NEW YORK, N.Y. – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team took a swing at making something happen with a lineup shift against Columbia, but the gamble didn't quite pay off in a 25-12 loss in the Big Apple.
 
The Red and Blue won four matches to six for the Lions, but Columbia found bonus points in a variety of ways while securing wins in the matchups Penn moved its lineup around for.
 
The Quakers opened with consecutive wins at 133 and 141, building a 6-0 lead. Doug Zapf downed Matt Kazimir, 4-1, at 133 on the strength of a first period takedown and a third period reversal. A.J. Vindici followed with a 10-6 decision over Danny Fongaro at 141. Vindici scored four takedown in the match, salting it away with a pair of takedowns in the third period.
 
With Vindici taking the mat at 141, Penn slid Grant Aronoff up to 149. The move appeared to pay dividends early as Aronoff scored the only points of the first period via a double leg takedown. At the start of the second, Cole Corrigan's size difference came through with a mat return which laid Aronoff on his back for a fall at 3:22 which tied the dual, 6-6.
 
The lineup shuffle continued at 157 as No. 13-ranked 149-pounder Anthony Artalona bumped up to take on Danny Reed. Artalona went to the third period in range, tying the match at 1-1 with an early escape. Reed would score a takedown late in the third and he denied Artalona's efforts following an escape as Reed went on to a 3-2 win to give the Lions a 9-6 lead.
 
Columbia would eventually win five consecutive matches from 149-184, pulling out to a 21-6 lead. At 165 pounds, Laurence Kosoy downed Evan DeLuise, 5-0. Max Elling followed with a pin in tiebreakers over Jake Hendricks, reversing Hendricks to his back and securing the pin. At 184, the Lions again scored big in overtime as Brian Bonino put together a six-point move in sudden victory for a 7-1 win over Robert Ng.
 
Penn got the next two matches with gutty efforts from freshmen big men.
 
At 197, Greg Bensley trailed Sam Wustefeld, 5-2, early in the first period. By the time the third period ended, Bensley had rallied with a pair of third-period takedowns for a 10-9 win. Heavyweight Ben Goldin followed with a 3-1 win over Daniel Herman, connecting on a double leg in the second period for the deciding points.
 
The Lions closed the dual with a 10-2 major decision from Joe Manchin over Blair Orr at 125 pounds.
 
The Quakers return to The Palestra for Senior Day against Princeton on February 16 at 1 p.m. On February 17, the Red and Blue host Cal Baptist as part of Penn's "Rumble & Tumble" alongside the gymnastics team at 1 p.m.
 
Columbia defeats Penn, 25-12
133: Doug Zapf (Penn) DEC Matt Kazimir (Columbia), 4-1; Penn leads, 3-0
141: A.J. Vindici (Penn) DEC Danny Fongaro (Columbia), 10-6; Penn leads, 6-0
149: Cole Corrigan (Columbia) FALL Grant Aronoff (Penn), 3:22; Match tied, 6-6
157: Dan Reed (Columbia) DEC Anthony Artalona (Penn), 3-2; Columbia leads, 19-6
165: Laurence Kosoy (Columbia) DEC Evan DeLuise (Penn), 5-0; Columbia leads, 12-6
174: Max Elling (Columbia) FALL Jake Hendricks (Penn), 8:48; Columbia leads, 18-6
184: Brian Bonino (Columbia) DEC Robert Ng (Penn), 7-1 (SV); Columbia leads, 21-6
197: Greg Bensley (Penn) DEC Sam Wustefeld (Columbia), 10-9; Columbia leads, 21-9
285: Ben Goldin (Penn) DEC Daniel Herman (Columbia), 3-1; Columbia leads, 21-12
125: Joe Manchio (Columbia) MD Blair Orr (Penn), 10-2; Columbia leads 25-12