WEST POINT, N.Y. – The No. 24 Army West Point wrestling team battled through 10 competitive bouts but fell 24-12 to No. 27 Wisconsin on Saturday night at Christl Arena in the Black Knights’ first home duel of the 2025-26 season.

Army (0-2) won four of 10 matches and entered intermission tied 9-9 after claiming three of the first five bouts, but Wisconsin’s bonus-point victories at 197 and 285 pounds sealed the duel for the Badgers.

Antonio’s Dramatic Comeback Ties Duel

The highlight of the evening came at 157 pounds, where Joseph Antonio (No. 31/NR) delivered a stunning comeback victory over Wisconsin’s Luke Mechler (No. 32/27).

Trailing 10-4 in the closing seconds, Antonio secured a reversal and then collected four near-fall points to steal a 10-8 decision and tie the team score at 9-9 heading into intermission. The dramatic finish sent the Christl Arena crowd into a frenzy and gave Army critical momentum. Antonio’s three team points knotted the duel after five bouts.

Berginc Upsets No. 3 Fuggit in Sudden Victory

At 133 pounds, junior Ethan Berginc (No. 21/17) delivered a signature victory, upsetting No. 3/5 Zan Fuggit of Wisconsin in sudden victory, 7-4.

Berginc tied the match with a takedown late in the third period, bringing the Christl faithful to its feet. In overtime, the junior secured another takedown to complete the sudden victory and earn three team points, cutting Wisconsin’s lead to 4-3 after the Badgers opened with a four-point advantage.

The victory was a statement win for Berginc, who took down one of the nation’s top-ranked wrestlers in his weight class.

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Basile Gives Army Brief Lead

At 141 pounds, Braden Basile (No. 20/17) gave Army its first and only lead of the evening, defeating Carson Exferd by decision, 10-6, to put the Black Knights ahead 6-4.

Basile controlled the pace throughout the match and never allowed Exferd to establish any sustained offense, securing Army’s second consecutive victory after Berginc’s upset. His three team points gave the Black Knights their only lead of the night.

Barrett Keeps Army in Striking Distance

At 184 pounds, David Barrett kept Army’s hopes alive with a 4-1 decision over Wisconsin’s Cale Anderson, cutting the Badgers’ lead to 15-12.

Barrett’s methodical approach and strong defensive positioning limited Anderson’s scoring opportunities, and the junior’s three team points set up a potential comeback in the final two bouts.

Wisconsin’s Bonus Points Prove Decisive

Wisconsin’s bonus-point victories at 197 and 285 pounds ultimately decided the duel, with the Badgers earning nine combined team points in the final two matches.

At 197 pounds, Wyatt Ingham defeated Wolfgang Frable (No. 24/20) by technical fall, 16-1 at 6:34, earning five team points and extending Wisconsin’s lead to 20-12. The technical fall put the duel mathematically out of reach for the Black Knights.

At heavyweight, No. 18/18 Braxton Amos closed the duel with a 13-0 major decision over No. 15/16 Brady Colbert, earning four team points and giving Wisconsin the final 24-12 margin.

Early Deficit Sets Tone

The dual began at 125 pounds, where Charlie Farmer (No. 31/NR) fell to No. 9/11 Nicolar Rivera by major decision, 12-0, giving Wisconsin four team points and putting Army in an early 4-0 hole.

At 149 pounds, Mason Barvitskie was defeated by No. 16/15 Joseph Zargo by technical fall, 22-6 at 6:14. Zargo’s five team points gave Wisconsin a 9-6 lead before Antonio’s dramatic comeback at 157 pounds.

Black Knights News:

• Army Shuts Out Sacred Heart to Earn First Series Win of 2025-2026 
• Army Women’s Basketball Delivers Statement Win Over Undefeated UMass, 64-61
• Army Women’s Basketball Hosts Undefeated UMass in Non-Conference Showdown
• Ivey Brothers Shine as Army Hockey Battles Sacred Heart to 3-3 Draw, Falls in Shootout

Second-Half Struggles

Coming out of intermission at 165 pounds, Gunner Filipowicz (No. 14/21) held an early lead over No. 26/32 Cody Goebel, but the Wisconsin wrestler took control in the third period to secure a 6-4 decision. Goebel’s three team points gave Wisconsin a 12-9 advantage, and the Badgers never relinquished their lead.

At 174 pounds, Cooper Haase came agonizingly close to tying the team score, but gave up an escape point in the closing seconds of his bout against Luke Condon and fell 5-4. The call withstood replay review, and Condon’s three team points extended Wisconsin’s lead to 15-9.

Key Takeaways

Army’s four victories came from ranked wrestlers—Berginc, Basile, Antonio, and Barrett—demonstrating the Black Knights’ ability to compete with ranked opponents. Each Army victory earned three team points, accounting for all 12 of the Black Knights’ points.

However, bonus-point losses at 125 (four points), 149 (five points), 197 (five points), and 285 (four points) proved costly. Wisconsin’s 12 bonus points accounted for the entire 12-point margin of victory, as the Badgers earned only 12 team points from their six victories compared to Army’s 12 points from four wins.

The Black Knights’ competitive performance through the first seven bouts showed resilience and the potential for future success, but the team must find ways to avoid bonus-point losses in close duals.

Inside The Numbers

• Army won 4 of 10 bouts, earning three team points per victory (12 total)
• Wisconsin won 6 of 10 bouts, earning 24 team points (12 from bonus points, 12 from decisions)
• The duel was tied 9-9 at intermission after five matches
• Wisconsin secured four bonus-point victories: two technical falls (five points each) and two major decisions (four points each)
• Army’s ranked wrestlers went 4-2 on the night
• The Black Knights’ four victories came by decision (three team points each)
• Wisconsin’s bonus points (12 total) accounted for the entire margin of victory
• Army earned three points at 133, 141, 157, and 184 pounds
• Wisconsin earned four points at 125 and 285, five points at 149 and 197, and three points at 165 and 174

Full Results

125: No. 9/11 Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) def. No. 31/NR Charlie Farmer (Army) by major decision, 12-0 | Army 0, Wisconsin 4

133: No. 21/17 Ethan Berginc (Army) def. No. 3/5 Zan Fuggit (Wisconsin) by sudden victory, 7-4 | Army 3, Wisconsin 4

141: No. 20/17 Braden Basile (Army) def. Carson Exferd (Wisconsin) by decision, 10-6 | Army 6, Wisconsin 4

149: No. 16/15 Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) def. Mason Barvitskie (Army) by technical fall, 22-6 at 6:14 | Army 6, Wisconsin 9

157: No. 31/NR Joseph Antonio (Army) def. No. 32/27 Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) by decision, 10-8 | Army 9, Wisconsin 9

INTERMISSION

165: No. 26/32 Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) def. No. 14/21 Gunner Filipowicz (Army) by decision, 6-4 | Army 9, Wisconsin 12

174: Luke Condon (Wisconsin) def. Cooper Haase (Army) by decision, 5-4 | Army 9, Wisconsin 15

184: David Barrett (Army) def. Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) by decision, 4-1 | Army 12, Wisconsin 15

197: Wyatt Ingham (Wisconsin) def. No. 24/20 Wolfgang Frable (Army) by technical fall, 16-1 at 6:34 | Army 12, Wisconsin 20

285: No. 18/18 Braxton Amos (Wisconsin) def. No. 15/16 Brady Colbert (Army) by major decision, 13-0 | Army 12, Wisconsin 24

Up Next: Indiana

Army returns to action against another Big Ten Conference opponent next weekend, traveling to Indiana on December 13 for its final duel of 2025.

Following the Indiana duel, the Black Knights will compete in the Southern Scuffle on January 3-4 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, one of the premier tournaments in college wrestling.

Final Score: Wisconsin 24, Army 12

Duel attendance: ~ 800 people

Venue: Christl Arena, West Point, N.Y.

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Facebook: 🤼 Army battles No. 27 Wisconsin but falls 24-12. Berginc upsets No. 3 Fuggit! Antonio’s dramatic comeback ties duel at intermission. Next: at Indiana Dec. 13. #GoArmy #Wrestling