COLLEGEVILLE, PA – The Wilkes University wrestling team picked up three more dual match wins going 3-1 at the 2018 North South Duals hosted by Ursinus College Saturday afternoon. The Colonels recorded wins over Southern Maine 18-17 and Camden County 54-0 while posting an upset victory over No. 19 Stevens 27-24. Wilkes lone defeat came against fellow MAC foe Messiah 26-16.
 
Wilkes moved its overall dual record to 10-2 on the season following the four-match day.
 
In the opening match against Southern Maine, Nicholas Bauer (Coplay, PA/Wyoming Seminary) began the day with a hard-fought 6-5 decision at 125-pounds to put the Colonels up 3-0. Maine answered with a decision win at 133 but Thomas Stokes (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) put Wilkes right back ahead with a 4-3 win at 141. A major decision at 149 and decision at 157 gave Maine a 10-6 advantage with five bouts remaining.
 
Wilkes fought back to take the lead at 14-10 following key back-to-back major decisions from Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) (165) and Ashton Gyenizs (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) (174). Maine tied the match at 14 with a major decision at 184 before Austin Cominsky (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Township) scored what proved to be the match-clinching points earning a 14-3 major decision at 197 as Maine settled for a three-point decision win at heavyweight to close out the battle.
 
Wilkes continued its winning ways in the second match of the day against No. 19 Stevens. Bauer began the match with an 8-3 decision at 125. Stevens answered back taking the next three bouts with a decision at 133, technical fall at 141 and fall at 149 to jump out to a 14-3 lead. After a major decision for Stevens at 157 pushed the advantage to 18-3, the Colonels began their comeback as Racanelli posted a fall in 4:48 at 165 and Gyenizs made quick work of his opponent in :34 at 174 as Wilkes trailed 18-15. Stevens concluded its scoring with a fall at 184 setting up the final two bouts. Moustafa Almeky (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) picked up a crucial fall in 3:26 at 197 tying the match at 24 before Roger Horton (Towanda, Pa./Athens) recorded the forfeit win at heavyweight as Wilkes pulled off the upset.
 
Wilkes cruised to its final win of the day against Camden County taking six bouts by forfeit and three more by extra-points. Brock Horton (Towanda, PA/Athens), Cole Walters (Mifflintown, PA/Juniata) and Brandon Belfonti (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) were all extra-point winners for the Colonels in the 54-point victory.
 
The match against MAC-rival Messiah saw the two teams split bouts winning five each. Wilkes claimed decisions wins with O'Connor at 133, Stokes at 141, Ritter at 157 and Almeky at 197 while Racanelli captured a 12-3 major decision to close out the scoring. Messiah used extra-point wins at 125, 184 and 285 including two falls to push past for the win.
 
Wilkes remains idle until next Friday and Saturday when the Colonels compete at the Bud Whitehall Duals hosted by Lycoming College.
 
Wilkes 18, Southern Maine 17
125 – N. Bauer (W) dec. Leo Amabile (M) 6-5
133 – Bradley Beaulieu (M) dec. D. O'Conner (W) 5-2
141 – T. Stokes (W) dec. Austin Shorey (M) 4-3
149 -  Brendon Weir (M) major dec. C. Dix (W) 11-2
157 – Zac Thompson (M) dec. J. Ritter (W) 10-8
165 – N. Racanelli (W) major dec. Juan Vernaza 10-1
174 – A. Gyenizs (W) major dec. Josh Smith (M) 11-3
184 – Raul Gierbolini (M) major dec. J. DeBoard (W) 9-0
197 – A. Cominsky (W) major dec. Sam Strozier (M) 14-3
285 – Mike Risti (M) dec. M. Almeky (W) 8-6
 
Wilkes 27, No. 19 Stevens 24
125 – N. Bauer (W) dec. Akhil Vega (S) 8-3
133 – Joey Borai (S) dec. B. Horton (W) 11-4
141 – Troy Stanich (S) tech. fall T. Stokes (W) 17-2 (7:00)
149 – Brett Kaliner (S) fall M. Madden-Edwards (W) 6:29
157 – Dylan Van Sickell (S) major dec. J. Ritter (W) 11-3
165 – N. Racanelli (W) fall Mike Derrin (S) 4:48
174 – A. Gyenizs (W) fall Nico Ziccardi (S) :34
184 – Mike Donley (S) fall A. Santana-Quintana 4:18
197 – M. Almeky (W) fall Matt Dupuy (S) 3:26
285 – R. Horton (W) won by forfeit
 
No. 25 Messiah 26, Wilkes 16
125 – Josiah Gehr (M) tech. fall K. Trout (W) 19-0
133 – D. O'Connor (W) dec. Dalton Dougherty (M) 7-4
141 – T. Stokes (W) dec. Matt Darok (M) 13-6
149 – Stephen Maloney (M) tech. fall C. Dix (W) 17-0
157 – J. Ritter (W) dec. Lee Cassel (M) 12-11
165 – N. Racanelli (W) major dec. Matt Pangle (M) 12-3
174 – Brian Shermeyer (M) major dec. A. Gyenizs (W) 16-2
184 – Victory DeFrance (M) fall A. Santana-Quintana (W) 1:28
197 – M. Almeky (W) dec. Joe Embleton (M) 10-8
285 – Carter Urich (M) fall R. Horton (W) 3:14
 
Wilkes 54, Camden County 0
125 – K. Trout (W) won by forfeit
133 – B. Horton (W) tech. fall David Ott (CC) 17-1
141 – T. Stokes (W) won by forfeit
149 – C. Dix (W) won by forfeit
157 – M. Brown (W) dec. Devon Edis (CC) 2-0
165 – C. Walters (W) major dec. Mike Schneider (CC) 15-6
174 – B. Belfonti (W) fall Allen Miranda (CC) 1:125
184 – H. Lowe (W) won by forfeit
197 – M. Almeky (W) won by forfeit
285 – R. Horton (W) won by forfeit