DOYLESTOWN, PA – Host Delaware Valley University broke open a close match winning three straight matches at 165, 174 and 184 all with bonus points on way to a 29-15 victory over the Wilkes University wrestling team Friday night at the James Work Gymnasium.
 
Wilkes fell to 1-2 in dual matches on the year while Delaware Valley improved to 2-2 on the season in its home opener.
 
Malik Asfour began the match at 125-pounds for Delaware Valley earning an 18-2 technical fall to give the Aggies a 5-0 lead. No. 14 Jacob Blair continued the extra-point wins for Delaware Valley earning a technical fall over Michael Richardson (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) 18-3 at 133-pounds to extend the advantage to 10-0 after two bouts.
 
Jack Bauer (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) gave the Colonels the momentum back after suffering two losses to begin the match as the senior earned a fall at 141-pounds over Ryan Kelly as Wilkes trailed 10-6. Ryan Santiago (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) pulled Wilkes to within one with a 15-8 decision over Mike Rubino at 149-pounds. Santiago controlled the match from the start looking for bonus points before a take down from Rubino in the closing seconds kept the bout to a decision.
 
Jaryn Hartranft (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) made it three wins in a row for Wilkes as the Colonels took the lead for the first time in the match at 12-10 after Hartranft earned a 15-8 decision at 157-pounds.
 
From there Delaware Valley's Adam Coleman wrestled to a 12-3 major decision at 165-pounds and Joseph McCullough pinned Melquan Warren (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) late in the second period to give the Aggies a 20-10 lead with three bouts remaining. Warren and McCullough were tied at six in the bout when McCullough was able to turn on Warren and earn the fall and the bonus points.
 
Luke Moore then clinched the match at 184-pounds pinning Hunter Lowe (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill) in 3:21 as the Aggies led 26-10 with two bouts remaining. Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) kept his season record unblemished earning an 8-2 decision over Nicholas Hall at 197-pounds. Logan Flynn, a DII Bloomsburg transfer, wrapped up the match with a 10-6 decision over Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) at heavyweight.
 
The Colonels remain idle until they host the Wilkes Open on Friday, December 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the Marts Center.
 
DVU 29, WU 15
125 – Malik Asfour (D) tech. fall C. Kerwin (W) 18-2
133 – Jacob Blair (D) tech. fall M. Richardson (W) 18-3
141 – J. Bauer (W) fall Ryan Kelly (D) 4:48
149 – R. Santiago (W) dec. Mike Rubino (D) 15-8
157 – J. Hartranft (W) dec. Nicholas DeLorenzo (D) 15-8
165 – Adam Coleman (D) major dec. T. DuBoff (W) 12-3
174 – Joseph McCullough (D) fall M. Warren (W) 3:30
184 – Luke Moore (D) fall H. Lowe (W) 3:21
197 – C. Butka (W) dec. Nicholas Hall (D) 8-2
285 – Logan Flynn (D) dec. C. Burkhart (W) 10-6
 
Exhibitions:
133 – Ryan Mansuetto (D) fall E. Washburn (W) 1:30
141 – Sean O'Toole (D) dec. M. Livio (W) 8-2