Seventeenth-ranked Army (10-3, 4-1 EIWA) won two of the final three matches to even the score (15-15) against the Navy wrestling team (8-6, 3-2 EIWA) Saturday evening in the annual Star Match at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. After consulting the rulebook, the Black Knights were eventually awarded the victory based on the third criteria (criteria c) which is the total match points scored from decisions, major decisions and technical falls. Army clipped the Mids, 29-26, in the final count.

After falling behind 6-0 in the opening two matches, Navy rallied behind 141-pound Cody Trybus' (Jr / Elkton, Md.)  spectacular sudden victory decision over Army sophomore Corey Shie. Trybus scored the match-winning takedown with just one second remaining in the one-minute extra frame to take the 3-1 win.

Navy went on to knot the match at 6-all when Jared Prince (Sr / Safety Harbor, Fla.) cruised to a 7-2 victory, earning nearly two minutes of riding time against the Black Knights' P.J. Ogunsanya at 149 pounds. The victory punctuated a sensational career for the senior who closed out his dual career by posting four wins against no losses in the annual Star Match.

After Prince and Ogunsanya exchanged handshakes, Army was docked a team point for an unsportsmanlike conduct call against Ogunsanya who threw his anklet aside. A point that could very well have cost the Black Knights the match.

Army grabbed the lead back, 9-6, after senior 157-pound Lucas Weiland used a four-point takedown in the opening period to defeat Navy's Val Park (Fr / Edmond, Okla.), who bumped up a weight class for this match.

Navy, however, went right back to work with back-to-back wins at 165 and 174 pounds. Ranked ninth nationally, Tanner Skidgel (Jr / Tulsa, Okla.) made just his third appearance since the calendar-opening Southern Scuffle Jan. 1-2. The second-year starter scored his lone point on an optional escape to begin the final period, but it would be all he needed in a 1-0 decision over Army senior Cael McCormick.

Team captain Spencer Carey (Sr / Ringwood, N.J.) gave the Mids their largest lead in the match (12-8) thanks to a solid third period in his 174-pound battle against 11th-ranked Ben Harvey. Carey trailed Harvey, 1-0, going into the third period, but he knotted the match with an escape to open the final stanza. The 2019 NCAA qualifier went on to capture his sixth-career victory over a ranked foe when he scored the match-winning takedown with under five seconds remaining in the bout for the 3-1 victory.

Army leveled the match at 12 apiece when 18th-ranked Noah Stewart dealt Dean Caravela (Jr / West Caldwell, N.J.) an 11-3 loss in what was just Caravela's third career dual. The major decision was the only bonus-point victory by either team on the night and proved to be the difference in the match.

The Mids regained the lead a match later when Jacob Koser (Fr / Dillsburg, Pa.), who battled the flu throughout the week, bounced back to dominate Army sophomore J.T. Brown. Koser built up over two minutes of riding time en route to a 6-1 victory. Koser is now just one win shy of 20 on the year, while he closed out the dual portion of the schedule with a team-best 11-3 mark.

Heading into the final match of the evening, Army trailed by three points and looking ahead to the tie-breaker criteria, it owned a 28-26 advantage in overall points scored. Navy knew it would need to pull an upset to claim victory. Instead, 20th-ranked Ben Sullivan held off Navy heavyweight Riley Smith (So / Mason, Mich.), appearing in just his second career dual including his second in as many weeks, 1-0. The Sullivan win tied the match at 15, but it also gave the Black Knights a 29-26 advantage in total points to clinch the win - just the 10th by Army in the 64-match series.

Thoughts From Coach Sharratt
• Logan Treaster (125) is talented athlete who controlled the match and held great position. He has been knocking off ranked opponent after ranked opponent and tonight he just did not get to those positions where he scores points from. He is on the rise and some small adjustments will get him deeper and in better position to finish his attacks.

• Casey Cobb (133) dominated the shot count and just needs to finish his attacks cleanly. I was impressed with his open aggressive style, he just needs to transfer that into points.

• Cody Trybus (141) continues to climb and is wrestling so well. His pace is exciting and his position and aggressive style was really what started a nice rally for us.

• We have two talented guys here at 149, but Jared Prince really stepped up in the last four weeks. He has balanced his weight management and academic work load well over the last several weeks. He has a style that can score bonus points and people will work to defend that, but we just couldn't get that guy to open up down there.

• Again we made a decision here between two wonderful wrestlers at 157 pounds, but took a style that is very hard to prepare for and Val had several opportunities to get that match. His experience will benefit Navy wrestling for years to come.

• Tanner Skidgel (165) is just a hammer that controlled mat position, pace and proved he is back and ready for the opportunities ahead. He was very strong and had tremendous resiliency throughout the bout. That is a credit to his training partners and small group coaches.

• Spencer Carey (174) really brought the Navy wrestling fans to their feet in a battle of will that went the distance and he just would not quit. He is so driven, wrestles in great position and attacks to both sides. For people that know wrestling, that was a very impressive bout.

• Dean Caravela (184) had an opportunity to move up a weight and based on style matchups, it was a call that his team supported and he embraced. He forced a lot of action and we felt he could have scored another takedown late in the third, but was not able to capitalize late and save the point.

• The heart and grit of Jake Koser (197) who had been sidelined early this week and just will himself to get better was the heart that inspires greatness among a team. He had everyone pulling for him and he came through big time will multiple takedowns and just could not open up the bottom guy to a position we could attack for bonus points. He will grow from this strong victory and its a great indicator of where he is at going into the postseason.

• Riley Smith (285) has worked hard and has not had much time in the limelight. He wrestled that match to the end and had opportunities to overcome some big external expectations. He was a threat in several positions and I believe solidified his understanding that he's ready to compete at this level as he was thrust into the starting role at the moment champions dream about.

Army 16, Navy 15  |  2,012 attendance
125 | #17 Trey Chalifoux dec Logan Treaster (NAVY), 5-2  //  Army 3, Navy 0
133 | Lane Peters dec Casey Cobb (NAVY), 3-1   //  Army 6, Navy 0
141 | Cody Trybus (NAVY) def Corey Shie, 3-1 SV   //  Army 6, Navy 3
149 | Jared Prince (NAVY) dec P.J. Ogunsanya, 7-2   //  Army 5, Navy 6
157 | Lucas Weiland dec Val Park (NAVY), 4-0  //  Army 8, Navy 6
165 | #9 Tanner Skidgel (NAVY) dec Cael McCormick, 1-0   //  Army 8, Navy 9
174 | Spencer Carey (NAVY) dec #11 Ben Harvey dec, 3-1   //  Army 8, Navy 12
184 | #18 Noah Stewart dec Dean Caravela (NAVY), 11-3   //  Army 12, Navy 12
197 | Jacob Koser (NAVY) dec J.T. Brown, 6-1   //  Army 12, Navy 15
285 | #20 Ben Sullivan dec Riley Smith (NAVY), 1-0   //  Army 15, Navy 15
* Army was deducted a team point following the 149-pound match for unsportsmanlike conduct
* Army wins tie-breaker by way of criteria c: total match points, 29-26

What's Ahead
• Navy will have nearly two weeks to prepare for the EIWA Championship slated for March 6-7.  
• Lehigh will serve as the host with action taking place at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa. Opening-day action is set for 11:00 am, while Saturday's semifinals and wrestlebacks are due to start at 10:00 am.

### Go Navy ###