PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team vaulted itself right past California Baptist, shutting out the Lancers, 39-0, as part of the "Rumble & Tumble" event alongside Penn's gymnastics team.
 
The Red and Blue rumbled their way to four bonus point wins en route to the program's first shutout since a 37-0 win over Drexel in The Palestra in 2013.
 
The Quakers had 18 takedowns to just four from the Lancers, and Penn only trailed twice in any match during the dual.
 
Six of Penn's winners were true freshmen, led by Greg Bensley (fall), Carmen Ferrante (technical fall), and Doug Zapf (major decision) who each had bonus points.
 
Ferrante started the dual with a dominant 15-0 win over Antonio Saldate. Ferrante had three takedowns in the match, one in each period, and he twice turned those takedowns into sets of four-point nearfall.
 
Zapf followed with a 12-4 major decision at 133. The match was scoreless after one period, but Zapf dialed up five takedowns over the final two periods – including three in the third frame – to earn the major.
 
A.J. Vindici was leading Zander Silva, 4-2, midway through the second period, when Silva was injured during Vindici's second reversal of the match and was unable to continue.
 
No. 13 Anthony Artalona edged Daxton Gordon, 3-2, at 149 to give Penn its fourth win in a row. Artalona scored the only takedown of the match midway through the first period, and that was enough to knock off the 2018 NCAA Division II national champion.
 
Senior captain Joe Oliva made it five in a row with a 7-2 decision over Jaron Pagaduan at 157. Oliva scored takedowns in each of the first two periods on his way to a win in his final Palestra match.
 
Out of halftime, Evan DeLuise picked up a win at 165 with a 3-2 decision over Jacob Cooper. DeLuise scored the only takedown of the match one minute into the first period, and his escape with 0:42 left in the match was the deciding point.
 
At 174 pounds, Jake Hendricks scored three takedown in the first period, building a lead that was too much for Bryce Buckley to overcome in a 7-4 decision.
 
Robert Ng also made his final match in The Palestra memorable as the senior picked up an overtime win over Garrett Strang, 5-3. After a third period score from Strang forced overtime, Ng won a scramble late in sudden victory, securing the 184-pound match for his team.
 
Greg Bensley found himself down 4-1 to Ali'i Loyola early at 197 pounds, but a late takedown in the first period changed the course of the match in Bensley's favor. He came out firing in the second period, taking Loyola down to his back and securing the pin at 3:57. Ben Goldin capped the shutout with a 2-0 win over Zach Schrader, escaping in the second and riding out in the third for the win.
 
Penn defeats California Baptist, 39-0
125: Carmen Ferrante (Penn) TF Antonio Saldate (CBU), 15-0 (5:21); Penn leads, 5-0
133; Doug Zapf (Penn) MD Adam Velasquez (CBU), 12-4; Penn leads, 9-0
141: A.J. Vindici (Penn) INJ. DEFAULT Zander Silva (CBU), 3:26; Penn leads, 15-0
149: No. 13 Anthony Artalona (Penn) DEC Daxton Gordon (CBU), 3-2; Penn leads, 18-0
157: Joe Oliva (Penn) DEC Jaron Pagaduan (CBU), 7-2; Penn leads, 21-0
165: Evan DeLuise (Penn) DEC Jacob Cooper (CBU), 3-2; Penn leads, 24-0
174: Jake Hendricks (Penn) DEC Bryce Buckley (CBU), 7-4; Penn leads, 27-0
184: Robert Ng (Penn) DEC Garrett Strang (CBU), 5-3 (SV); Penn leads, 30-0
197: Greg Bensley (Penn) FALL Ali'i Loyola (CBU); 3:57; Penn leads, 36-0
285: Ben Goldin (Penn) DEC Zach Schrader (CBU), 2-0; Penn leads, 39-0