WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team made its home dual match debut Friday night falling 23-15 against Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) foe Delaware Valle University at the Marts Center.
 
Delaware Valley took a 3-0 lead after the opening bout at 125-pounds as Jacob Blair earned a hard-fought 6-2 decision over Austin Fashouer (Scranton, PA/West Scranton). The Aggies lead grew to 8-0 after the 133-pound bout as Ryan Kelly cruised to a 15-0 technical fall over Wilkes' Sam Kimmel (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby).
 
Wilkes scored its first points of the match at 141-pounds as Jack Bauer (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) led 5-2 late in the third period using an escape sandwiched in between two takedowns to gain the advantage over the first two periods. One last takedown with under :30 claimed the 8-3 decision for Bauer as the Colonels trailed 8-3 after three bouts.
 
At 149-pounds Kyle Tino (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) broke open a 2-2 tie early in the third period with an escape and then a resounding lift and drop takedown to take a 5-3 lead before adding another late takedown and riding time to claim the 8-3 decision helping Wilkes cut the match deficit to 8-6.
 
After a Delaware Valley decision at 157-pounds pushed the Aggies lead to 11-6, Wilkes' Charles Everdale (Freeland, PA/Hazleton Area) waisted little time at 165-pounds pinning Cooper Kidd in :32 to give the Colonels their first lead of the match at 12-11 through six bouts. The lead was short-lived though as Delaware Valley's Luke Moore earned a fall at 174-pounds to give the Aggies the advantage back at 17-12.
 
Delaware Valley added a tough three points at 184-pounds extending their lead to 20-12 as Jaden Roberts held on late in the third period taking away Christopher Nuss' (Gore, VA/James Wood) riding time with under a minute to wrestle in the third with a 3-1 lead. Nuss escaped with under ten seconds reaming in the bout but was unable to earn the takedown in the waning seconds falling 3-2.
 
Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) earned a hard-fought 3-2 decision at 197-pounds bringing the Colonels to within five trailing 20-15 with one final bout remaining in the match.
 
The Aggies clinched the match at heavyweight as Austin Williams held on for a 7-3 decision win over Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville).
 
Wilkes returns to the mats Thursday, December 22 when the Colonels host the 89^th annual Wilkes Open starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Marts Center.
 
Delaware Valley 23, WU 15
125 – J. Blair (D) dec. A. Fashouer (W) 6-2
133 – R. Kelly (D) tech fall S. Kimmel (W) 15-0
141 – J. Bauer (W)  dec. T. Weaver (D) 8-3
149 – K. Tino (W) dec. M. Harvey (D) 8-3
157 – G. Croce (D) dec. C. Dix (W) 6-2
165 – C. Everdale (W) fall C. Kidd (D) :32
174 – L. Moore (D) fall S. Diarra (W) 3:45
184 – J. Roberts (D) dec. C. Nuss (W) 3-2
197 – C. Butka (W) dec. I. Johnson (D) 3-2
285 – A. Williams (D) dec. C. Burkhart (W) 7-3
 
Exhibition:
165 – N. Partsanakis (W) dec M. Gordon (D) 6-4