five years of collegiate experience and a 40-pound weight advantage, Goodhart was able to secure a late takedown and rideout to pickup an 11-3 major decision.
 
The two teams each won five bouts in the dual meet – Joe Oliva, Greg Bensley and Carmen Ferrante joining Vindici and Artalona with their arms raised.
 
Oliva started the dual with a 7-5 win over Evan Barczak in overtime. Oliva trailed, 3-1, after the second period but stormed back with a late takedown and rideout in the third to force overtime before connecting on the winning takedown with 0:14 left in sudden victory.
 
Freshman Greg Bensley made his Penn dual meet debut count with a 6-0 decision over Derek Rose at 197 pounds. Bensley had a takedown in the first and third periods, adding an escape and riding time for the shutout win,
 
At 125, Carmen Ferrante continued his winning ways with an 8-4 decision over Antonio Minnino. Ferrante opened up in the first period, scoring two takedowns to build a 4-2 lead. He added a third takedown in the second period and riding time in the third for his 14th win of the season.
 
After Oliva's overtime win to start the dual, the Dragons won the next three to take a 9-3 lead. A 4-2 decision for No. 14 Ebed Jarrell at 165 started the run. Penn's Evan DeLuise scored the only takedown in the bout, but a full second-period rideout for Jarrell, two escapes in the third and a penalty for hands to the face on DeLuise were the difference. Bryan McLaughlin would follow with an 8-7 win over Jake Hendricks at 184. A takedown from McLaughlin with 0:27 remaining secured a back-and-for match.
 
Drexel's fifth win came at 133 where Chandler Olson defeated Doug Zapf, 7-2. Zapf had attempts to open the scoring in the first period, but Olson won a scramble late for the only points of the period. In the second frame, Zapf chose down and was unable to escape. Olson would escape to start the third period, then scored a takedown on the edge with 0:58 remaining to salt away the dual.
 
The Quakers are back in action January 18 for a dual meet at Binghamton at 7 p.m. Penn's next home meet is January 20 against Army West Point at 4 p.m.
 
Drexel (4-4) defeats Penn (1-3), 16-15
157: Joe Oliva (Penn) DEC Evan Barczak (Drexel), 7-5 (SV); Penn leads, 3-0
165: No. 14 Ebed Jarrell (Drexel) DEC Evan DeLuise (Penn), 4-2; Match tied, 3-3
174: Bryan McLaughlin (Drexel), DEC Jake Hendricks (Penn), 8-7; Drexel leads, 6-3
184: Anthony Walters (Drexel) DEC Jalen Laughlin (Penn), 10-5; Drexel leads, 9-3
197: Greg Bensley (Penn) DEC Derek Rose (Drexel), 6-0; Drexel leads, 9-6
285: No. 20 Joey Goodhart (Drexel) MD Ben Goldin (Penn), 11-3; Drexel leads, 13-6
125: Carmen Ferrante (Penn) DEC Antonio Minnino (Drexel), 8-4; Drexel leads, 13-9
133: Chandler Olson (Drexel) DEC Doug Zapf (Penn), 7-2; Drexel leads, 16-9
141: A.J. Vindici (Penn) DEC Nick Widmann (Drexel), 5-4; Drexel leads, 16-12
149: No. 14 Anthony Artalona (Penn) DEC Parker Kropman (Drexel), 6-4 (SV), Drexel leads, 16-15
Attendance: 474