Video Highlights
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The 13th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team scored 12 points right out of the gate with pinfalls in the opening two bouts and finished off with wins in six of the last eight to defeat American International College 39-10 on Saturday afternoon from Keystone Arena.
 
Freshmen Nicholas DeMarco and Travis Roper set the tone early for Kutztown (7-5). DeMarco was all over AIC's Connor Liebel in the 125-pound bout, opening up a 14-0 lead until executing a pin halfway through the final period. Roper also shut out his opponent, pinning Zach Ziobro in the final seconds of the second period after building a 7-0 lead.
 
Matt Benvenuto increased KU's lead to 15-0 in the 141-pound match, just nearly missing bonus points with his 9-2 victory over Anthony Milano.
 
The Golden Bears were able to put the match out of reach in the 157- and 165- pound bouts. Matt Martoccio was aggressive from start to finish, recording an impressive seven takedowns to help compile a 16-4 major decision victory at 157 pounds. With an immediate takedown in the 165-pound matchup, Bo Candelaria utilized 13 points from nearfalls to record a 16-0 technical fall triumph.
 
Ryan Krecker and Brad Drover were close heading into the final period at 174 pounds, but Krecker held off for a 5-3 decision.
 
Brandan Clark was trailing Sheldon Rhoden in the 197-pound bout at the end of the first period, but a quick escape in the second tied things up. Clark then snagged a leg and took Rhoden to the mat, turning him for a quick pin and the final six points for the Maroon and Gold.
 
American International (1-4) won two bouts on the day, scoring a major decision at 149 pounds and a pinfall at 285 pounds to give the visiting team 10 points.
 
The Golden Bears will take a trip out west next weekend to Erie. KU will first square off against Gannon at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, followed by a matchup with fifth-ranked Mercyhurst on Saturday.
 
 

Final Results - #13 Kutztown 39, American International 10
WT.	Name	Score
EX	Brandon Parker (KU) pinned Zack Winegardner, 1:50
125	Nicholas DeMarco (KU) pinned Connor Liebel (AIC), 5:48	6-0 KU
133	Travis Roper (KU) pinned Zach Ziobro (AIC), 4:50	12-0 KU
141	Matt Benvenuto (KU) dec. Anthony Milano (AIC), 9-2 (1:32 RT)	15-0 KU
149	Simeon Everett (AIC) maj. dec. Joe Esposito (KU), 12-1 (2:20 RT)	15-4 KU
157	Matt Martoccio (KU) maj. dec. Brandon Walsh (AIC), 16-4 (3:58 RT)	19-4 KU
165	Bo Candelaria (KU) tech. fall over Christopher Hunter (AIC), 16-0 - 2:44 (2:37 RT)	24-4 KU
174	Ryan Krecker (KU) dec. Brad Drover (AIC), 5-3	27-4 KU
184	Andre Petroski (KU) wins by forfeit	33-4 KU
197	Brandan Clark (KU) pinned Sheldon Rhoden (AIC), 4:14	39-4 KU
285	Soslan Khamitcaev (AIC) pinned Ryan Appleby (KU), 1:50	39-10 KU

 

Play-by-Play Summary:
 
 
Exhibition (165) - Brandon Parker (KU) vs. Zack Winegardner
 
Parker opens match with takedown 20 seconds into first period for 2-0 lead…Parker follows with three-point near-fall for 5-0 lead midway through first period…Parker turns over opponent for win 1:50 into match.
 
 
125 - Nicholas DeMarco (KU) vs. Connor Liebel (AIC)
 
DeMarco opens match with takedown in first 15 seconds of match for 2-0 lead…DeMarco earns three-point takedown in middle of mat for 5-0 lead midway through first period…Second three-point near-fall gives DeMarco 8-0 lead with 2:44 of riding time after first period…Liebel defers, neutral to start…Opening takedown for DeMarco gives him 10-0 lead…Two-point nearfall in second period extends lead to 12-0…Stalling warning for Liebel…DeMarco holds 12-0 lead with 4:20 of riding time after second period…Neutral to start third period…DeMarco takedown gives him 14-0 lead, turns into pin 5:48 into match.
 
KU leads AIC, 6-0
 
 
 
133 - Travis Roper (KU) vs. Zach Ziobro (AIC)
 
Roper opens match with takedown midway through first period for 2-0 lead…Action stopped in first period for injury time for Ziobro…Ziobro on top for restart, Roper escapes and follows with takedown for 5-0 lead after first period…Roper defers, Ziobro chooses neutral…Roper adds two points with takedown for 7-0 lead midway through second period…Roper pins Ziobro in middle of mat in 4:50.
 
KU leads match 12-0.
 
 
141 - Matt Benvenuto (KU) vs. Anthony Milano (AIC)
 
Action goes out of bounds numerous times in first period…Benvenuto grabs a leg of Milano, drags him into middle of mat for first takedown of match with 30 seconds left in first period for 2-0 lead…Milano defers, Benvenuto chooses bottom to start second…Benvenuto turns in reversal for two more points for 4-0 lead…Milano escapes for 4-1 Benvenuto lead…Benvenuto takedown gives him 6-1 lead after first period…Benvenuto on top to start second period…Two-point nearfall at edge of mat gives Benvenuto 8-1 lead…Escape on restart sets score at 8-2…Benvenuto wins match 8-2, extended to 9-2 with 1:32 of riding time.
 
KU leads match 15-0
 
 
149 - Joe Esposito (KU) vs. Simeon Everett (AIC)
 
Everett with first takedown of match with 15 seconds left in first period for 2-0 lead…Esposito chooses bottom to start second…Esposito escapes for 2-1 lead for Everett…Everett with takedown for 4-1 lead in second period…Everett on bottom to start third period…Everett escapes for 5-1 lead, follows with takedown and two-point near-fall for 9-1 lead…Riding time goes over 2:00 for Everett in final minute of third period…Two-point nearfall in final seconds of match for Everett…Everett wins match 11-1, extended to 12-1 after 2:20 of riding time.
 
 
157 - Matt Martoccio (KU) vs. Brandon Walsh (AIC)
 
Martoccio with two takedowns in opening 30 seconds for 4-2 lead after escapes…Third takedown in first period puts lead at 6-2…Martoccio caution on restart…Martoccio leads 6-2 lead after first period…Walsh defers, Martoccio takes defense to start second period…Martoccio escapes in opening seconds for 7-2 lead…Stalling warning on Walsh, followed by takedown at the legs for Martoccio for 9-2 lead after second period…Walsh chooses neutral to start third period…Martoccio takedown in third period for 11-2 lead…Martoccio lets Walsh up for 11-3 lead with 1:00 to go…Takedown for Martoccio puts lead at 13-3…13-4 lead after escape, followed by takedown for 15-4 lead…Martoccio wins match 15-4, extended to 16-4 major decision with 3:58 of riding time.
 
KU leads match 19-4
 
 
165 - Bo Candelaria (KU) vs. Christopher Hunter (AIC)
 
Candelaria with quick takedown to open match for 2-0 lead…Three-point nearfall extends lead to 5-0 in first period…Lead up to 7-0 with two-point nearfall…10-0 lead for three-point nearfall…13-0 lead after three-point nearfall…15-0 tech. fall for Candelaria in 2:44 following two-point nearfall, extended to 16-0 following 2:37 of riding time.
 
KU leads match 24-4
 
 
174 - Ryan Krecker (KU) vs. Brad Drover (AIC)
 
Krecker opens match with takedown, followed by escape for 2-1 lead…Krecker with second takedown at edge of mat for 4-1 lead…4-2 lead after escape…Krecker leads 4-2 after first period…Drover chooses bottom to start second period…4-3 Krecker lead following escape…Krecker leads 4-3 following second period…Krecker chooses bottom to start third…Drover caution on restart…Krecker escapes in opening seconds for 5-3 lead…Krecker wins match 5-3.
 
KU leads match 27-4
 
 
184 - Andre Petroski (KU) wins by forfeit
 
KU leads match 33-4.
 
 
 
197 - Brandan Clark (KU) vs. Sheldon Rhoden (AIC)
 
Stalemate called in first period…Rhoden with opening takedown for 2-0 lead…Clark escapes for 2-1 deficit…Rhoden leads 2-1 after first…Rhoden defers, Clark chooses bottom to start second…Clark escapes in first second to tie match at 2-2…Clark grabs a leg for takedown, turns Rhoden for pin in 4:14.
 
KU leads match 39-4.
 
 
285 - Ryan Appleby (KU) vs. Soslan Khamitcaev (AIC)
 
Khamitcaev called for unsportsmanlike conduct in opening minute, Appleby awarded a point… Khamitcaev grabs Appleby, throws him down for takedown and three-point nearfall for 5-1 lead, followed by pin in 1:50.
 
KU wins match 39-10