Indiana wrestling entered Little Rock, Arkansas, on Sunday afternoon, for a dual meet with the No. 22 University of Arkansas at Little Rock, downing the Trojans 25-16.
Looking for its first road and ranked wins of the season, Indiana entered the meet with just one day of rest after a decisive 33-7 victory over Central Michigan University on Friday.
The Hoosiers took an early lead after the 125-pound bout, as No. 12 graduate student Jacob Moran coasted to a 10-2 victory by major decision over Little Rock graduate student Jeremiah Reno. Moran is now a perfect 5-0 in dual meet bouts.
Indiana’s 4-0 lead was quickly countered, however, by Dillon Cooper. The Little Rock sophomore pinned Indiana redshirt junior Blaine Frazier in just one minute and 36 seconds in the 133-pound bout, putting the Trojans in front 6-4 through two bouts.
No. 23 redshirt junior Henry Porter would regain the lead for Indiana in the 141-pound bout; a near fall and a takedown would propel Porter to a 9-1 victory by major decision over redshirt junior Brennan Van Hoecke, earning four more points for the Hoosiers.
Indiana won its second consecutive matchup in the 149-pound bout. Redshirt sophomore Joey Buttler tallied two takedowns and two escapes against sophomore Kyle Lew, resulting in a 9-4 victory by decision.
In a low scoring, neck-and-neck affair, No. 33 graduate student Jaivon Jones was able to narrow the Indiana lead before halftime by way of a 2-1 double-overtime victory by decision over No. 31 redshirt sophomore Bryce Lowery. The 157-pound bout was the first of four ranked matchups of the day. Indiana led 11-9 at the break.
Little Rock took its second lead of the dual in the 165-pound bout. After a scoreless first period, Indiana No. 23 redshirt junior Tyler Lillard took a 2-0 lead via a reversal, before two escapes and a takedown by No. 5 redshirt senior Matty Bianchi solidified his 5-2 victory by decision, and secured a 12-11 Trojan lead.
Indiana’s No. 31 graduate student Derek Gilcher did not allow Little Rock to lead for long, as his 19-4 victory by technical fall over sophomore Gunnar Holland in the 174-pound bout thrusted the Hoosiers back in front, with a 16-12 advantage through seven bouts. Gilcher’s runaway performance consisted of six takedowns and one escape.
No. 14 redshirt freshman Sam Goin delivered a pivotal blow on behalf of the Hoosiers in the 184-pound bout. After three escapes and three takedowns, Goin toppled No. 32 graduate student Brock DelSignore by injury default, obtaining six points, and extending the Indiana lead to 22-12.
Little Rock’s No. 3 redshirt junior Stephen Little kept the Trojans alive in the 197-pound bout, delivering four takedowns, and earning four points in a 13-3 victory by major decision over No. 12 redshirt junior Gabe Sollars. Indiana’s lead was 22-16 with just one bout left.
In need of a victory by fall, Little Rock graduate student Michael Gasper was unable to save the Trojans, scoring just four escapes against Indiana redshirt freshman Caleb Marzolino. Marzolino’s two takedowns and one reversal allowed the heavyweight to cruise to an 8-4 victory by decision, securing the 25-16 Indiana win.
Indiana’s victory in Little Rock was its first road and ranked win of the season. The Hoosiers’ record moved to 4-1 on the season, while Little Rock suffered its fourth consecutive dual loss.
Indiana wrestling will continue its season with a dual meet against the U.S. Military Academy West Point on Dec. 13 in Bloomington.
