WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team opened its 2023-24 dual match season falling to No. 14 The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 35-11 Friday night at the Marts Center.
 
At 125-pounds, Connor Kerwin (Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley) opened with seven quick points thanks to a takedown and four back points almost finishing the match with a fall in the first period. Matt Griffin responded for TCNJ scoring 17 unanswered points to secure the major decision over the final two periods as TCNJ took a 4-0 lead.
 
TCNJ built the lead to 9-0 after a technical fall (18-0) in 5:13 from Kyle Nase over Sam Kimmel (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby). At 141-pounds, Larry Melchionda held on to an early lead as Jack Bauer (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) fought back with two escapes and two stalling points only to fall short by decision 9-5 as the Lions extended their lead to 12-0.
 
Ryan Santiago (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) put Wilkes on the board with its first team points at 149-pounds as the first year made his first collegiate match a fall in :11 to cut the deficit to 12-6 after four bouts.
 
Back-to-back TCNJ falls at 157-pounds and 165-pounds push the advantage to 24-6 with four bouts remaining. Nationally ranked Reid Collela collected the Lions fifth extra-point victory with a technical fall (22-5) in 6:53 at 174-pounds as TCNJ continued to lead 29-6.
 
After a 5-2 decision at 184-pounds kept the Lions in front 32-6, Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) used almost all three periods to earn a dominating 24-6 technical fall in 6:43 as the Colonels trailed 32-11 with one bout remaining.
 
In the featured bout of the night at 285-pounds, a pair of ranked wrestlers faced off as No. 11 Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) and No. 7 Peter Wersinger closed out the match. Burkhart earned an early 3-0 lead before a reversal from Wersinger and stalling point tied the match at three. Wersinger used a pair of escapes and a takedown to hold a 10-5 lead after two periods. Another stalling point for Wersinger and riding time gave TCNJ the bout by decision 12-5.
 
The Colonels are back on the mat tomorrow (Saturday) hosting Lackawanna College at 11:00 a.m. at the Marts Center.
 
TCNJ 35, WU 11
125 – Matt Griffin (T) major dec. C. Kerwin (W) 20-8
133 – Kyle Nase (T) tech. fall S. Kimmel (W) 18-0 (5:13)
141 – Larry Melchionda (T) dec. J. Bauer (W) 9-5
149 – R. Santiago (W) fall Michael Conklin (T) :11
157 – Ryan Datz (T) fall J. Hartranft (W) :34
165 – Nick Sacco (T) fall T. DuBoff (W) 1:14
174 – Reid Colella (T) tech. fall J. Bilinski (W) 22-5 (6:53)
184 – DJ Henry (T) dec. L. Miller (W) 5-2
197 – C. Butka (W) tech. fall Chris Stavro (T) 24-6 (6:47)
285 – Peter Wersinger (T) dec. C. Burkhart (W) 12-5