ITHACA, NY – No. 22 Ithaca College scored wins in seven of ten bouts on way to a 29-10 dual match victory over the Wilkes University men's wrestling team on Friday night.
 
With the win Ithaca improved to 12-6 in dual matches while Wilkes dropped to 7-8 in dual competitions on the season. It marked the sixth dual match against a top-25 ranked opponent this season for the Colonels.
 
Ithaca took a 3-0 lead after a decision win at 125-pounds. At 133-pounds, Connor Kerwin (Totowa, NJ/Passaic Valley) looked poised to put Wilkes on the board leading by eight late in the third period, but Ithaca's Jay McDonnell was able to score a takedown then finish off the match with a fall just as time expired as the Bombers led 9-0 after two bouts.
 
Ashton Romberger (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg) started a stretch of three wins for the Colonels earning a hard-fought 4-2 decision over Ben White at 141-pounds. Ryan Santiago (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) followed with a 10-5 decision win at 149-pounds and Jaryn Hartranft (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) made the comeback complete with a 12-4 major decision over Akio Sanders at 157-pounds tying the match at nine.
 
The Bombers then took control of the match over the final five bouts taking four with extra points. After a decision win at 165-pounds, No. 5 Konrad Parker posted a 19-3 technical fall over Hunter Troutman (Valley View, PA/Tri-Valley) followed by a Bomber major decision (16-3) at 184-pounds. No. 14 Ryan Galka won by major decision 17-8 over Elliot Black (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) at 197-pounds before Kamdyn Dorchester picked up a 12-3 major decision over Luke Abilio (Montville, NJ/Montville) at heavyweight.
 
Wilkes will return to the mat tomorrow as the Colonels compete in the Messiah Open hosted by Messiah University. Wrestling begins at 10:00 a.m.
 
No. 22 Ithaca 29, Wilkes 10
125 – Cosmo Damiani (I) dec. G. Smith 8-6
133 – Jay McDonnell (I) fall C. Kerwin (W) 7:00
141 – A. Romberger (W) dec. Ben White (I) 4-2
149 – R. Santiago (W) dec. William Bentrim (I) 10-5
157 – J. Hartranft (W) dec. Akio Sanders (I) 12-4
165 – Christopher Reddy (I) dec. C. Thorpe (W) 7-4
174 – Konrad Parker (I) tech. fall H. Troutman (W) 19-3 (3:47)
184 – Xavier Pommells (I) mjor dec. L. Miller (W) 16-3
197 – Ryan Galka (I) major dec. E. Black (W) 17-8
285 – Kamdyn Dorchester (I) major dec. L. Abilio (W) 12-3