SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In its first trip to NCWA/Cliff Keen Duals, Kutztown University advanced to day two of the tournament after scoring a dramatic come from behind win over UNC-Pembroke.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results
 
The Golden Bears were sent to the consolation bracket after falling to No. 5 Upper Iowa in the team's opener at the duals, 23-15. 
 
With their tournament life on the line, KU trailed the Braves 16-9 entering a bout at 184 between Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) and Thomas Fowler.  Ortiz made short work of his UNCP foe, pinning him in 1:13 to make it 16-15.  Vinny Campanile (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley) followed suit at 197, giving KU its first lead of the dual, with a fall in 2:41 against Brach Walker.  Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)) sealed the win with a 13-3 major decision over James De La Riva at 285. 
 
Kutztown's other wins came at 133 and 149.  Brandon Davis (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) notched a 7-3 decision at 133 over Dontae Brown and Mitch Voelker (Shoemakersville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) dispatched Reggie Allen 5-3 at 149.
 
In the opener against Upper Iowa, KU fell behind 8-0 before Evan Yenolevich (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh (Edinboro)) scored a 15-0 technical fall at 141 to make it 8-5.  After a major decision by UIU at 149, decisions by Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South) at 157 and Ricky Pena (Reading, PA/Reading) at 165 pulled the Golden Bears within a point at 12-11. 
 
Upper Iowa would win the next three bouts, including a pair of major decisions to seal the win.  Haddad closed the match with the first of his two major decisions on the day, a 9-0 win over Jeremy Brazil.
 
The Golden Bears will face the loser of the Central Oklahoma/Grand Canyon dual scheduled for later Saturday, January 12.