UPDATED: Penn takes EIWA lead after semifinals, putting five in the finals

With a strong round including five semifinal winners, Penn took over the lead at the EIWA Championships, jumping ahead of Cornell, which placed three in the finals.

Army was third, Navy was fourth and Lehigh was fifth after the session.

"They were fabulous," said Penn coach Zeke Jones after the semifinals ended. "These kids have worked hard. They put 100% into that round. It is not over. We have just put ourselves back into contention."

Wrestling continues this session with the consolation semifinals and medal matches, so an updated story will appear shortly.

SEMIFINAL SUMMARIES

At 125 pounds, in a wide-open match in which he trailed early, No. 1 Rollie Peterkin of Penn locked up a cradle and pinned Mike Rodriguez of Cornell in the third period. In the other semifinal, No. 2 Fernando Martinez (Army) controlled the action from the beginning and won all the takedowns to defeat No. 6 Jasen Borshoff of American.

The top two seeds at 133 pounds were both knocked off. No. 4 Joe Baker of Navy scored both takedowns and had 1:01 of riding time to defeat No. 1 Mike Grey (Cornell), 5-4. No. 3 David Marble of Bucknell scored a takedown with 35 seconds left to defeat No. 2 Seth Ciasulli of Lehigh.

At 141, top seeded Matt Kyler of Army broke a 4-4 tie, scoring three points with a reversal and a technical violation to defeat No. 4 Corey Jantzen of Harvard, 7-4. In a mild upset, No. 6 Rick Rappo of Penn broke a 2-2 tie with a takedown and went on to beat No. 2 Kyle Borshoff of American, 6-4.

Although he gave up the opening takedown, No. 1 J.P. O'Connor of Harvard opened it up for a major decision over No. 5 D.J. Meagher of Cornell, 11-2 at 149 pounds. On the strength of an overtime escape and a rideout, No. 3 Cesar Grajales (Penn) defeated No. 2 Trevor Chinn of Lehigh, 3-2.

The top two seeds at 157 pounds advanced. Returning champion and No. 1 Jordan Leen of Cornell pinned No. 5 Christopher Stout of American in 4:54. It was more difficult for No. 2 Dave Nakasone of Lehigh, who scored an overtime takedown to defeat No. 3 Spencer Manley of Navy, 3-1.

At 165 pounds, No. 1 seeded freshman Mack Lewnes of Cornell scored all of the takedowns to defeat No. 4 Andrew Rendos of Bucknell, 7-2. Winning the fourth straight semifinal for Penn was No. 3 Zach Shanaman of Penn, who scored a key third-period takedown to stop Michael Cannon of American, 5-1.

It will be a match between returning champions in the finals at 174 pounds. No. 1 Steve Anceravage of Cornell, last year's champion at 165, scored the only takedown to beat No. 5 Scott Giffin (Penn), 4-1. Defending champion and No. 2 Matt Stolpinski of Navy, scored his points late in the match to beat No. 6 Shane Riccio (Bucknell), 2-0

At 184 pounds, the top seeds advanced. No. 1 Scott Ferguson of Army led the whole way to defeat No. 4 Matthew Gevelinger of Brown, 8-4. No. 2 Lior Zamir of Penn was winning the bout when he received an won by injury default over No. 3 Josh Arnone of Cornell in 4:07.

At 197 pounds, defending national champion and No. 1 Josh Glenn of American was dominant before pinning No. 4 Thomas Shovlin of Penn in 1:50. Although a possible buzzer beater takedown was waived off in regulation, No. 6 Lamar Brown of Rutgers scored an overtime takedown to defeat No. 2 Justin Kerber of Cornell, 3-1.

No. 1 Ed Prendergast of Navy, a defending champion, won his semifinal over No. 4 Nathan Thobaben of Army, 9-4 at 285 pounds. Putting his opponent on his back twice, No. 7 Ryan Flores of Columbia defeated No. 3 Levon Mock of Brown, 11-5, becoming the lowest seed to reach the finals this year.


EIWA Semifinal results

125 pounds
No. 1 Rollie Peterkin (Penn) pin No. 4 Mike Rodriguez (Cornell), 5:54
No. 2 Fernando Martinez (Army) dec. No. 6 Jasen Borshoff (American), 8-1

133 pounds
No. 4 Joe Baker (Navy) dec. No. 1 Mike Grey (Cornell), 5-4
No. 3 David Marble (Bucknell) dec. No. 2 Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh), 5-3

141 pounds
No. 1 Matt Kyler (Army) dec. No. 4 Corey Jantzen (Harvard), 7-4
No. 6 Rick Rappo (Penn) dec. No. 2 Kyle Borshoff (American), 6-4

149 pounds
No. 1 J.P. O'Connor (Harvard) maj. dec. No. 5 D.J. Meagher (Cornell), 11-2
No. 3 Cesar Grajales (Penn) dec. No. 2 Trevor Chinn (Lehigh), 3-2, ot

157 pounds
No. 1 Jordan Leen (Cornell) pin No. 5 Christopher Stout (American), 4:54
No. 2 Dave Nakasone (Lehigh) dec. No. 3 Spencer Manley (Navy), 3-1, sv

165 pounds
No. 1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) vs. No. 4 Andrew Rendos (Bucknell), 7-2
No. 3 Zach Shanaman (Penn) dec. No. 2 Michael Cannon (American), 5-1

174 pounds
No. 1 Steve Anceravage (Cornell) vs. No. 5 Scott Giffin (Penn), 4-1
No. 2 Matt Stolpinski (Navy) vs. No. 6 Shane Riccio (Bucknell), 2-0

184 pounds
No. 1 Scott Ferguson (Army) dec. No. 4 Matthew Gevelinger (Brown), 8-4
No. 2 Lior Zamir (Penn) won by inj. dft. over No. 3 Josh Arnone (Cornell). 4:07

197 pounds
No. 1 Josh Glenn (American) pin No. 4 Thomas Shovlin (Penn), 1:50
No. 6 Lamar Brown (Rutgers) dec. No. 2 Justin Kerber (Cornell), 3-1, sv

285 pounds
No. 1 Ed Prendergast (Navy) dec. No. 4 Nathan Thobaben (Army), 9-4
No. 7 Ryan Flores (Columbia) dec. No. 3 Levon Mock (Brown), 11-5

Finalists
Penn - 5: Rollie Peterkin (125), Rick Rappo (141), Cesar Grajales (149), Zach Shanaman (165), Lior Zamir (184)
Army - 3: Fernando Martinez (125), Matt Kyler (141), Scott Ferguson (184)
Cornell- 3: Jordan Leen (157), Mack Lewnes (165), Steve Anceravage (174)
Navy - 3: Joe Baker (133), Matt Stolpinski (174), 1 Ed Prendergast (285)
American - 1: Josh Glenn (197)
Bucknell - 1: David Marble (133)
Columbia - 1: Ryan Flores (285)
Harvard - 1: J.P. O'Connor (149)
Lehigh - 1: Dave Nakasone (157)
Rutgers - 1: Lamar Brown (197)

Top five teams after semifinal rounds
1. Penn, 106.5
2. Cornell, 103.5
3. Army, 71.4
4. Navy, 65
5. Lehigh, 50.5