Duke Drops Thriller to No. 18 Wisconsin

Friday, November 18

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Wisconsin

Duke Drops Thriller to No. 18 Wisconsin

11/18/2016 9:51:00 PM | Wrestling

WRES vs. Wisconsin: Alec Schenk Gets Takedown for the Win Duke WRES vs. Wisconsin: Thayer Atkins Wins at 125 WRES vs. Wisconson: Zach Finesilver Scores the Tech Fall WRES vs. Wisconsin: Joey Abbate with the 3rd Period Pin

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.—The Duke wrestling team found itself embroiled in another thriller with a top-20 opponent Friday night as its comeback effort fell just short for the second straight week in a 25-17 setback to No. 18 Wisconsin. The Blue Devils lost to No. 15 Oregon State in the season-opening dual 22-20 last weekend.

Duke (0-2) trailed 22-17 heading into the final match of the night between Duke's Xaviel Ramos and Wisconsin's Andrew Crone. The Blue Devils trailed 19-9 after six matches to set up the thrilling comeback.

Junior 125-pounder Thayer Atkins started the comeback with a 5-2 decision over Jens Lantz. After a scoreless first period and an even 2-2 second period, the duo headed into the final two minutes deadlocked. The score remained even through the first 50 seconds before Lantz was whistled for his second stalling warning, putting Atkins up 3-2 with a minute left to wrestle. The Texas native iced his first dual win of the year with a takedown in the closing seconds to bring the team score to 19-12.

A Badgers 7-2 decision at 133 pounds put Wisconsin up 22-12 and set up the heart-stopping finish. Redshirt sophomore Zach Finesilver kept the Blue Devils within striking distance with a completely dominant showing at 141 pounds. Finesilver attacked early, but it was his effort in the second period that made the difference as he piled up nearfall points to get the 17-0 technical fall over Luke Rowh after five minutes.

The five points from Finesilver meant Duke needed a pin in the final match at 149 to secure the team victory. Ramos got to his offense right away against the Badger veteran 149-pounder and nearly pinned him for the win. Ramos, instead, had to settle for a takedown and two nearfall points for the 4-0 lead midway through the first period.

With time winding down in the first period, Ramos again put Crone in a desperate position on his back, but the Badger fought off the pin for nearly 40 seconds to give Ramos just four more nearfall points and an 8-0 lead. Crone cut the lead to 8-3 after two periods and maintained that momentum in the third to secure the 11-8 decision and secure the team victory for the Badgers.

Redshirt sophomore Joey Abbate started the bout with a bang at 157 pounds. Wrestling in just his third career dual, Abbate displayed great determination as he trailed 7-1 after two periods. He continued to wrestle and caught Quintanilla heading into the final minute of the match and put him on his back to record his first pin of the season and put the Blue Devils up 6-0.

The two teams traded wins over the next three matches with Wisconsin getting a fall at 165 and a decision at 174 for the 9-6 lead. Alec Schenk came out at 184 against Hunter Ritter looking for his first dual win of the year. The Ohio native simply outworked and outlasted Ritter en route to posting a 6-3 decision. Schenk recorded a takedown as time expired in the second for the 4-2 lead and then made sure he had the win by scoring two more points with 30 seconds left in the third period for his second win of the year.

Duke closes out its schedule for the calendar year Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Wolfpack Open.

No. 18 Wisconsin 25, Duke 17
157: Joey Abbate (Duke) pinned Izaec Quintanilla (Wisc.), 5:46	Duke 6, Wisconsin 0
165: No. 2 Isaac Jordan (Wisc) pinned Michael Wright (Duke), 2:40	Duke 6, Wisconsin 6
174: Ryan Christensen (Wisc) dec. Connor Bass (Duke), 12-7	Duke 6, Wisconsin 9
184: Alec Schenk (Duke) dec. Hunter Ritter (Wisc), 6-3	Duke 9, Wisconsin 9
197: Ricky Robertson (Wisc) major dec. Alex Belaia-Martiniouk (Duke), 18-6	Duke 9, Wisconsin 13
285: Ben Stone (Wisc) pinned No. 16 Jacob Kasper (Duke), 1:18	Duke 9, Wisconsin 19
125: Thayer Atkins (Duke) dec. Jens Lantz (Wisc), 5-2	Duke 12, Wisconsin 19
133: Eli Stickley (Wisc.) dec. Cole Baumgartner (Duke), 7-2	Duke 12, Wisconsin 22
141: Zach Finesilver (Duke) tech fall Luke Rowh (Wisc), 17-0, 5:00	Duke 17, Wisconsin 22
149: Andrew Crone (Wisc.) dec. Xaviel Ramos (Duke), 11-9	Duke 17, Wisconsin 25