WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's wrestling team hosted the 91^st annual Wilkes Open on a snowy Friday at the Marts Center, with Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) placing in their respective weight classes. The Wilkes Open features wrestlers from Division I, II, and III teams as well as others from club teams and unattached wrestlers.

Full Results

Butka finished third in the 197-pound bracket, first defeating unrostered wrestler Ethan French by fall in just 34 seconds in the round of 16. Then, he defeated Ryland Whitworth of Army Prep by a 5-3 decision in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Butka fell to Carson Floyd of Division I Appalachian State by technical fall at 4:05 but claimed third after a forfeit by Roger Williams University' Spencer Fetrow. Butka finished the day with an 18-2 overall record on the season.

Like Butka, Burkhart also picked up a third-place finish in the heavyweight division. He started the day with a win by default over Davidson's DJ Spring in the round of 16, then picked up a pinfall victory at 3:10 over The Apprentice School's Dustin Uribes in the quarterfinals. Burkhart matched up against App State's Stephan Monchery in the semifinals and was defeated 6-1 but rebounded with a win over Owen Reber of Alvernia University with a pinfall at 2:38. The senior finished the Open with a record of 18-3 on the season.

Elsewhere in the heavyweight division, Trevor Gitski (Alburtis, PA/Emmaus) reached the semifinals of the consolation bracket for the Colonels with a major decision and a pinfall victory at 5:23.

32 Colonels in total wrestled in the event.

Appalachian State took home four championships, with wrestlers from Alvernia, Blair Academy, and Wyoming Seminary also taking home titles.

Wilkes takes to the mat again in the new year, as they travel to Lycoming College for the Budd Whitehill Duals on January 10 and 11.