Box Score
Senior Night Photo Gallery
 
KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 21, 2022) – Despite a late comeback, winning the final four bouts of the match, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy wrestling team fell just short of visiting Stevens Institute on Friday night by the final score of 20-19. The Mariners' dual record drops to 1-1 on the year, while the #8 nationally-ranked Ducks improve to 2-4.
 
Prior to the match, the USMMA wrestling program paid tribute to its five graduating seniors with a special Senior Night ceremony honoring Luke Gauthier (Forked River, N.J.), Alex Puglio (Myerstown, Pa.), Billy Sims (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), Max Sims (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and Dominick Esposito (Marlboro, N.J.). To view a photo gallery of the ceremony, click here.
 
All four seniors who wrestled on the evening – Gauthier, the Sims twins and Esposito – all won their bouts.
 
After forfeiting six points to Stevens at 125, the Mariners earned got on the board with four points on an exciting 15-1 major decision win by freshman Cameron Pleninger (Havre, Mont.).
 
The Ducks won the next four weight classes, however – two by decision at 141 and 165 and two by majors at 149 and 157 – to take a 20-4 lead in the match.
 
The senior trio of Esposito (174), Billy Sims (184) and Max Sims (197) strung together three-straight decision victories to make the score 20-13, not enough to complete the comeback. A very quick pin in just 30 seconds by sophomore Jimmy Dunagan (Boulder City, Nev.) at heavyweight ended the night with six more points for the Mariners.
 
In the first of two exhibitions on the night, Gauthier didn't waste much time pinning his opponent, either, as he ended it in just 47 seconds.
 
Up next, the Mariners will host NYU on Tuesday night, Jan. 25, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Liebertz Gym. Live video of the entire evening will be available with a link on the USMMA Wrestling Schedule Page.
 
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