NAPERVILLE, Ill. – In the season-opening dual for both teams, the University of Chicago wrestling team rallied for a tie late but lost in the tiebreaker at North Central College on Friday.
The host Cardinals (1-0 record) jumped ahead 13-0 through the opening three matches thanks to a major decision and a forfeit. A pair of freshmen got the Maroons (0-1 record) on the board. Mason Williams and Luke Iida went back-to-back with a pair of decision victories at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively. Seven of UChicago's nine starters on the evening were underclassmen.
Down 16-6 heading into 174 pounds, UChicago came back to win three of the last four matches of the evening. Junior Paul Papoutsis took care of his opponent 8-3 at 174 pounds, and freshman John Jayne made his collegiate debut memorable with a first-period pin at 197 pounds.
Everything rode on the heavyweight match. Sophomore Graham Grant came up clutch for the Maroons with a 10-2 major decision, securing the needed four team points to tie the overall score 19-19. However, North Central ended up being awarded the victory in the points tiebreaker 53-48.
North Central 19, UChicago 19 (53-48 in tiebreaker)
125 – Miguel Silva (NCC) def. Louis Demarco (UC), D 10-4
133 – Casey McWhirter (NCC) def. Elliot Henderson (UC) M 17-4
141 – Layten Binion (NCC) won via forfeit
149 – Mason Williams (UC) def. Howard Beatty (NCC), D 10-5
157 – Luke Iida (UC) def. Connor Waugh (NCC), D 7-2
165 – Josh Tardy (NCC) def. Nicholas DiNapoli (UC), D 8-4
174 – Paul Papoutsis (UC) def. Eric Kirkman (NC), D 8-3
184 – Vincent Pizzo (NCC) def. Steven Franke (C), D 6-1
197 – John Jayne (UC) pinned James Ford (NCC) at 2:38
285 – Graham Grant (UC) def. Casey Greenberg (NCC), M 10-2
NEXT MEET:
- Saturday, November 14 – UChicago at Trine University Invitational, 10 AM (ET)
