Spring Break
Stanford wrestling takes down Dragons
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: Sports
The Drexel wrestling team gave Pac-10 powerhouse Stanford everything it could handle. But the Cardinals (3-0) won the two biggest matches of the afternoon, including the battle of former All-Americans and ultimately defeated the shorthanded Dragons (5-3) 24-12 Jan 4.
"It's a darn good way for us to start," Drexel head coach Jack Childs said. "I mean [not losing but] with this type of competition to get ready for the year."
The Dragons held a 12-11 overall lead after back-to-back wins by Billy Haydt at 165 pounds and Scott Hunter at 174 pounds. But Stanford won the final three matches, including a 10-2 major decision by Jake Johnson at 197 pounds over Kyle Frey.
"A win at 184 and 197 and we still could've pulled this out, even with a forfeit at heavyweight," Childs said.
For the first time in school history, two All-Americans faced each other, as Drexel's 157-pounder Ryan Hluschak went up against Stanford's Josh Zupancic in a rematch of their seventh place match at the NCAAs last season, a match Zupancic won by a slim 11-10 margin in overtime.
Zupancic (20-5), ranked No. 16 in the country, trailed the No. 8 ranked Hluschak 2-1 (14-2) in the third overtime, but came up with an escape and a takedown in the closing seconds to prevail 4-2. Hluschak held a 1-0 lead heading into the third period, but Zupancic sent the match into the extra session with an escape.
125-pounder Steve Mytych squared off against Tanner Gardner in a high profile matchup, but the No. 4 ranked Garner took an early 4-0 lead after the second period and pulled away with a reversal and a two-point near fall in the final period to take an 8-0 major decision. Gardner improved to 21-1 on the season, while Mytych, a two-time NCAA qualifier, dropped to 18-4.
"I was a little disappointed in our big guns at 125 and 157," Childs said.
"'Schak is definitely better than that."
Bill Martin (133 pounds) and Morgan Remillard (141 pounds) also scored victories, both by decision for the Dragons.
Hluschak was honored before the game with a trophy commemorating his 100th career victory.
"It's a darn good way for us to start," Drexel head coach Jack Childs said. "I mean [not losing but] with this type of competition to get ready for the year."
The Dragons held a 12-11 overall lead after back-to-back wins by Billy Haydt at 165 pounds and Scott Hunter at 174 pounds. But Stanford won the final three matches, including a 10-2 major decision by Jake Johnson at 197 pounds over Kyle Frey.
"A win at 184 and 197 and we still could've pulled this out, even with a forfeit at heavyweight," Childs said.
For the first time in school history, two All-Americans faced each other, as Drexel's 157-pounder Ryan Hluschak went up against Stanford's Josh Zupancic in a rematch of their seventh place match at the NCAAs last season, a match Zupancic won by a slim 11-10 margin in overtime.
Zupancic (20-5), ranked No. 16 in the country, trailed the No. 8 ranked Hluschak 2-1 (14-2) in the third overtime, but came up with an escape and a takedown in the closing seconds to prevail 4-2. Hluschak held a 1-0 lead heading into the third period, but Zupancic sent the match into the extra session with an escape.
125-pounder Steve Mytych squared off against Tanner Gardner in a high profile matchup, but the No. 4 ranked Garner took an early 4-0 lead after the second period and pulled away with a reversal and a two-point near fall in the final period to take an 8-0 major decision. Gardner improved to 21-1 on the season, while Mytych, a two-time NCAA qualifier, dropped to 18-4.
"I was a little disappointed in our big guns at 125 and 157," Childs said.
"'Schak is definitely better than that."
Bill Martin (133 pounds) and Morgan Remillard (141 pounds) also scored victories, both by decision for the Dragons.
Hluschak was honored before the game with a trophy commemorating his 100th career victory.
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