DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team was done in by a furious Duke comeback as the Blue Devils won four matches in a row out of intermission to turn a 15-7 Penn lead into an eventual 25-18 defeat in Card Gym.
 
Penn had staked itself to an 11-0 lead after just two bouts on the strength of a dominant tech fall from Carmen Ferrante at 125 and a forfeit by Duke at 133. Ferrante had built a 14-0 first period lead based off a takedown and three sets of four-point nearfall before earning the tech.
 
Duke began to creep back into the dual meet with back-to-back wins from Josh Finesilver and No. 6 Mitch Finesilver. At 141, Penn's Grant Aronoff scored the first takedown, but Josh Finesilver rallied with a takedown and two nearfall before adding a late reversal following injury time by Aronoff. In the second period, Aronoff again scored the first takedown, but a reversal and two backpoints built an 11-4 lead. In the third, the two wrestler exchanged reversals but a late stall call on Aronoff as he tried to hold Finesilver down was the deciding point in the major.
 
At 149 pounds, No. 17 Anthony Artalona was defeated for the second time this season by No. 6 Mitch Finesilver. This time, the result was a 4-1 decision as Finesilver scored a third-period takedown to cut Penn's lead to 11-7.
 
Joe Oliva responded for the Quakers with a 13-5 major decision at 157 to send Penn into halftime with a 15-7 lead. Oliva had three takedown in the bout, adding a reversal and four nearfall in the second period.
 
The Quakers looked to have a key swing win to extend their lead out of the break as Evan DeLuise led Zach Finesilver, 8-6, with riding time in his favor late. Duke's wrestler rallied with a takedown and four backpoints in the final 10 seconds to prevail, 12-8, and send momentum to Duke's side.
 
The Blue Devils used the win at 165 to start a four-match winning streak which sealed the dual. Matt Finesilver followed with a 17-1 technical fall at 174 before Kaden Russell's 12-4 major decision at 184 gave Duke its first lead of the dual, 19-15.
 
Duke would clinch the win with a first period pin by Alec Schenk at 197 over Tyler Hall. A quick trip resulted in Hall on his back and Duke ahead, 25-15.
 
Freshman Ben Goldin scored two third-period takedowns to pick up a win for the Quakers at 285.
 
The Quakers return to The Palestra on January 13, hosting Drexel at 4 p.m.
 
Duke Defeats Penn, 25-18
125: Carmen Ferrante (Penn) TF Harrison Campbell (Duke), 15-0 (3:07); Penn leads, 5-0
133: Doug Zapf (Penn), wins by forfeit; Penn leads, 11-0
141: Josh Finesilver (Duke) MD Grant Aronoff (Penn), 14-6; Penn leads, 11-4
149: No. 6 Mitch Finesilver (Duke) DEC No. 17 Anthony Artalona (Penn), 4-1 Penn leads, 11-7
157: Joe Oliva (Penn) MD Benjamin Anderson (Duke), 13-5; Penn leads, 15-7
165: Zach Finesilver (Duke) DEC Evan DeLuise (Penn), 12-8; Penn leads, 15-10
174: Matt Finesilver (Duke) TF Brian Krasowski (Penn), 17-1 (5:29); Match tied, 15-15
184: Kaden Russel (Duke) MD Robert Ng (Penn), 12-4; Duke leads, 19-15
197: Alec Schenk (Duke) FALL Tyler Hall (Penn), 0:53; Duke leads, 25-15
285: Ben Goldin (Penn) DEC Araad Fisher (Duke), 5-2; Duke leads, 25-18