WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team made its 2016-17 home debut in dominant fashion posting a sweep of three matches in a quad meet at the Marts Center. Wilkes opened with a 22-18 victory over Oneonta before a 55-0 shutout win over Keystone College and a 42-8 decision over Washington and Jefferson.
 
With the 3-0 day, the Colonels improved to 13-4 overall on the season in dual matches.
 
Guesseppe Rea (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) opened the match against Oneonta with a 16-4 major decision to get the Colonels off to a fast start. Pankil Chander (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence) followed at 133 with a thrilling 10-8 sudden victory decision in overtime. Chander led for most of the bout, only to see Austin Sisco come back to tie and force the extra session. There Chander used a takedown in the first thirty seconds to record the win. Matthew Grossmann (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) continued his impressive junior season with a 7-1 win over Richard Dennison at 141. Kyle Medrow (West Chester, PA/West Chester Henderson) continued the Wilkes scoring with a pin in 2:02 at 149 followed by another fall from Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) at 157 giving the Colonels a 22-0 lead after five bouts. Oneonta answered with four straight decisions from 165 to 197 before a Wilkes forfeit at 285 rounded out the match.
 
Wilkes cruised in its second match of the day against first-year program Keystone picking up extra-point victories in five of the ten bouts. Spencer Reed (Leesburg, VA/Tuscarora) (125), Cory Fleming (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris) (149), Ashton Gyenizs (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) (165) and John Austin (Glenmoore, PA/Downingtown West) (285) all recorded falls for the Colonels to highlight the shutout victory. Chander earned his second consecutive decision with a 12-9 win at 133 while John Ritter (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) was dominant in a 13-0 major decision at 157.
 
After a forfeit at 125 gave Wilkes a 6-0 lead over Washington and Jefferson, Chander secured a technical fall (15-0) and Grossmann a fall in 5:38 to extend the lead to 17-0 after three bouts. Medrow added another fall in 1:15 at 149 before a 10-4 decision at 157 from Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) extended the advantage to 26-0. Michael Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) posted the Colonels third fall of the match in 5:20 at 165 before one more fall at 184 from Ricky Fornaciari (Easton, PA/Nazareth) in 1:52. Nasser McCummings (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) wrestled a major decision (16-7) at 197 to round out the scoring.
 
Wilkes continues its home stretch Friday hosting The College of New Jersey at 7:00 p.m. at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes 22, Oneonta 18
125 – G. Rea (W) major dec. Dominic DeGraba (O) 16-4
133 – P. Chander (W) dec. Austin Sisco (O) 10-8 SV1
141 – M. Grossmann (W) dec. Richard Dennison (O) 7-1
149 – K. Medrow (W) fall Nick Heck (O) 2:02
157 – N. Racanelli (W) fall Daniel Murphy (O) 4:34
165 – Evan Wallace (O) dec. M. Paskas (W) 3-0
174 – Ryan Marszal (O) dec. B. McGill (W) 5-1
184 – Lantze Lange (O) dec. R. Fornaciari (W) 11-5
197 – Peter Pjetri (O) dec. J. Nochimson (W) 4-1
285 – James Bethel (O) won by forfeit
 
Wilkes 55, Keystone 0
125 – S. Reed (W) fall Josh Rivera (K) 6:51
133 – P. Chander (W) dec. Ryan Celenza (K) 12-9
141 – M. Grossmann (W) won by forfeit
149 – C. Fleming (W) fall Jacob Richards (K) 3:08
157 – J. Ritter (W) major dec. Thomas Pashinski (K) 13-0
165 – A. Gyenizs (W) fall Zach Briggs (K) 4:23
174 – R. Fornaciari (W) injury default Greg Kleinsmith (K) 3:20
184 – N. McCummings (W) won by forfeit
197 – J. Nochimson (W) won by forfeit
285 – J. Austin (W) fall Matt Ebanez (K) 4:16
 
Wilkes 42, W&J 8
125 – G. Rea (W) won by forfeit
133 – P. Chander (W) tech. fall Mike Smith (W&J) 15-0 (4:00)
141 – M. Grossmann (W) fall Michael Heinl (W&J) 5:38
149 – K. Medrow (W) fall Vincent Palm (W&J) 1:15
157 – N. Racanelli (W) dec. Hunter Neely (W&J) 10-4
165 – M. Paskas (W) fall Jakub Kielb (W&J) 5:20
174 – Sonniejoy Blanco (W&J) tech. fall B. McGill (W) 26-10 (6:34)
184 – R. Fornaciari (W) fall William Oberschelp (W&J) 1:52
197 – N. McCummings (W) major dec. Tyler White (W&J) 16-7
285 – Nick Kumburis (W&J) dec. J. Austin (W) 5-0