WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team held an 18-17 lead going into the final bout of the match only to see visiting Ithaca College, ranked No. 15 in the NWCA dual team rankings, earn a decision win and take a 20-18 victory over the Colonels Friday night at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes dropped to 6-14 overall in dual matches while Ithaca improved to 13-3 in dual matches following the road victory.
 
Wilkes wasted little time taking a lead in the match as Austin Fashouer (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) pinned Francisco Muriel at 125-pounds in 4:34 to give the Colonels an early 6-0 advantage. Jack Bauer (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) continued to build the lead for Wilkes when he used two third period takedowns to take a 7-4 decision over Isais Torres at 133-pounds with the Colonels leading 9-0.
 
Ithaca got on the board at 141-pounds as Luis Hernandez pinned Braden Sitton (Cross Junction, VA/James Wood) in 4:28 to cut the Colonel lead to 9-6 after three bouts. At 149-pounds No. 15 ranked Matt Beyer gave Ithaca its first advantage of the match earning a 15-4 major decision over Jaryn Hartranft (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) after Hartranft had an early 2-0 lead after one period. Ithaca added to its lead at 157-pounds when Travis Jones took a 6-0 decision over Cody Dix (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) putting the Bombers up 13-9 halfway through the match.
 
James Geiger (Dallas, PA/Dallas) pulled the Colonels closer at 165-pounds using a late takedown and riding time to earn a 9-5 decision over Jackson Gray with Wilkes trailing 13-12. Christopher Nuss (Gore, VA/James Wood) gave the Colonels their second lead of the match at 15-13 when he used a takedown late in the second period and an escape and takedown in the third to take an 8-3 decision over Konrad Parker. Hunter Lowe (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill) extended the advantage to 18-13 when he wrestled to a 5-0 decision over Anthony Giovagnoli at 184-pounds.
 
No. 5 ranked Eze Chukwuezi pulled the Bombers to within one at 18-17 after he earned an 11-3 major decision at 197-pounds over Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) in a bout featuring two 20+ winners setting up the match-deciding bout at heavyweight.
 
In the deciding bout, Jeremy Mazzella used a late takedown then rode out the riding time to earn a 2-1 decision over Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) and seal the victory for Ithaca.
 
The Colonels are back on the mat next Friday when they host cross-town rival King's College for a 7:00 p.m. dual on Senior Night.
 
Ithaca 20, Wilkes 18
125 – A. Fahsouer (W) fall F. Muriel (I) 4:34
133 – J. Bauer (W) dec. I. Torres (I) 7-4
141 – L. Hernandez (I) fall B. Sitton (W) 4:28
149 – M. Beyer (I) major dec. J. Hartranft (W) 15-4
157 – T. Jones (I) dec. C. Dix (W) 6-0
165 – J. Geiger (W) dec. J. Gray (I) 9-5
174 –C. Nuss (W) dec. K. Parker (I) 8-3
184 – H. Lowe (W) dec. A. Giovagnoli (I) 5-0
197 – E. Chukwuezi (I) major dec. C. Butka (W) 11-3
285 – J. Mazzella (I) dec. C. Burkhart (W) 2-1
 
Exhibition:
165 – C. Everdale (W) dec. B. Bienus (I) 6-3