Nick Incontrera and Cole Urbas Post Deciding Wins for the Quakers
PHILADELPHIA, PA 1/7/2023 –
The University of Pennsylvania took on an intersectional opponent at the Palestra. The meet was close as each team posted five individual victories. But it was the two wins by technical fall that provided the points as Penn wins 19 – 17 over North Carolina.
“Those bonus points are absolutely huge,” said Penn Coach Roger Reina. “They made the difference in the meet.”
Nick Incontrera earned five team points at 174 pounds over Gino Esposito giving the Quakers a 5 – 3 team lead. Two matches later Maximus Urbas won by technical fall in the 197 pound match defeating Cade Lautt. That match came after North Carolina’s second individual decision. Each team won two matches, but Penn had a 10 – 6 team lead.
The Red and Blue and UNC alternated victories. Ben Goldin won at 285 pounds, then Ryan Miller fell 7 – 5 to Jack Wagner.
Matt Colaaiocco got a 10 – 4 win in a 133 pound match against Jace Palmer putting the Quakers ahead 16 – 9 over the Tar Heels with three matches remaining.
Doug Zapf earned a 7 – 3 victory over Zach Sherman at 149 pounds to provide the winning points. Penn was ahead 19 – 13 with one more match remaining.
“The big match coming in was Zapf against Sherman at 149,” said Reina. “He (Zapf) got a big takedown at the end of the second period which really swung it in his favor. Sherman is a worthy opponent and that was a big win.”
If North Carolina won by fall in the final match, the meet would be tied and would go to breakers. Since the matches won total was level, it would go to further levels. Austin O’Conner of UNC had to pin Anthony Artalona, but the 157 pounder for Penn stayed off his back. O’Conner won 13 – 5, but the Red and Blue won the meet.
“A couple of swing matches that we felt could come our way was at 125 (Ryan Miller) and 165 (Lucas Revano), but we dropped both of those. We take one or two of those up and it’s not so close a dual meet.”
The Red and Blue is 2 – 3 in dual meets. The next one is next week at Stanford. It will be an exciting experience for the team to go west.
“We have a really good alumni base in California and the Bay Area,” Reina said. “It’s a good experience for us. I try once every four years or so to get our guys to the west coast. That will be like this one, a very close nip and tuck kind of dual meet. It’s going to be gritty. Sometimes they are pretty and sometimes they’re gritty. Tonight was gritty.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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