WILKES-BARRE – The No. 24 Wilkes University wrestling team finished its 2017 dual match season in fine fashion posting a sweep over host and cross-town rival King's College and Penn College Thursday night in McGrane Gymnasium.
 
Wilkes posted a 36-12 victory over its rival before winning 44-9 against Penn College. The two dual victories pushed the Colonels overall record to 20-5 to finish the dual match season.
 
Guesseppe Rea (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) continued to rack up career wins in the Navy and Gold posting a 15-5 major decision over Dakota Quick at 125. Pankil Chander (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence) followed with a 14-4 major decision at 133 pushing the Colonels lead to 8-0. Wilkes used three straight falls to blow open the match as Matthew Grossmann (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) wasted little time pinning Chris Coakley at 141 before Kyle Medrow (West Chester, PA/West Chester Henderson) earned a fall in 4:24 at 149 and Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) a fall in 4:29 at 157. Wilkes led 26-0 after five bouts.
 
After two King's decision wins at 165 and 174, Jacob Brook (Layton, NJ/Kittatiny) wrestled his best match of the season securing a 16-4 major decision at 184 over Nick Price. Alexis Santana-Quintana (San Jose, CA/Prospect) rounded out the Wilkes scoring receiving a forfeit at heavyweight.
 
King's long-time head coach Ned McGinley was honored prior to the match two weeks after announcing his retirement from coaching after 48 years. He graduated from Wilkes College in 1965 after earning four letters and posting a career record of 50-14. He was a two-time medalist in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and a Bronze medal in the NAIA's (1963).
 
Wilkes closed out the night winning eight of the ten bouts against Penn College including four extra-point victories and three forfeits. Spencer Reed (Leesburg, VA/Tuscarora) began the match at 125 with a fall in 5:40 followed by a Penn forfeit at 133. Grossmann recorded his second fall of the night, this time in :20 at 141. After a Penn decision at 149, the Wilkes rout continued as another forfeit at 157 and a John Ritter (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) 13-2 major decision at 165 made the score 28-3 after six bouts.
 
Justin Morel (Corona, NY/Mt. St. Michael Academy) claimed an 8-2 decision at 184 followed by Nasser McCummings (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) pin of Malcom Kane in 1:58 at 197 rounded out the Wilkes scoring in the lopsided victory.
 
Wilkes will now remain idle until competing in the NCAA Mideast Regional hosted by York College (Pa.) on February 25^th and 26^th with berths into the NCAA Tournament up for grabs.
 
Wilkes 36, King's 12
125 - #2 G. Rea (W) major dec. Dakota Quick (K), 15-5
133 – P. Chander (W) major dec. Jake Daniel (K), 14-4    
141 - #2 M. Grossmann (W) pinned Chris Coakley (K), 1:07
149 – K. Medrow (W) pinned Tony Immediato (K), 4:24
157 – N. Racanelli (W) pinned David White (K), 4:29
165 - Howard Kilpatrick (K) dec. M. Paskas (W), 3-2
174 - Zach Smith (K) dec. B. McGill (W), 4-0
184 – J. Brook (W) major dec. Nick Price (K), 16-4
197 - Eddie Merrill (K) pinned N. McCummings (W), 2:06  
285 – A. Santana-Quintana (W) won by forfeit
 
Wilkes 44, Penn College 9
125 – S. Reed (W) pinned Ben Doll (P), 5:40
133 – P. Chander (W) won by forfeit    
141 - #2 M. Grossmann (W) pinned Zach Fitzsimmons (P), 0:20
149 - Joe Swank (P) dec. M. Fuller (W), 7-3
157 – N. Racanelli (W) won by forfeit
165 – J. Ritter (W) major dec. Tanner Leid (P), 13-2
174 – B. McGill (W) won by forfeit,
184 – J. Morel (W) dec. Andrew Hurd (P), 8-2
197 – N. McCummings (W) pinned Malcom Kane (P), 1:58  
285 - Dylan Otis (P) pinned A. Santana-Quintana (W), 2:47