66th Navy-Army Star Match

NAVY KEEPS THE STAR IN ANNAPOLIS (February 18, 2022)

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NAVY-ARMY RESULTS/PREDICTIONS

(significant rank plus win/loss record noted-click on record for all stats)

DUAL STARTED AT 141lbs

Tyler Hunt 7-12 vs. #47 Corey Shie 6-5 or #34 Thomas Deck 18-5

Tyler Hunt's last dual victory was a month ago in sudden victory over Hofstra and will try to shine at the Star Match. Army has been juggling Senior Corey Shie at 141lbs who qualified for the NCAAs, but freshman year in 2019. Thomas Deck however is ranked higher and has competed more in open events. Shie or Deck will get Army on the board with possible bonus points.

0-4 NAVY predicted

Corey Shie and Tyler Hunt traded some exciting sequences to open the dual and as expected, Army took this one 7-3 but not without Hunt fighting hard and holding off a major decision.

0-3 ARMY actual

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149lbs

Jonathan Miranda 6-12 or PJ Crane 4-10 vs. #17 PJ Ogunsanya 11-2 or #59 Matthew Williams 22-4

Navy has Jonathan Miranda and PJ Crane ready to go, but it was Miranda who got the pin against Clarion last weekend at Dahlgren Hall. #17 ranked PJ Ogunsanya is one of Army's most talented having been an EIWA Champion and NCAA Qualifier, however he has not competed in a month it seems due to an injury default loss (losing 0-5) to NCAA Champion Yianni Diakomihalis. Matthew Williams, (Ohio State HS 6th Place) since has 2 dual victories filling in for Ogunsanya. One of Army's strongest weights that may gain bonus points with whoever they send out.

0-8 ARMY predicted

As Hunt, Jonathan Miranda fought off Matthew William's bonus points and major decision. Miranda was never a real threat but did a great job holding Williams off to a 10-3 victory.

0-6 ARMY actual

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157lbs

#16 Andrew Cerniglia 23-6 vs. #17 Markus Hartman 12-5

This is a showdown of top 20 ranked athletes at 157lbs. I am very impressed by Cerniglia's skill who will have his hands full with Army Senior Markus Hartman, 2x NCAA Qualifier. Hartman nearly tech falled #19 Richards while Cerniglia lost 5-4, but I see Cerniglia emerging for the Midshipmen to keep Navy ahead of Army.

3-8 ARMY predicted

Probably the most exciting bout of the evening, ranked wrestlers #25 Cerniglia and #23 Hartman squared off and traded reversals throughout the bout, but it was Cerniglia prevailing breaking a 4-4 tie with a reversal and 4 near fall, winning 10-4.

3-6 ARMY actual

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165lbs

#69 Val Park 20-14 vs. #52 Dalton Harkins 23-8

Val Park is having a great season and some defeated performances that reveal his talent, including a 4-2 loss against #1 Evan Wick. Army's freshman Dalton Harkins is also having a great season and a 1-0 loss with Pitt's #13 Jake Wetzel who was NCAA Finalist; the losses are still indications of what they're both capable of. Inexperience can be a blessing but Harkins will not overcome Park's veteran ways.

6-8 ARMY predicted

Val Park defeated Harkins 3-0 who is ranked inside the top 30. Huge victory to keep the momentum rolling in Navy's favor as I saw this going either way. Army challenged a Harkin takedown sequence and lost which might have changed the outcome of the bout had it been reversed.

6-6 TIE actual

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174lbs

#69 Cael Crebs 15-9 or #77 Shane Finney 20-14 Shane Sosinky 8-8 vs. #38 Ben Pasiuk 13-4

Navy has Cael Crebs and Shane Finney ready to go against Army's Ben Pasiuk who majored Finney 15-5 in January. Pasiuk is on a 5 dual win streak including his last victory avenging a loss against Lehigh's Jake Logan (who Pasiuk also majored a year ago). This is a toss up and give Pasiuk the edge, but possibly Army's last victory in weight order.

6-11 ARMY predicted

Senior Shane Sosinky with just one dual under his belt, got the nod for Navy while top 25 ranked Ben Pasiuk attacked for bonus points. Sosinsky did a great job holding Pasiuk off to a 9-2 score.

6-9 ARMY actual

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184lbs

#36 David Key 14-8 vs. #62 Sahm AbdulRazzaq 12-9 or #53 Brad Laughlin 5-5

This is an interesting weight with no clear cut Army representative, who would most likely face top 40 ranked David Key of Navy. Key and AbdulRazzaq have common opponents that Key defeated/Abdul lost (Small, Brown) and vice versa, Abdul defeated/Key lost (Coy) and Laughlin has been inserted into the lineup with wins over Small and Brown, both whom Abdul lost to. Key has a top 15 win over Malczewski who just defeated #22 Kyle Cochran of Maryland and look for him to put Navy closer to a Star Match victory.

9-11 ARMY predicted

Excellent action here with Navy's David Key and Army's Brad Laughlin, trading takedowns and escapes, but it was Key's takedown and riding time that put him ahead for the 6-4 victory.

9-9 TIE actual

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197lbs

#25 Jacob Koser 20-6 vs. #47 JT Brown 10-7

Another toss up here as #25 ranked Koser and top 50 Brown have met 3 times previously with Brown winning last 2 in 2021. They have some common opponents whom they share losses with and this could be one of the pivotal bouts that decides the Star Match depending on weight class the dual starts at. Koser comes in with a revealing sudden victory loss to #6 ranked DePrez and has been wrestling well enough to even up his rivalry with Brown.

12-11 NAVY predicted

This was such a pivotal bout, no matter where the dual began, but dual knotted at 9, #26 Koser pulled out a huge win over #25 Brown, winning on a stall point with just 3 seconds left!

12-9 NAVY actual

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285lbs

#58 Ryan Catka 22-7 or #27 Grady Griess 20-6 or #63 Riley Smith 15-9 vs. Kade Carlson 13-5 or Brandon Phillips 2-8

Prep star Ryan Catka has been the guy for Navy recently and has a sudden victory win over Army's Kade Carlson. Griess is ranked top 30 and Smith was at one point also ranked inside the top 30. Irregardless of who Kolat sends out, I don't foresee Navy losing this one.

15-11 NAVY predicted

Plebe Ryan Catka got the nod against Senior Army Brandon Phillips. Catka wrestled poised and brough Alumni hall to their feet, edging Phillips 3-2.

15-9 NAVY actual

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125lbs

#77 Jacob Allen 16-12 vs. Ryan Chauvin 3-13

Jacob Allen qualified for NCAA's last year, but at 133lbs. He's a strong 125lber who should turn it up against Chauvin of Army who has taken his lumps this year. Each lost to Bucknell giving up 3 points, but Allen lost 3-1 in sudden victory. Allen is struggling a bit recently but I see him bouncing back strong for the Star Match in Annapolis.

18-11 NAVY predicted

Excellent wrestling by Senior Captain Jacob Allen to seal the Star Victory in Navy's Honor with a 5-1 decision over Chuavin.

18-9 NAVY actual

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133lbs

#22 Josh Koderhandt 21-7 vs. Dominic Carone 7-7

Tough as nails Josh Koderhandt comes in with a 4 dual winning streak and looks to gain bonus points against Army's Dominic Carone who recently lost to Bucknell's Phipps 5-0 while Koderhandt nearly majored Phipps a week later 7-1. Look for Koderhandt to push Navy closer to 7 or 8 overall team points here.

22-11 NAVY predicted

The final bout of the evening saw Josh Koderhandt go get the only bonus points of the dual for Navy, winning 13-3 over Carone.

22-9 NAVY actual

FINAL THOUGHTS... Olympian and Navy Coach Cary Kolat has quickly made an impact, not only on the Navy Wrestling program, but the excitement outside of the program. Alumni Hall was packed with not only Midshipmen as we have seen in the past, but with alumni, local fans, parents, and friends of the Academy. They are engaged more than ever before and it shows in both the mat results of the athletes and their reaction afterwards, acknowledging the energy they feel.

When I wrote this preview a week ago, I saw 4 or 5 of these bouts that could go the other way, but knowing Kolat and his ability to get his guys ready, I selected every single win correctly, including Koderhandt's only team bonus points with a major. Additionally, Tyler Hunt, Jonathan Miranda, and Shane Soskinsky did an excellent job proving me wrong, each not getting majored as I expected, preventing Army from scoring the 11 points I predicted. Instead the three victories I did predict Army to win were minor decisions.

Andrew Cerniglia continues to impress with a huge victory over a ranked opponent. It should give him confidence headed into EIWAs. His body language exuberated confidence in his ability to wrestling through tough positions.

Val Park, David Key and Jacob Koser competed the most patient I have seen all year, yet attacking hard with constant pressure. The three athletes respectfully tightened up fundamentals to avoid giving up pivotal points.

Plebe Ryan Catka got the start at heavyweight and took full advantage of his opportunity to absorb the atmosphere with a narrowing 3-2 victory that he can relish and recall in the years to come when things get tough under pressure.

After Koser won breaking the 9-9 dual meet tie and right before Catka went out on the mat, Kolat took Jacob Allen and Josh Koderhandt back thru the tunnel. I imagine many coaches would tell them to be cautious and not give up points and eek out the wins, but in my mind, Kolat is telling them to not let up off the gas EVER.

Excellent post dual celebration in Alumni Hall with the many friends I have met over the years, including the godfather of Maryland Wrestling Neil Adleberg, first NCAA Champion from Maryland Kelly Ward, Olympian and friend Johnny Stefanowicz who recently relocated to train at the Navy RTC, Navy alum Pat Prada, WVA alum Cameron Harrell, Waynesburg Matt Claxton, each who I use to train in Freestyle and Greco, the Navy parents in the Stern's and Warner's who have always been super supportive of positive efforts.

Thanks to Ivan Kanaski (class of 2003) who is stationed nearby via California, has both trained/coached with and traveled with me recently to many local duals including tonight. He had not been back to the academy in almost a decade and glad to get him reconnected to the excitement in Annapolis. Treated us to a late night $60 chicken sandwich in DC and will remember to stay in Annapolis next time!

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PREVIEW WRITTEN FEBRUARY 11, 2022

The always exciting Navy-Army Wrestling rivalry will be reignited Friday February 18th 7:30pm EST in Annapolis for their 66th meeting. Navy won the annual Star Match last year and it was also Navy's first victory in West Point since Navy Coach Cary Kolat's Olympic coach Bruce Burnett won for Navy in 2013. Navy holds an overall 50-10-5 record against Army and seeks their first Star Match victory in Annapolis since 2016.

What's most interesting here is that both Navy (Feb 4) and Army (Jan 29) defeated Bucknell just a week apart, by the exact same team score of 21-12. See both team's results against Bucknell and my preview below.