KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University wrestling team returns from a 27-day layoff with three dual matches in two days. The Golden Bears take on Pitt-Johnstown on January 6 and face off with Seton Hill and West Liberty State the following day.
The Golden Bears and UPJ get underway at 7 p.m. on January 6. The Mountain Cats will provide both
Live Stats and
Streaming Video of the match. At Seton Hill, Kutztown and the Griffins face off at 11 a.m. with the match against the Hilltoppers directly following.
The action should provide solid competition for all four squads. The Golden Bears are receiving votes in the latest National Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Association rankings, as are the Griffins. West Liberty is rated No. 13, one place ahead of UPJ.
The weekend could shake up the rankings within Super Region I. Entering the weekend, West Liberty is ranked third, Pitt-Johnstown is fourth, KU is sixth and Seton Hill checks in at No. 7.
Kutztown last competed at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships at Mercyhurst on December 10. Wrestling at 125, senior
Desmond Moore (Easton, PA/Easton) (Easton, Pa./Easton) led the Golden Bears, finishing fourth.
Vinny Campanile (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley) (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley) was fifth at 197, while
Evan Yenolevich (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh (Edinboro)) (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) took fifth at 133.
Mitch Voelker (Shoemakersville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) came in sixth at 141.
The weekend will mark the return to dual action for the Golden Bears, who are 2-0 on the year.
On the year, Moore is 8-6 with one major decision and a technical fall, all at 125.
Campanile has had a strong start to his first year at KU. Nine of his ten wins have come by fall and his pin total is tied for fifth in all of Division II and tied for first at 197. Campanile is rated fourth in Super Region I.
Yenolevich, a sophomore, has also had an excellent debut with Kutztown. He leads the team with 11 victories and is tied for fourth in Division II with three technical falls. Seven of his 11 victories are bonus wins as he has a pair of pins and two wins by major decision to his credit, as well. He is currently ranked third in Super Region I.
Voelker, ranked sixth in Super Region I, has four wins on the year, one each by major decision and technical fall.
Wrestling mainly at 165,
Bionojel Candelaria (Reading, Pa./Middleton) is tied for 10th in Division II with two technical falls and is tied for first at 165. Three more of his nine victories came via major decision. He is ranked fifth in Super Region I.
Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) (Reading, Pa./Reading) at 184 and
Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) at 285 each has seven wins, one more than
Zach Marlatt (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh). Marlatt is ranked No. 1 in Super Region I.
The Mountain Cats have several nationally ranked individuals. Ryan Link is currently ranked third in Division II and is the top ranked wrestler in Super Region I at 133. He is tied for 10th in Division II with two technical falls. Jack Bachman, wrestling at 141, is third nationally and second in the region. Nathan Link is sixth in the nation at 149.
Pitt-Johnstown is 3-1 on the year, winning three in a row after season opening loss to West Liberty.
Both Ryan Link and Bachman earned All-America honors a year ago.
Seton Hill will be looking to snap a two-match losing streak after winning six straight to open the year. Four Griffins are ranked in Super Region I, including Kenny Trumbetta, the sixth ranked wrestler in Division II at 125. He is rated No. 2 in the region, the highest for the Griffins.
The Hilltoppers will also be looking to get back in the win column after a loss at Lake Erie snapped a three-match win streak. Nick Wykoff is ranked No. 5 nationally at 141, while J.D. Ramsey is the nation's No. 6-ranked wrestler at 285.
Kutztown will then travel to Division I Hofstra for a dual match on January 15.
