DES MOINES, Iowa. – The seventh-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team opened Sunday with a 20-13 win over 19th-ranked Lake Erie College, and closed the day with a 23-15 setback to Fort Hays State University to finish in sixth place at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals on Sunday afternoon.

This was the second straight year that the Golden Bears (6-3) competed at the national invite-only dual meet tournament. With its win against Lake Erie and earning a sixth place finish, Kutztown improved upon its seventh place finish from a year ago. By finishing in the top eight this year, the Golden Bears automatically qualify for next year's tournament.  
 

KU vs. Lake Erie
 
Nick Lamoreaux (Bethesda, MD/Milton Hershey) opened up strong at 125 with a 10-2 win and his first major decision of the year.
 
Brandon Davis (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) took a 4-0 lead after the first period at 133. Austin Gillihan escaped and earned a takedown in the second period to bring the score to 4-3 heading into the third. Most of the third period was contested within one point, but Davis' takedown with 17 seconds left sealed his 6-4 win after Gillihan's riding time.
 
Mitch Voelker (Shoemakersville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) trailed 2-0 at 141 after the first two periods. He stormed back with 11 points in the third for the 11-2 major decision. Lake Erie answered with an 11-3 major decision with a late takedown at 149 as KU led 11-4.
 
Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South) went up against second-ranked Zach Vargo at 157. The two battled throughout the entire bout as both wrestlers earned takedowns. Martoccio dropped an 8-2 decision, but kept the match close for the entire seven minutes.
 
Bo Candelaria (Reading, Pa./Middletown) got off to a hot start at 165 pounds with five first-period points against the sixth-ranked 165-pounder in Division II (Tyler Tesney). Tesney did not score a point until late in the second period to bring the score to 5-2 heading into the third. Candelaria escaped in the third to lead 6-2, as a late takedown by Tesney was not enough. Candelaria defeated his first nationally-ranked wrestler of the season, 6-4. KU led 14-7.
 
Lake Erie took an 8-4 decision at 174 as KU led 14-10 going into the final three bouts. Kutztown's Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) took a 5-0 lead at 184 after the first period. Lake Erie's Chevez Farris fought back and scored a pair of takedowns to cut Ortiz's lead to 7-4 in the third. Even though he was not able to score bonus points, Ortiz controlled most of the match in an 8-6 win to give KU a 17-10 lead.
 
After a scoreless first two periods at 197, Lake Erie scored an escape and takedown to start the third. KU's Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) got back on top with a reversal, and an escape brought KU's deficit to 4-2. Clark could not manage a takedown in the final seconds of the third as Lake Erie's Evan Rosborough won a 5-2 decision with riding time.
 
Kutztown held a 17-13 lead heading into the heavyweight bout. Top-ranked Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)) scored two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-1 after one, and 4-2 after two. He earned another takedown in the third to secure a 10-3 decision and a 20-13 win for Kutztown.

KU vs. Fort Hays State

Jackson Stabile (Lenhartsville, Pa./Hamburg) earned his second fall of the season to highlight Kutztown's 23-15 setback to Fort Hays State University in the fifth place match to finish in sixth place at the NWCA National Duals.
 
Fort Hays State entered the match receiving votes in the latest national coaches' poll, and two nationally-ranked wrestlers. Kutztown won 149 with Stabile's fall, a forfeit at 197 to Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton), and a 5-1 win by top-ranked Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)) over fourth-ranked Trey Page at heavyweight.
 
 
 

#7 Kutztown vs. #19 Lake Erie
	Match Summary	KU	LE
125	N. Lamoreaux (KU) over Jeff Sloney (LEC) Maj 10-2	4	0
133	B. Davis (KU) over Austin Gillihan (LEC) Dec 6-4	7	0
141	M. Voelker (KU) over Isaac Morisette (LEC) Maj 11-2	11	0
149	Nathan Ball (LEC) over J. Esposito (Kutztown) Maj 11-3	11	4
157	#2 Zach Vargo (LEC) over M. Martoccio (Kutztown) Dec 8-2	11	7
165	B. Candelaria (KU) over #6 Tyler Tesny (LEC) Dec 6-4	14	7
174	Dylan Zivcic (LEC) over A. Kinney (Kutztown) Dec 8-4	14	10
184	G. Ortiz (KU) over Chevez Farris (LEC) Dec 8-6	17	10
197	Rosborough Evan (LEC) over B. Clark (KU) Dec 5-2	17	13
285	#1 Z. Haddad (KU) over Robert Zappitelli ii (LEC) Dec 10-3	20	13
Dual Meet Score		20	13

 
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 #7 Kutztown vs. Fort Hays State

	Match Summary	FHSU	KU
125	#6 Lawson Ludwin (FHSU) over N. Lamoreaux (KU) Maj 14-4	4	0
133	Symon Seaton (FHSU) over B. Davis (KU) Dec 7-3	7	0
141	Charles Napier (FHSU) over M. Voelker (KU) Dec 10-3	10	0
149	J. Stabile (KU) over Joey Dozier (FHSU) Fall 4:39	10	6
157	Mitchell Means (FHSU) over M. Martoccio (KU) Dec 7-3	13	6
165	Bradley Little (FHSU) over J. Heller (KU) Dec 10-5	16	6
174	Josh Rodriguez (FHSU) over B. Candelaria (KU) Dec 4-3	19	6
184	Jon Inman (FHSU) over G. Ortiz (KU) Maj 10-1	23	6
197	B. Clark (KU) over Unknown (FHSU) Forf	23	12
285	#1 Z. Haddad (KU) over #4 Trey Page (FHSU) Dec 5-1	23	15
Dual Meet Score		23	15