WILKES-BARRE – After trailing 3-0 after one bout, the Wilkes University wrestling team posted wins in seven consecutive matches including five extra-point victories on way to a 28-10 win over the University of Scranton Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes concluded its dual match season with a 20-4 overall record, the second 20-win season in the past three years. Scranton dropped to 11-8 in duals on the year following the defeat.
 
Scranton scored a 10-4 decision at 125-pounds to open the match when Matthew Murawski bested Kyle Trout (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) to give the Royals an early 3-0 advantage. From there the Colonels began their comeback and built a lead they would never look back from.
 
Dylan O'Connor (Somerset, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) made easy work of A.J. Sortino at 133-pounds winning by major decision 10-1 to give Wilkes a 4-3 lead. Thomas Stokes (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) continued the extra-point rally with a major decision of his own, 15-6, over Brandon Altieri at 141-pounds. At 149-pounds, Kyle Medrow (West Chester, PA/West Chester Henderson) pushed the Colonels advantage to 11-3 scoring a thrilling 11-9 decision over T.J. Conlon. Medrow used a takedown and reversal late in the match to secure the two-point win.
 
John Ritter (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) kept Wilkes ahead at 157-pounds with a 13-5 major decision over Kyle Shaffer. Ritter led the entire first period 6-0 before Shaffer used a cradle with back points holding in the position almost the entire second period to head into the final frame trailing 6-4. Ritter then used takedowns to push the lead to seven and the bonus riding point to earn the major decision.
 
Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) chalked up his 107^th career victory with a hard-fought 5-2 decision over Kevin Merle as Wilkes led 18-3 after six bouts. Ashton Gyenizs (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) shutout Justin Weimer 8-0 for a major decision at 174-pounds before Austin Cominsky (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Township) claimed the 184-pound bout by injury default. Cominsky was leading 4-0 in the second period when Scranton's Aidan McNally no longer could proceed with the bout.
 
Scranton rounded out the match with a decision at 197 and major decision at 285.
 
Wrestlers who will not be competing at the Southeast Regionals will be in action tomorrow (Sunday) at the Futures Mid-East Tournament hosted by Muhlenberg College. Wrestling begins at 9:00 a.m.
 
Wilkes 28, Scranton 10
125 – Matthew Murawski (S) dec. K. Trout (W) 10-4
133 – D. O'Connor (W) major dec. A.J. Sortino (S) 10-1
141 – T. Stokes (W) major dec. Brandon Altieri (S) 15-6
149 – K. Medrow (W) dec. T. J. Conlon (S) 11-9
157 – J. Ritter (W) major dec. Kyle Shaffer (S) 13-5
165 – N. Racanelli (W) dec. Kevin Merle (S) 5-2
174 – A. Gyenizs (W) major dec. Justin Weimer (S) 8-0
184 – A. Cominsky (W) won by injury default (Leading 4-0 in second period over Aidan McNally)
197 – Dan D'Agostini (S) dec. M. Almeky (W) 8-5
285 – Keegan Connelly (S) major dec. R. Horton (W) 11-2
 
Exhibitions:
141 – M. Shaffer (W) fall A. Tillman (S) 1:26
165 – C. Walters (W) fall C. Burke (S) 3:34
184 – A. Santana-Quintana (W) dec. Kiel Pechko (S) 9-3