Senior Elliot Berger Shines but Camels Drop Two Matches on Senior Night

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Elliot Berger shined in his final home match. The senior won both his bouts, one by major decision. However, Campbell dropped both matches on senior night, losing 23-15 to Duquesne and then 25-13 to James Madison. The Camels finish the season 5-14 with a 2-6 record in the Colonial Athletic Association.
On senior night Elliot Berger rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the third quarter to get the victory 6-4 over Brad Cipriani. Berger pulled off an even bigger victory in the next match, downing Jacob Williams from James Madison 8-0.
Against Duquesne, the Camels fell behind 6-0, after early losing the 125 and 133-pound matches. Berger then sparked a Campbell comeback with his win and the Camels took the lead 9-6 in the next match when Steve Wiktorek pinned Brandon Baldini.
Duquesne quickly tied the match with a win at 157, but Brent Poynter put CU back ahead 12-9 with a 2-1 double overtime win over Cody Midlam. However, the Camels could not overcome a forfeit in the 174-pound division which put DU up to stay, despite a 2-0 win by Jason Cook at the 197-pound division.
The match against JMU was a mirror image of the first match. The Camels raced ahead 10-0 with wins by Richie Apolinar (125), Caleb Lesnoff (133) and Berger (141) who won a major decision.
However, James Madison rallied off five consecutive wins, including the forfeit at 174 and a come from behind win in the last seconds of the 184-pound match, to take the lead back 19-10.
Jason Cook's win made things interesting, because the Camels trailed just 19-13 going into the heavyweight match. However, all hopes of a Campbell comeback were dashed when Matt Coffey pinned Jeremiah Fennell in the first period.
For Berger, the senior from North Canton, Ohio, ends a four year career as a starter. He finishes this regular season with the most wins in a season for his career (7). The match against James Madison was his 100^th career match as a Camel and his 20^th career win. Berger will graduate in the fall with a degree in criminal justice.
Jason Cook finishes the season with 22 wins and a 7-2 record against CAA opponents. He is also the joint leader in pins this season with 7.Brent Poynter, finishes with 21 wins.
The Camels return to action in Philadelphia, Pa. on Fri. March 3, in the opening round of the CAA Championships. The Championships begin at noon on Friday and last through Saturday night. The Camels are currently 10^th in the CAA polls.

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