The
match will streamed live for free at:
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy wrestling team will close out the regular season on Friday evening with the annual Star Match against arch rival Army. The Midshipmen will look to capture their 14th consecutive win over the Black Knights when the two programs battle one another at Alumni Hall beginning at 7:00 pm. Additionally, members of Navy's senior class and their families will be recognized in a prematch ceremony, while former Navy wrestling head coach Bruce Burnett will be honored midway through the match.
For those fans who are unable to attend Friday's match, a free live video stream will be available via the Patriot League Network at www.PatriotLeague.TV(.)
Navy has been the dominant team in the series, boasting a 47-5-5 series advantage including a 26-1-2 record in matches staged in Annapolis. The Midshipmen have suffered just one setback (1997, 19-12) to Army in the last 51 matches, as Navy owns a spectacular 45-1-5 record during that span.
"It's a big weekend for our team and program," said Navy interim head coach Brian Antonelli. "There has been a lot of alumni support through the last two weeks in emails and visits, but the guys have stayed focused and are looking forward to wrestling Friday night."
The Midshipmen, who enter the weekend with a 4-1 dual record (2-1 EIWA), are coming off a 34-8 victory over American in a match that saw the Mids win five of their eight matches by extra-point decisions (2 falls, 1 tech fall, 2 majors).
Six of the 10 wrestlers expected to take the mat Friday evening for the Midshipmen have previously wrestled in the annual Army-Navy tilt, including senior 141-pound Joe Locksmith (Kissimmee, Fla.). Locksmith, who stands 15-12 over all and 2-2 in dual action this season, has posted a 1-2 record against the Black Knights. He dropped a 5-1 decision as a freshman before coming back a year later to score a 5-3 victory at 149 pounds against Army's Ryan Bilyeu. Last season Connor Hafaee dealt Locksmith an 8-5 loss. Locksmith is 1-0 against Army this season, earning a 2-1 victory over Tyler Rauenzahn in the semifinals of the All-Academy Championship on Feb. 1.
Junior 197-pound Paul Rands (Cary, Ill.) has been one of Navy's most consistent wrestlers over the last two months. He has amassed a 13-7 record this winter, including a 4-1 mark in dual action, and heads into Friday's match owning a six-match winning streak. Last year Rands sat out as he competed as an unattached wrestler, but did get his feet wet his first season at the Academy in 2011-12. Rands dropped a 4-1 decision to Derek Stanley, the older brother of Navy freshman heavyweight Evan Stanley. Rands is also 1-0 against Army this season, beating Bryce Barnes, 4-1, for the title at the All-Academy Championship.
Senior Raymond Borja (Virginia Beach, Va.), juniors Colton Rasche (Plano, Ill.) and Peyton Walsh (Glen Allen, Md.) and sophomore Mathew Miller (Edgewood, Md.) all competed in last year's Army-Navy dual and will once again be on the mat this season. Rasche earned a 3-1 victory over Army senior Jordan Thome, while Miller picked up a 5-3 win over Cole Gracey. Meanwhile, Borja and Walsh will be looking to avenge losses in last year's dual. Borja, who dropped a major decision to Daniel Young a year ago, earned a major decision over Mark Marchetti in the semifinals of the All-Academy Championship earlier this month. Walsh, the lone wrestler on the roster with a flawless 5-0 mark in dual competition this season, scored a 2-1 decision over Chandler Smith in the semifinals of the All-Academy Championship.
Making their Star Match debut this weekend will be freshman Brenden Campbell (New Castle, Ind.) at 125 pounds, sophomore Bobby Burg (Gasport, N.Y.) at 157 pounds, senior team captain James Manner (Troy, Ohio) at 184 pounds and junior heavyweight Colynn Cook (Murrysville, Pa.).
Army (8-3, 7-3 EIWA), who last defeated Navy on Feb. 22, 1997, has been idle since earning a 24-11 victory over Bucknell on Feb. 9. Junior 165-pound Chandler Smith, who boasts a 6-1 mark in dual matches, leads Army with 30 wins, seven major decisions and nine bonus-point victories. Sophomore 174-pound Brian Harvey is undefeated in dual competition with a 7-0 mark and stands 25-8 overall. Meanwhile, senior 157-pound Paul Hancock has produced a team-best nine wins in dual matches (9-2) and owns a 23-10 overall mark. He also leads Army with 11 bonus-point wins, including seven major decisions.
Navy leads the annual Army-Navy series this season with a 9-7 (.563) record, while also leading the Star Series, 10-9 (.526). The following teams have the distinction of winning N-Stars for the Midshipmen this year (in chronological order) -- Women's Cross Country, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Football, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Gymnastics and Men's Basketball.
Projected Navy Lineup
• 125 - Brenden Campbell - Fr, New Castle, Ind. (9-10, 2-3) -OR- Dane Lemmon - Fr, California, Md. (0-6, 0-0)
• 133 - Colton Rasche - Jr, Plano, Ill. (21-9, 3-2) -OR- Jericho Urmenita - Sr, Auburn, Wash. (5-5, 0-0)
• 141 - Joe Locksmith - Sr, Kissimmee, Fla. (15-12, 2-2) -OR- Quentin Leadbeter - Jr, Owings, Md. (5-4, 1-0)
• 149 - Raymond Borja - Sr, Virginia Beach, Va. (9-5, 3-1) -OR- Alex Johnson - Sr, Memphis, Tenn. (10-5, 1-0)
• 157 - Bobby Burg - So., Gasport, N.Y. (14-5, 1-0) -OR- Zach Johnson - Sr, Memphis, Tenn. (8-12, 1-3)
• 165 - Peyton Walsh - Jr, Glen Allen, Va. (24-10, 5-0) -OR- John Keck - So, Wading River, N.Y. (7-8, 0-0)
• 174 - #11 Mathew Miller - So, Edgewood, Md. (16-4, 3-1) -OR- Johnny Watson - Sr, Lexington, N.C. (10-8, 1-0)
• 184 - James Mannier - Sr, Troy, Ohio (16-12, 2-2) -OR- William Miller - So, Chinook, Mont. (10-8, 0-1)
• 197 - Paul Rands - Jr, Cary, Ill. (13-7, 4-1)
• 285 - Colynn Cook - Jr, Murrysville, Pa. (13-14, 2-3) -OR- Brendan Kahle - Jr, Abingdon, Md. (2-5, 0-0)
Projected Army Lineup
• 125 - Hunter Wood - Jr, Fairmont, W.Va. (12-15, 6-4)
• 133 - Logan Everett - Fr, Tioga, Pa. (11-13, 5-3)
• 141 - Tyler Rauenzahn - Sr, Schuylkill Haven, Pa. (13-6, 8-3)
• 149 - Mark Marchetti - Fr, Nashville, Tenn. (10-18, 1-8)
• 157 - Paul Hancock - Sr, Dearborn, Mich. (23-10, 9-2)
• 165 - Chandler Smith - Jr, Kansas City, Mo. (30-10, 6-1) -OR- Cole Gracey - Jr, Tuttle, Okla. (21-12, 2-2)
• 174 - Brian Harvey - So, New Palestine, Ind. (25-8, 7-0)
• 184 - Ryan Tompkins - Sr, Beacon, N.Y. (20-8, 8-2)
• 197 - Bryce Barnes - So, Virginia Beach, Va. (18-10, 8-3)
• 285 - Trevor Smith - Fr, Ripon, Calif. (12-16, 0-3) -OR- Stephen Snyder - Jr, Woodbine, Md. (10-13, 1-4)