SALEM, VA – The Wilkes University wrestling team opened its dual schedule in fine fashion going a perfect 4-0 at the Southeast Duals hosted by Ferrum College at the Salem Civic Center Saturday afternoon. The Colonels recorded wins over Otterbein 30-21, Averett 27-12, Greensboro 33-10 and Bluefield 51-0 .
 
In the match against Otterbein, Wilkes recorded wins in six of ten bouts including four falls. At 133-pounds Dylan O'Connor (Somerset, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) tied the match at 3-3 after a 10-4 decision over Ryan Jakubiak. From there falls from Kyle Medrow (West Chester, PA/West Chester Henderson) at 141-pounds (2:56) and Joshua Brown (Plains, PA/Coughlin) at 149-pounds (1:03) pushed the Colonels ahead 15-3. Michael Brown (Plains, PA/Coughlin) added a 7-5 decision win over Michael Duzzny at 157-pounds before two more falls from Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) at 165-pounds (4:42) and Ashton Gyenizs (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) at 174-pounds (6:54) rounded out the Colonel scoring.
 
Wilkes continued its fine wrestling in its second match of the day against Averett taking seven of ten bouts. After Averett earned a technical fall at 125-pounds, O'Connor posted an 8-0 major decision at 133 to cut the deficit to 5-4. Averett added a major decision at 141 to extend its lead to 9-4 before four straight victories from Wilkes gave the Colonels the lead for good. J. Brown recorded his second fall of the day in :22 at 149 before M. Brown went 5-4 to earn three more points for Wilkes. Racanelli was a 4-2 winner at 165 and Gyenizs won by major decision 15-7 as Wilkes led 20-9 after seven bouts. Moustafa Almeky (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) (197) and Roger Horton (Towanda, Pa./Athens) (285) finished off the win with a 12-4 major decision and 4-0 decision respectively.
 
Wilkes continued to pile up the points in its third match of the day against Greensboro winning seven more bouts with three more falls and one forfeit. Nicholas Bauer (Coplay, PA/Wyoming Seminary) started off the match with an 8-6 sudden victory at 125-pounds before Greensboro tied the score at 3-3 following a decision win at 133. After Medrow took a forfeit win at 141, J. Brown bested Hai Sui in thrilling fashion with an 8-7 sudden victory at 149 as Wilkes led 12-3 after four bouts. Racanelli earned his second fall of the afternoon followed by a 6-3 decision win by Gyenizs. Matthew Judge (Eynon, PA/Valley View) (184) and Austin Cominsky (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Township) (197) wrapped up the 23-point victory with falls at :43 and 1:12 respectively.
 
The Colonels finished off the day with its highest scoring output of the duals against Bluefield (Va.). All but one win came with extra points for the Colonels. Kyle Trout (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) (125), Brock Horton (Towanda, PA/Athens) (133), Cody Dix (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) (149) and Austin Sphar (Cresco, PA/East Stroudsburg South) (184) all recorded falls to keep Wilkes perfect on the day. Medrow was a 16-0 technical fall winner over DeAndre Jackson at 141 while Mason Madden-Edwards (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill) also won by technical fall 19-3 at 157-pounds. Gyenizs won his fourth match of the day by major decision 14-6 and Horton sealed the shutout victory with a 7-4 decision at 285.
 
Wilkes remains idle through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend before returning to the mat Saturday, December 1 when the team travels to the McDaniel Duals starting at 12:00 p.m.