KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After securing the come-from-behind victory in its home opener last weekend, the seventh-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team looks to continue its winning ways this Friday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Golden Bears will host 12th-ranked Mercyhurst University at Keystone Arena in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup.
 
Gannon University, who received votes in the latest national coaches' poll and is ranked fifth in Super Region 1, held a 17-9 lead going into the final two bouts against Kutztown last Saturday. KU would not only need two victories, but also bonus points if it was to avoid the upset. Midway through the first period in the 197-pound bout, Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) secured the pin to grab six points and bring the score within two, setting up top-ranked Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)) to give Kutztown the 18-17 win with an 8-3 decision at 285 pounds.
 
Kutztown (7-3, 2-0 PSAC) has locked down the seventh rank in the national poll, as well as the second seed in the Super Region 1 poll. Mercyhurst (9-1, 2-0 PSAC) is only one spot behind in the regional poll and is riding a three-match winning streak.
 
Both squads remain as the only unbeaten schools in the PSAC at 2-0, and with only a handful of PSAC matches left, the victorious team will find itself in the driver's seat to take home this year's title. With a 26-9 victory over Gannon last season, Mercyhurst won the inaugural PSAC D-II Dual Championship. Now in the second year of naming a PSAC D-II Dual Champion, KU will have a good chance of dethroning the Lakers with a triumph this weekend.
 
Clark and Haddad have been extremely valuable anchors for the KU wrestling squad thus far. Clark has recorded a team-leading five pins for a 14-9 record overall. Haddad remains undefeated at 12-0 and has yet to give up a takedown to his opponent this season. Joe Esposito (Washington Township, N.J./Saint Augustine Prep), Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading), and Mitch Voelker (Shoemakersville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) have also reached double-digit victories for the Golden Bears.
 
Probable Matchups
 
125
KU - Nick Lamoreaux (Bethesda, MD/Milton Hershey) (Sr.) (2-9)
vs. MU – Ryan Bohince (R-Jr.) (11-7)
 
Lamoreaux recorded his biggest win against #19 Lake Erie at the NWCA National Duals with a 10-2 major decision. Bohince secured four major decisions on the year and is third-ranked in the Super Region 1 ranks.
 
133
KU – Brandon Davis (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) (R-Jr.) (2-4)
vs. MU – Kody Young (R-So.) (10-5)
 
Davis, filling in for an injured Evan Yenolevich (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh (Edinboro)), recorded two wins at the NWCA National Duals. Young started the season 6-0 for Mercyhurst and is ranked third in the region at 133 pounds.
 
141
KU – Mitch Voelker (Shoemakersville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) (R-Sr.) (12-10)
vs. MU - #7 Dylan D'Urso (So.) (17-2)
 
The 141-pound match will be the one to watch and could easily swing the momentum for either squad. Voelker provides a veteran presence and is coming off a victory against Gannon, along with four wins at the National Duals. D'Urso leads the Lakers with 17 victories and six major decisions, earning him the seventh-rank in the national poll.
 
149
KU – Joe Esposito (Washington Township, N.J./Saint Augustine Prep) (R-Fr.) (11-9)
vs. MU – Jeremy Landowski (R-So.) (9-4)
 
The top-two 149-pounders in the region will square off in the next bout. With three pins so far this season, Esposito fell to some tough competition at the National Duals, but fired off a six-match winning streak in the middle of the season. Landowski, also with three pins, is ranked one spot behind Esposito in the regional poll.
 
157
KU – Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South) (R-So.) (8-9)
vs. MU – Francis Mizia (R-Fr.) (15-4)
 
Martoccio is coming off a 6-5 decision against Gannon and is ranked sixth in the region. Mizia holds the fourth spot in the poll, winning by technical fall five times this season.
 
165
KU – Bo Candelaria (Reading, Pa./Middletown) (R-Jr.) (6-7)
vs. MU – Clint Schaefer (R-Sr.) (12-6)
 
Sitting out the last match due to injury, Candelaria returns to the mat as the fifth-ranked 165-pounder, squaring off fourth-ranked Schaeffer who has seven major decisions this season.
 
174
KU – Andrew Kinney (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) (R-Fr.) (6-10)
vs. MU – August Mizia (R-So.) (14-3)
 
Kinney will look to retain his regional ranking status against Mercyhurst after dropping his last eight bouts. Mizia is ranked third at 174 pounds, with four pins and three major decision victories this season.
 
184
KU – Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) (Sr.) (12-9)
vs. MU – Angelo Bortoluzzi (R-So.) (7-7)
 
Ortiz dropped a tight 2-0 decision to Gannon's nationally-ranked Zack Zelcs last time out. Ranked fifth in the region at 184, Ortiz will look to take advantage over the younger Bortoluzzi.
 
197
KU – Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) (R-So.) (14-9)
vs. MU – Brian Beattie (R-So.) (8-8)
 
Fresh off a game-changing victory against Gannon, Clark looks to remain as KU's most victorious grappler. The second-ranked 197-pounder in the region, Clark should have the upper-hand against Beattie.
 
285
KU – #1 Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)) (R-Jr.) (12-0)
vs. MU – Andrew Welton (Fr.) (14-4)
 
Haddad has proven time and time again why he remains the top-ranked heavyweight in the nation, coming through in the clutch for the Golden Bears at the end of numerous duals. With this dual battle probable to be tight until the end, he may need to be called upon again to grab the victory for his team against fourth-ranked Andrew Welton.