If the losses are any indication, then the Harvard wrestling team discovered that everything is indeed bigger in Texas.
Saturday’s Lone Star Duals signaled a rough weekend for the Crimson as the team lost its three dual meets with Eastern Michigan, Stanford and Cal State Fullerton by scores of 38-13, 25-10 and 29-16, respectively.
But the trip to Dallas was not without its individual bright spots.
Junior captain Mike Baria was perfect on the weekend, taking all three of his matches in the 141-lb. weight class. He beat Eastern Michigan’s Ahmed Joumaa on a 6-1 decision, Stanford’s Chris Hagyworth on a 4-3 decision, and Cal State Fullerton’s Juan Mora 7-6.
Sophomore powerhouse Bode Ogunwole, wrestling in the 285-lb. bracket, was similarly unblemished, dominating his two matches against Stanford’s Shawn Ritzenhaler and Cal State Fullerton’s Chris Chambers with a 14-6 decision and a 10-1 major decision, in that order.
Senior heavyweight Jonas Corl, who wrestled in place of Ogunwole against Eastern Michigan, also won his match against Charlie Walker on an 11-3 decision, marking a weekend sweep of the 285-lb. division.
Sophomore Robbie Preston turned in a spotless weekend of his own in the 125-lb. class on the strength of a forfeit, a 5-1 decision over Stanford’s Nathan Peterson, and a 1:12 pin against Cal State Fullerton’s Jesse Miramontes.
The other Harvard win was turned in by freshman Dominic DeNunzio in the 149-lb. bracket, who brushed off two earlier losses to beat Cal State Fullerton’s Jeff Silva on a 4-3 decision.
The Crimson will now look ahead to West Point, where they will wrestle Army on Jan. 28
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