NEW YORK, NY – The Wilkes University men's wrestling team finished 2-1 at the NY/PA Duals hosted by New York University Saturday night. The Colonels fell to host #12 NYU 31-18 before recording wins over the United States Merchant Marine Academy 29-24 and Hunter College 51-5.
 
Wilkes moved to 8-6 overall in dual matches on the season following the three-match event.
 
In the first match of the night against NYU, the Colonels fell in six of the ten bouts with five coming on extra-point wins. At 149-pounds Colton Thorpe (Southington, CT/Southington) was a 7-3 decision winner over John Mairano. Caleb Lawrence (Larksville, PA/Wyoming Seminary) pinned Rex Jacobs in 1:22 at 165-pounds to give Wilkes nine points in the match. Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) anchored the Wilkes lineup at 197 and 285 with nine more team points. Butka wrestled to a 7-1 decision win over Anthony DeRosa while Burkhart eanred the forfeit victory.
 
The Colonels picked up their first win of the day against Merchant Marine in the second round. After a forfeit win at 125-pounds, Michael Richardson (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) earned a technical fall (18-2) at 133 followed by a pin from Ben Grater (Saddle Brooke, NJ/Saddle Brook) at 141. Jaryn Hartranft (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) was an 8-3 decision winner at 157 an Joshua Wilkins (Mount Laurel, NJ/Holy Cross) pinned his opponent in 2:15 at 174 to seal the match. Butka earned his second win of the day with a 10-7 decision over Anthony DeRosa at 197 followed by Burkhart receiving a forfeit.
 
Wilkes closed out the day rolling to nine of ten wins in the match against Hunter. Richardson, Grater, Brayden Shannon (Lansdale, PA/North Penn), Lawrence, Patrick Gordon III (South Riding, VA/Freedom), Butka and Burkhart all recorded falls in the lopsided victory. The eight second pin from Burkhart tied the school record for fastest pin held by Dave Gregrow against Binghamton in 1978.
 
Wilkes is back on the mat Thursday with a road matchup at the University of Scranton beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Long Center.
 
#12 NYU 31, Wilkes 18
125 – Harrison Gordon (NYU) fall C. Kerwin (W) 1:45
133 – Jacob Venezia (NYU) dec. M. Richardson (W) 9-3
141 – Tyler Kadish (NYU) fall R. Santiago (W) 4:05
149 – C. Thorpe (W) dec. John Mairano (NYU) 7-2
157 – Cooper Pontelandolfo (NYU) tech. fall J. Hartranft (W) 15-0
165 – C. Lawrence (W) fall Rex Jacops (NYU) 1:22
174 – Nicky Bell (NYU) fall J. Wilkins (W) :42
184 – Trent Furman (NYU) tech. fall S. Diarra (W) 15-0
197 – C. Butka (W) dec. Anthony DeRosa (NYU) 7-1
285 – C. Burkhart (W) wins by forfeit
 
Wilkes 35, USMMA 18
125 – C. Kerwin (W) wins by forfeit
133 – M. Richardson (W) tech. fall Colin Dragon (US) 18-2
141 – B. Grater (W) fall Charlie Lausten (US) 2:20
149 – Kieran Bruen (US) fall C. Thorpe (W) 1:45
157 – J. Hartranft (W) dec. Eddie Pinc (US) 8-3
165 – Matthew Gauthier (US) fall C. Lawrence (W) 1:22
174 – J. Wilkins (W) fall Caleb Borchers (US) 2:15
184 – Tyler Withers (US) fall P. Gordon III (W) 2:16
197 – C. Butka (W) dec. Cade Cowley (US) 10-7
285 – C. Burkhart (W) wins by forfeit
 
Wilkes 51, Hunter 5
125 – C. Kerwin (W) wins by forfeit
133 – M. Richardson (W) fall Juan Tucubal (H) :32
141 – B. Grater (W) fall Naman Bhasin (H) 3:17
149 – Jayden Medina (H) tech. fall J. Bettencourt (W) 17-2
157 – C. Sklavounos (W) dec. Justin Riello (H) 17-15
165 – B. Shannon (W) fall Nicholas D'Erasmo (H) 1:20
174 – C. Lawrence (W) fall Isiah Harris (H) 1:27
184 – P. Gordon III (W) wins by forfeit
197 – C. Butka (W) fall Jevin Torres (H) :22
285 – C. Burkhart (W) fall Abdulrahman Khaldi (H) :08
 
Exhibitions:
125 – Thomas Fischer (NYU) major dec. T. Longo (W) 15-7
133 – James Carlock (NYU) major dec. E. Washburn (W) 13-5
157 – C. Sklavounos (W) fall Jack Kent (H) 2:13
157 – Justin Riello (H) fall M. Sutter (W) 3:25