WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team ran its dual match win streak to seven as the Colonels posted three wins at the 2019 John Reese Duals Sunday afternoon at the Marts Center. Wilkes recorded wins over Lackawanna 36-12, Penn State Behrend 37-9 and Oneonta 22-19.
 
Wilkes moved to 17-3 overall in dual matches on the season following the three-match day.
 
Wilkes made quick work of Lackawanna in its first match of the day as the Colonels recorded extra-point wins in six bouts including three falls. Kyle Trout (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) began the match with a major decision over Michael Tuffy 17-7 at 125-pounds before Thomas Stokes (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) pinned Najee Russell in 6:42 at 141. After Kyle Medrow (West Chester, PA/West Chester Henderson) took a forfeit at 149, John Ritter (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) continued the Colonel extra-points with a 16-0 technical fall in 5:28 at 157 as Wilkes led 21-3 after five bouts.
 
Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) earned the second fall of the match at 165 in just :36 and Ashton Gyenizs (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) scored an 8-6 decision at 174 to push the advantage to 30-3 heading into the finals three bouts. Hunter Lowe (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill) was the final Wilkes fall in the match when he fought back from two points down to force overtime then pinned Carson Kinney twenty-nine seconds into the extra period to earn the six points.
 
Wilkes continued its winning ways pushing its win streak in dual matches to six after posting a 28-point victory over Penn State Behrend in its second match of the day. Trout picked up his second straight major decision at 125 beating Michael Binni 18-9 to open the match. Wilkes then recorded forfeit wins at 133 and 141 to extend its advantage to 16-0 after three bouts.
 
Cody Dix (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) wrestled to a 5-2 decision over Cole Ruffo at 149 and Michael Brown (Plains, PA/Coughlin) won 3-2 over Jacob Ognibene at 157 to push the Wilkes lead to 22-0 halfway through the match. Cole Walters (Mifflintown, PA/Juniata) bested Joe Houston in a 25-10 technical fall at 165 before another PSU Behrend forfeit at 174. Roger Horton (Towanda, Pa./Athens) closed out the scoring for the Colonels with a 13-1 major decision over Zach Trim at heavyweight.
 
After Oneonta scored a major decision at 125 to start the match, Dylan O'Connor (Somerset, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) put the Colonels on the board with a 9-6 decision at 133 to cut the deficit to 4-3. Stokes earned his second fall of the day, this time in stunning fashion as he trailed 2-1 before a reversal and pin in 6:07 gave Wilkes the extra points and the lead.
 
Oneonta recorded a fall at 149 to take back the advantage at 10-9. The lead was short-lived as Ritter won 7-2 and Racanelli 7-0 at 157 and 165 respectively to put the Colonels back in front 15-10 with four bouts remaining.
 
Gyenizs claimed his third win of the day with a 9-1 major decision at 174 as the Wilkes lead grew to 19-10 before Oneonta cut three points into the deficit with a decision at 184.
 
The 197-pound bout proved to be one of the best of the day as Moustafa Almeky (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) and Peter Pjetri went tied at 2-2 into the overtime period. Almeky outlasted Pjetri and scored a takedown with less than ten seconds left in the frame to seal the victory. Oneonta closed out the match with a fall at heavyweight falling three points short.
 
Wilkes returns to the mat Friday hosting Penn College in a dual match on Senior Night at the Marts Center. Wrestling begins at 7:00 p.m.
 
Wilkes 36, Lackawanna 12
125 – K. Trout (W) major dec. Michael Tuffy (L) 17-7
133 – N. White (L) dec. B. Horton (W) 12-5
141 – T. Stokes (W) fall Najee Russell (L) 6:42
149 – K. Medrow (W) won by forfeit
157 – J. Ritter (W) tech. fall Timothy Molock (L) 16-0 (5:28)
165 – N. Racanelli (W) fall Alvin Hunter (L) :36
174 – A. Gyenizs (W) dec. Jacquan McPherson (L) 8-6
184 – Emmanuel Nchako (L) dec. A. Santana-Quintana (W) 9-2
197 – H. Lowe (W) fall Carson Kinney (L) 7:31 (OT)
285 – John McCarthy (L) fall J. Huling (W) 4:32
 
Wilkes 37, PSU Behrend 9
125 – K. Trout (W) major dec. Michael Binni (P) 18-9
133 – D. O'Connor (W) won by forfeit
141 – T. Stokes (W) won by forfeit
149 – C. Dix (W) dec. Cole Ruffo (P) 5-2
157 – M. Brown (W) dec. Jacob Ognibene (P) 3-2
165 – C. Walters (W) tech. fall Joe Houston (P) 25-10
174 – A. Gyenizs (W) won by forfeit
184 – Jake Paulson (P) fall H. Lowe (W) :20
197 – Levko Higgins (P) dec. M. Almeky (W) 6-4
285 – R. Horton (W) major dec. Zach Trim (P) 13-1
 
Wilkes 22, Oneonta 19
125 – Mikey Smith (O) major dec. N. Bauer (W) 11-1
133 – D. O'Connor (W) dec. Andrew DeSousa (O) 9-6
141 –  T. Stokes (W) fall Ahken Chu (O) 6:07
149 – Tyler Brazinski (O) fall K. Medrow (2:37)
157 – J. Ritter (W) dec. Daniel Murphy (O) 7-2
165 – N. Racanelli (W) dec. Thomas Marrone (O) 7-0
174 – A, Gyenizs (W) major dec. Jacob Mansman (O) 9-1
184 – Ryan Marszal (O) dec. A. Santana-Quintana (W) 5-2
197 – M. Almeky (W) dec. Peter Pjetri (O) 4-2
285 – James Bethel (O) fall R. Horton (W) :35