ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Army-Navy Star Match came down to the final bout Friday night at Alumni Hall, where the Navy wrestling team (6-5, 3-2 EIWA) dropped a 19-18 decision to Army (5-5, 5-1 EIWA). With Navy holding an 18-16 lead entering heavyweight, 16th-ranked Brady Colbert secured a 2-0 victory over 14th-ranked Spencer Lanosga to clinch the dual for Army. The Star Match was part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.
 
"You can't give up bonus points in big duals," Navy head coach Cary Kolat said. "We got caught at 125 pounds, and that stung because our guy had beaten him before. Caedyn Ricciardi was able to cancel that out and get us back in the dual."
 
"We fought. It was an exciting dual. It was back-and-forth," Kolat said. "We just made some basic, fundamental mistakes that caught up with us at the end. The Star match means a lot to the alumni and the Academy. I think we had a good season. We had some close losses to quality opponents and competed hard all year."
 
Army jumped out to an early 9-0 lead after wins at 125 and 133 pounds. Charlie Farmer pinned Andrew Binni in just 37 seconds to open the night before 14th-ranked Ethan Berginc recorded a 5-0 decision over Brendan Ferretti.
 
Navy answered at 141 pounds when 28th-ranked Caedyn Ricciardi delivered one of the night's biggest moments. After a scoreless opening period and trailing 1-0 in the third, Ricciardi scored a reversal and pinned 15th-ranked Braden Basile at 5:38. It was Ricciardi's fourth victory by fall this season and his fifth-career win over a ranked opponent, including his first against a top-15 foe.
 
"It's big for a freshman to perform in a dual like this," Kolat said. "That's his style — you think you have him, but he has you."
 
Kaemen Smith evened the team score at 9-9 with a 12-5 decision over Conor Collins at 149 pounds. Smith used three takedowns and 1:08 of riding time to secure the victory.
 
At 157 pounds, 32nd-ranked Jonathan Ley gave Navy its first lead of the night with a 4-3 decision over Joseph Antonio. In a tightly contested bout, Ley scored a late takedown to take control and clinch the win, putting the Midshipmen ahead, 12-9.
 
Army regained the advantage at 165 pounds as 13th-ranked Gunner Filipowicz posted a 13-2 major decision over 30th-ranked Dylan Elmore to move the Black Knights back in front, 13-12.
 
Navy responded by winning the next two bouts. At 174 pounds, 11th-ranked Danny Wask recorded a 9-5 decision over Andrew Christie in a high-paced match featuring multiple scrambles and reversals. Wask's win pushed Navy ahead, 15-13.
 
Daniel Williams followed with a clutch 3-2 decision over Cooper Haase at 184 pounds. In a bout decided in the final seconds, Williams scored a late reversal to swing momentum and extend Navy's lead to 18-13.
 
Army trimmed the deficit to 18-16 at 197 pounds as 28th-ranked Wolfgang Frable defeated 31st-ranked Zyan Hall, 5-0, setting up a winner-take-all scenario at heavyweight.
 
In the final bout, Colbert and Lanosga battled through a scoreless first period. Colbert rode out Lanosga in the second and escaped in the third for the only point scored in regulation. With riding time secured, Colbert earned the 2-0 decision to seal the 19-18 victory for Army.
 
The Midshipmen will shift their focus to the postseason as they are set to compete in the EIWA Championship March 6-7 in Washington, D.C.
 
Navy vs. Army Match Results
125 – Charlie Farmer fall Andrew Binni (NAVY), 0:37 // Army 6, Navy 0
133 – #14 Ethan Berginc dec. Brendan Ferretti (NAVY), 5-0 // Army 9, Navy 0
141 – #28 Caedyn Ricciardi (NAVY) pins #15 Braden Basile, 5:38 // Army 9, Navy 6
149 – Kaemen Smith (NAVY) dec. Conor Collins, 12-5 // Army 9, Navy 9
157 – #32 Jonathan Ley (NAVY) dec. Joseph Antonio, 4-3 // Navy 12, Army 9
165 – #13 Gunner Filipowicz majors #30 Dylan Elmore (NAVY), 13-2 // Army 13, Navy 12
174 – #11 Danny Wask (NAVY) dec. Andrew Christie, 9-5 // Navy 15, Army 13
184 – #32 Daniel Williams (NAVY) dec. Cooper Haase, 3-2 // Navy 18, Army 13
197 – #28 Wolfgang Frable dec. #31 Zyan Hall (NAVY), 5-0 // Navy 18, Army 16
285 – #16 Brady Colbert dec. #14 Spencer Lanosga (NAVY), 2-0 // Army 19, Navy 18
Attendance: 2,833