Kris Krawchuk was one of six Wilkes winners against Ithaca Friday

NO. 9 WILKES WRESTLING HITS 800-WIN MARK WITH 23-9 VICTORY OVER NO. 15 ITHACA

2/14/2014 9:01:00 PM

NO. 9 WILKES WRESTLING HITS 800-WIN MARK WITH 23-9 VICTORY OVER NO. 15 ITHACA

WILKES-BARRE – No. 9 Wilkes University posted wins in seven of ten bouts including two extra point victories on way to a 23-9 victory over No. 15 Ithaca College Friday night at the Marts Center.

With the win Wilkes improves to 17-3 overall on the season and reaches the 800-win plateau in the program's 68 years of existence. As a program, Wilkes now stands 800-369-16, becoming the twelfth program in any division (I, II, or III) to reach the milestone win mark. Wilkes is also just the second Division III school to have posted 800 victories (Springfield College, MA).

Ninth-ranked Guesseppe Rea (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) continued his fine wrestling scoring a 10-1 major decision over Anthony Cabrera at 125-pounds to give Wilkes a 4-0 lead. At 133-pounds, Myzar Mendoza (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill) scored his biggest win of the season when he outlasted top-ranked Alex Gomez 3-2 in a hard-fought match. Mendoza escaped late then held on in a neutral position as time expired in the third period. It was Gomez's first dual loss of the season (13-0 entering match).

Ithaca took a decision at 141-pounds when Dominick Giacolone beat Michael Fleck (Easton, PA/Wilson Area) 3-2 cutting the Wilkes lead to 7-3 after three bouts. Fifth-ranked Mark Hartenstine (Easton, PA/Easton) moved his overall record to 33-1 using a 4-3 decision over Eamonn Gaffney at 149-pounds to push the Wilkes advantage to 10-3.

Kris Krawchuk (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) used a late takedown at 157-pounds to claim a 6-4 decision over Kevin Collins extending the Colonels lead to 13-3. Sixth-ranked Kristopher Schimek posted a 13-5 major decision over Philip Racciato at 165-pounds using a late reversal to earn the extra point victory. Ithaca trailed 13-7 after six bouts.

A late takedown with under a minute left in the third period propelled Kyle Diesel (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) to a 3-2 upset decision over sixth-ranked Carlos Toribio at 174-pounds giving Wilkes a 16-7 edge with three bouts left.

Levi Veppert (Kempton, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) blanked Liam Korbul 9-0 at 184-pounds to give Wilkes a comfortable 20-7 lead heading into the final two bouts of the match. Ithaca finished the match with a win at 197 before William Fletcher (Ottsville, PA/Palisades) outlasted Shane Bartrum at 285-pounds in overtime 5-3.

Wilkes concludes dual match play Thursday hosting cross-town rival King's College at 7:00 p.m. at the Marts Center. Wilkes will honor its seven seniors prior to the match.

Wilkes 23, Ithaca 9
125 – G. Rea (W) major dec. A. Cabrera (I) 10-1
133 – M. Mendoza (W) dec. A. Gomez (I) 3-2
141 – D. Giacolone (I) dec. M. Fleck (W) 3-2
149 – M. Hartenstine (W) dec. E. Gaffney (I) 4-3
157 – K. Krawchuk (W) dec. K. Collins (I) 6-4
165 – K. Schimek (I) major dec. P. Racciato (W) 13-5
174 – K. Diesel (W) dec. C. Toribio (I) 3-2
184 – L. Veppert (W) major dec. L. Korbul (I) 9-0
197 – M. Booth (I) dec. E. Bach (W) 6-2
285 – W. Fletcher (W) dec. S. Bartrum (I) 5-3
(1 team point – Wilkes, unsportsmanlike on Ithaca bench)

Exhibitions
133 – C. Fleming (W) fall H. Beaman (I) 2:44

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