WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Wilkes University men's wrestling team finished in 7^th place going 1-1 on day two of the 2025 Budd Whitehill Duals hosted by Lycoming College at Lamade Gymnasium. The Colonels fell 34-19 to No. 14 Stevens Institute of Technology in the opening match of the day before coming back to post a thrilling 27-26 victory over Messiah University in the 7^th/8^th place match.
 
Wilkes moved to 6-5 in dual matches following the two-day tournament.
 
In its opening match of the day, Connor Kerwin (Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley) received a forfeit at 125-pounds to give Wilkes a 6-0 lead. Michael Richardson (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) followed at 133-pounds with a major decision (10-0) over Naci Robinson as the Colonels led 10-0 after two bouts. Ryan Santiago (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) made it three consecutive wins as he pinned Joseph Bodnar in 1:54 to push the advantage to 16-0.
 
From there Stevens began its comeback and eventual lead as the Ducks scored wins in the next six bouts including four falls and two technical falls to secure the victory.
 
Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) finished off the match for Wilkes with a 6-1 decision over Maximo Ruiz to conclude the scoring.
 
Wilkes began the 7^th place match with former Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) foe Messiah with three straight extra-point wins. Kerwin began the match with a fall in just :21 at 125-pounds. Richardson followed with a pin of Mason Casey in 3:46 as Wilkes led 12-0.Santiago made it 17-0 after his technical fall over Camerin Deville 18-2.
 
Messiah then ran off the next five matches all in extra-point fashion including two falls, two technical falls and a major decision to take a 26-17 advantage with two bouts remaining. Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) made it 27-21 after he scored a 10-2 major decision over Sawyer Dereszynski at 197-pounds. Burkhart was the hero as he has been in other matches earning the match-sealing pin in 1:02 at 285-pounds to secure the 27-26 victory and 7^th place in the tournament in the process.
 
Wilkes is back in action next Saturday when the Colonels compete in the NY/PA Duals with matches against United States Merchant Marine Academy at 6:00 p.m., Hunter College at 7:30 p.m. and New York University at 9:00 p.m.
 
 
No. 14 Stevens 34, Wilkes 19
125 – C. Kerwin (W) won by forfeit
133 – M. Richardson (W) major dec. Naci Robinson (S) 10-0
141 – R. Santiago (W) fall Joseph Bodnar (S) 1:54
149 – Carmen Cortese (S) fall C. Thorpe (W) 4:24
157 – Ryan Smith (S) fall C. Sklavounos (W) 2:06
165 – Christopher Stathopoulos (S) fall B. Shannon (W) 1:07
174 – Harrison Hinojosa (S) fall M. Warren (W) 3:59
184 – Joel Martsinovsky (S) tech. fall J. Bilinski (W) 16-0
197 – Blaise Wagner (S) tech. fall P. Gordon (W) 15-0
285 – C. Burkhart (W) dec. Maximo Ruiz (S) 6-1
 
Wilkes 27, Messiah 26
125 – C. Kerwin (W) fall Austin Jeffrey (M) :21
133 – M. Richardson (W) fall Mason Casey (M) 3:46
141 – R. Santiago (W) tech. fall Camerin Deville (M) 18-2
149 – Levi Snyder (M) tech. fall C. Thorpe (W) 22-4
157 – Noah Rice (M) fall M. Sutter (W) 4:33
165 – Keegan Demarest (M) fall B. Shannon (W) :30
174 – Austin Brass (M) tech. fall M. Warren (W) 19-4
184 – Ryder Slayton (M) major dec. P. Gordon (W) 10-0
197 – C. Butka (W) major dec. Sawyer Dereszynski (M) 10-2
285 – C. Burkhart (W) fall Micah Martinez (M) 1:02