WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University junior standout wrestler Josh Evans (Palmerton, PA/Palmerton) finished in fourth place at 149-pounds to lead all Colonels wrestling at the 85^th annual Wilkes Open Friday afternoon at the Marts Center.

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Evans began the day with a 9-5 decision win over Robert Duxbury of Delaware Valley University in the round of 32. The bout went back and forth before Evans broke away with a late takedown in the second period and another takedown with :50 remaining in the third before riding time sealed the victory.
 
In the round of 16 Evans opened the match with August Gershwin of Division II East Stroudsburg leading 7-1 through two periods. He finished off the match pinning Gershwin at 6:38 to move into the quarterfinals where he would meet fellow Colonel Kyle Medrow (West Chester, PA/West Chester Henderson). Medrow used a technical fall and fall to reach his teammate in the quarters.
 
In a tight match, Evans used a takedown late in the second period and an escape to start the third to win the bout 4-2 and move into the semifinals. There Evans was beat 8-0 by Kent Lane of Division I Lehigh University before falling 6-0 in the third place bout to Michael Sprague of American University to settle for fourth place.
 
Wilkes remains idle through the Christmas and New Year holiday before returning to action January 4 and 5 at the NWCA National Duals in Fort Wayne, Indiana.