No. 20 Wilkes University vs. Elizabethtown
Friday, November 21, 2024
Start Time: 7:00 p.m.
Elizabethtown, PA
 
Watch Live on FloCollege
 
Colonels Notebook
• The No. 20 Wilkes wrestling team travels to fellow Landmark Conference foe Elizabethtown College on Friday night for a dual scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
 
• Last Saturday Wilkes finished in second place at the Shenandoah Invitational. The Colonels saw three wrestlers earn champion status and 15 wrestlers place within the top eight of their respective weight classes. Jaryn Hartranft (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) (157), Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) (197) and Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) (285) all won individual titles in their respective weight classes.
 
• The Colonels cruised to three victories in their home quad match two weeks ago posting wins over Keystone College (44-9), Elmira College (52-4) and New Jersey City University (36-12) to move its dual record to 3-1 entering tonight's match.
 
• Wilkes opened the 2024-25 season by placing fourth place at the Ned McGinley Invitational. The Colonels saw four wrestlers place within the top six of their respective weight classes and had one champion. Butka earned the crown at 197-pounds and surpassed the 100-career win mark in the process. He posted five total wins on way to the title including extra point victories in every match leading to the finals. In the finals Butka bested Spencer Fetrow from Roger Williams.
 
• The Colonels 2024-25 roster goes 40 deep with a class breakdown of: one graduate student, six seniors, five juniors, 13 sophomores, and 16 first years.
 
• The roster features student-athletes from eight states: Pennsylvania – 17; New Jersey – 15; New York – 4; Connecticut – 1; Massachusetts – 1; Virginia – 2
 
In the Rankings
• In the latest Open Mat individual rankings, Butka (197) was ranked 2^nd, Hartranft (157) 16^th, and Burkhart (285) 9^th.  As a team, the Colonels were tabbed 23^rd overall in the dual rankings.
 
• Along with the team debuting in the polls, three Colonels earned individual honors in the NWCA national rankings. Butka was tabbed No. 2 nationally and first in Region 2 at 197-pounds. Hartranft was tabbed No. 11 nationally and second in Region 2 at 157-pounds and Burkhart was selected No. 9 nationally and second in Region 2 at 285-pounds.
 
Scouting the Opponent
• Elizabethtown enters the home dual with a 1-0 record after posting a 27-17 victory over Division II Shippensburg University on November 6^th.
 
• The Blue Jays finished right behind the Colonels at the Shenandoah Invitational last weekend placing third overall. Corey Cope (133) and Ganon Smith (174) both won titles at their respective weight classes at the event.
 
• Smith is the lone Blue Jay in the NWCA national rankings tabbed 9^th at 174-pounds. Smith stands 12-1 overall on the year. Cope owns an 11-2 mark at 133-pounds. Will Davis is 12-1 overall at 184-pounds.
 
Weighing In
125 – C. Kucek (6-4)
133 – C. Kerwin (6-5)
141 – M. Richardson (5-5)
149 – C. Thorpe (7-4)
157 – J. Hartranft (6-0)
165 – C. Lawrence (2-3)
174 – L. Miller (7-4)
184 – C. Nuss (8-3)
197 – C. Butka (10-0)
285 – C. Burkhart (11-1)