PHILADELPHIA – Despite getting off to a hot start with a pair of bonus-point victories, the University of Pennsylvania wrestling team was defeated by Drexel, 27-15. Penn now falls to 5-8 in duals and 4-5 against EIWA foes.
 
Seven of Penn's nine starters today were underclassmen, while five of the seven were freshman. Three of Penn's four event-winners were freshmen while all four were underclassmen.
 
The match started at 141 pounds, giving the Quakers the opportunity to send out perhaps their best wrestler this season, No. 16 Doug Zapf. The sophomore did exactly what was expected of him, as he strolled to an 11-1 major decision. Zapf got things started as a pair of first-period takedown and back points gave him a 6-1 advantage. A pair of penalty points, another takedown, and riding time clinched the bonus-point victory and Zapf's 11th consecutive dual victory. He is now 24-5 on the season, 15-0 against EIWA grapplers, and 11-1 in duals.
 
Freshman Lucas Revano kept things rolling with another major decision. Up 2-0 and starting bottom in the second period, Revano pulled off a reversal and added a four-point near fall for an 8-0 lead entering the final period. This time starting top, Revano once again tilted the Dragons' wrestler to his back for a pair of back points. A penalty point and riding time wrapped up the 12-0 major decision to put Penn in front, 8-0. He is now 13-12 on the season and an even 5-5 in duals.
 
Facing a large deficit, Drexel responded in a big way. Consecutive pins at 157 and 165 and a decision at 174 pounds gave the Dragons a 15-8 victory through the first five matches.
 
John Stout broke the streak of three straight Dragons' victories with his first collegiate dual win. The 184-pound freshman jumped out to an early, 5-1 lead with a pair of takedowns and an escape in the second period. Owen Brooks cut into that deficit with an escape and takedown to make it a one-point match, but a Stout escape gave him a 6-5 decision.
 
The victory from the freshman cut Penn's deficit to 15-11. However, Drexel responded with a pair of narrow decisions at 197 and 285 to give itself a double-digit cushion at 21-11.
 
The match rounded back to 125—one of the Quakers strongest weight classes thanks to freshman powerhouse and eighth-ranked Michael Colaiocco. The freshman toyed with Drexel's Anthony Mininno as he cruised to a 19-7 major decision. Each of Mininno's seven points came from escapes—with Colaiocco cutting the Dragon loose each time to go for a bonus-point victory. Colaiocco finished the match with an astonishing eight takedowns, one escape, one penalty point, and riding time.
 
Colaiocco is now 18-5 on the season and has won each of his last five matches. Additionally, the freshman improves to 8-2 in duals.
 
Due to injury, Penn was forced to forfeit the 133-pound match for the second time today. The six points gave Drexel a 27-15 victory and rights to the Abners Cheesesteak Trophy for the fourth-consecutive year.
 
The Quakers are back in action tomorrow evening for a dual against Franklin & Marshall in The Palestra at 7 p.m. Penn will also honor the wrestling Class of 2020 with a senior day ceremony to precede the dual.
 
Drexel 27, Penn 15
141: No. 13 Doug Zapf major dec. Tyler Williams, 11-1 – Penn 4, Drexel 0
149: Lucas Revano major dec. Nick Widmann, 12-0 – Penn 8, Drexel 0
157: No. 33 Parker Kropman fall Jon Errico, 2:57 – Penn 8, Drexel 6
165: No. 18 Ebed Jarrell fall Jake Lizak, 2:02 – Drexel 12, Penn 8
174: No. 27 Michael O'Malley dec. Neil Antrassian, 4-0 – Drexel 15, Penn 8
184: John Stout dec. Owen Brooks, 6-5 – Drexel 15, Penn 11
197: No. 28 Bryan McLaughlin dec. No. 29 Cole Urbas, 7-5 – Drexel 18, Penn 11
285: Sean O'Malley dec. Nate Hoaglund, 4-1 – Drexel 21, Penn 11
125: No. 6 Michael Colaiocco major dec. Antonio Mininno, 19-7 – Drexel 21, Penn 15
133: Chase Shields wins by forfeit