WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Wilkes University men's wrestling team finished day one of the 2026 Budd Whitehill Duals hosted by Lycoming College going 0-3 in group A competition.
 
The Colonels faced two ranked teams on the day falling to No. 11 Wisconsin Eau-Claire 48-4 and No. 4 The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 29-18 before dropping a 33-8 decision to Ithaca College.
 
In the loss against Ithaca, Jaryn Hartranft (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) earned extra points with a technical fall (19-0) in 5:41 over Aklo Sanders at 157-pounds. Wilkes' other win came from Colton Thorpe (Southington, CT/Southington) at 165-pounds when he bested Brian Blenus by decision 2-0. Of Ithaca's eight wins, four came with extra points including falls at 174-pounds and 197-pounds.
 
In the second match of the day, Wisconsin-Eau Claire took all but one bout in the match with all nine wins coming with extra points including six falls. Hartranft earned his second win of the day, the lone win for the Colonels in the match, collecting a 14-3 major decision over Briar Ivey at 157-pounds.
 
In the final match of the day, No. 4 TCNJ took a 10-0 lead after two bouts before Austin Romberger put Wilkes on the board with a 12-1 major decision win over Ethan Kerlin at 141-pounds. Hartranft stayed perfect on the day with another extra point win 19-3 technical fall over Sam Kotch at 157-pounds. Thorpe continued the Wilkes rally earning a fall in 2:57 at 165-pounds as Wilkes led 15-13 after six bouts. From there TCNJ earned 16 points over the final four bouts to seal the win. Patrick Gordon III (South Riding, VA/Freedom) won his match at 197-pounds 4-3.
 
Day two action begins tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:00 a.m.
 
Ithaca 33, Wilkes 8
125 – Cosmo Damiani (I) dec. G. Smith (W) 13-6
133 – Jay McDonnell (I) tech. fall S. Kimmel (W) 20-4 (4:23)
141 – Isalas Torres (I) major dec. A. Romberger (W) 17-4
149 – William Bentrim (I) dec. J. Sloan (W) 6-4
157 – J. Hartranft (W) tech. fall Aklo Sanders (I) 19-0 (5:41)
165 – C. Thorpe (W) dec. Brian Blenus (I) 2-0
174 – Konrad Parker (I) fall O. Watson (3:23)
184 – Eamon Callaghan (I) dec. L. Miller (W) 13-9
197 – Ryan Galka (I) fall P. Gordon (W) :38
285 – Charlie Turner (I) dec. T. Gitski (W) 2-0
 
No. 11 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 48, Wilkes 4
125 – Travis Moelter (EC) major dec. G. Smith (W) 14-2
133 – Wyatt Unser (EC) fall C. Kerwin (W) 6:28
141 – Ty Fink (EC) major dec. A. Romberger (W) 15-4
149 – Landon Church (EC) fall R. Santiago (W) 5:42
157 – J. Hartranft (W) major dec. Briar Ivey (EC) 14-3
165 – Brady Brewick (EC) major dec. H. Troutman (W) 13-4
174 – Ben Peterson (EC) fall O. Watson (W) 1:13
184 – Zak McPhee (EC) fall L. Miller (W) 2:52
197 – Ian Pepple (EC) fall E. Black (W) 3:50
285 – Sloan Welch (EC) fall A. Perez (W) 1:14
 
No. 4 TCNJ 29, Wilkes 18
125 – Alden Carmody (NJ) tech. fall T. Longo (W) 17-1 (2:13)
133 – L. Reitter (NJ) tech. fall S. Kimmel (W) 16-0 (3:10)
141 – A. Romberger (W) major dec. Ethan Kerlin (NJ) 12-1
149 – Collin Menier (NJ) dec. B. Grater (W) 16-15
157 – J. Hartranft (W) tech. fall Sam Kotch (NJ) 19-3 (4:49)
165 – C. Thorpe (W) fall Nick Acque (NJ) 2:57
174 – Konnor Tubin (NJ) major dec. O. Watson (W) 17-7
184 – Ethan Dalling (NJ) over S. Diarra (W) MFF
197 – P. Gordon (W) dec. Henry Saxon (NJ) 4-3
285 – Clifford Dirkes (NJ) fall T. Gitski (W) 1:04