WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team opened its 2019-20 season with a 34-15 victory over Lackawanna College Friday night at the Marts Center.
 
The Colonels earned extra point wins in five of the ten bouts in the match. Nicholas Bauer (Coplay, PA/Wyoming Seminary) began the match at 125-pounds with a pin of Michael Tuffy in 6:59. Wilkes received a forfeit at 133 to push the advantage to 12-0 before Lackawanna took a decision at 141 and fall at 149 to fight back trailing 12-9 after four bouts.
 
Liam Flaherty (Needmore, PA/Southern Fulton) answered back for Wilkes with a major decision (11-3) at 157-pounds before Jason DeBoard (Avoca, PA/Pittston) pinned his opponent in 2:50 at 165 to give the Colonels a 22-9 lead with three bouts to go.
 
John Devito (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) claimed his first collegiate win with a 7-5 decision at 174 and Moustafa Almeky (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) began his junior campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 decision at 197. Austin Cominsky (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Township) finished the Wilkes scoring with a medical forfeit at heavyweight.
 
Wilkes returns to the mat next Saturday when the Colonels compete in the Ned McGinley Invitational hosted by King's College starting at 9:00 a.m.
 
WU 34, Lackawanna 15
125 – N. Bauer (W) fall M. Tuffy (L) 6:59
133 – J. Bauer (W) forfeit N. White (L)
141 – B. Judge (L) dec. D. O'Connor (W) 6-4
149 – RJ Driscoll (L) fall K. Tino (W) 3:27
157 – L. Flaherty (W) major dec. C. Urban (L) 11-3
165 – J. DeBoard (W) fall A Hunter (L) 2:50
174 – J. DeVito (W) dec. J. Turner-Rodgers (L) 7-5
184 – T. Ambush (L) fall D. Tallant (W) 1:44
197 – M. Almeky (W) dec. J. Bortz (L) 2-0
285 – A. Cominsky (W) medical forfeit C. Judge (L)
 
Exhibitions:
141 – D. Belleh (L) dec. B. Horton (W) 5-4
174 – C. Walters (W) major dec. C. Lovallo (L) 26-12