SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The 15th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team traveled to Heiges Field House on Friday night for the final road dual of the regular season. The Golden Bears secured eight wins with four bonus victories to take down Shippensburg University, 32-7.
 
With the win, the Golden Bears improve to 11-6 overall and 5-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with one conference dual remaining in the regular season. If University of Pitt-Johnstown (12-1, 5-1 PSAC) defeats Mercyhurst University (17-1, 6-0 PSAC) tomorrow, and Kutztown takes down East Stroudsburg on Tuesday, KU will knot up a three-way tie with UPJ and MU for the PSAC Division II Dual Meet Championship.
 
The match kicked off with the 197-pounders battling on their feet for nearly the entire bout. Brandan Clark's escape in the beginning of the second period ultimately became the decider in a 1-0 victory over Jalal Paige.

Top-ranked Ziad Haddad took the mat next in the heavyweight bout, pinning freshman Derek Earnest in 1:12 to improve to 22-0 on the season and put KU up 9-0.
 
Shippensburg (6-13, 1-6 PSAC) got on the board in the 125-pound bout with a 6-2 decision from Dante Steffenino.
 
The 133-pound match featured a clash between two regionally-ranked grapplers. In an action-packed first period, KU's Travis Roper utilized two takedowns and back points to build a 6-3 lead. Roper nabbed one more takedown in each of the final two periods before pinning Karl Lightner at the 6:34 mark. 
 
After two scoreless periods in the 141-pound bout, Ship's Cody Blankenship scored the first points with an escape early in the third. KU's Matt Benvenuto remained poised with the time ticking down and shot for a takedown to take the lead. With an additional three near fall points, Benvenuto put the Golden Bears up 18-3 with a 5-1 decision.
 
Shippensburg's Cameron Throckmorton, the fifth-ranked 149-pounder in the country and the top seed in the region, was too much too handle for Kutztown. Throckmorton's 10-2 major decision cut the Golden Bears lead to 18-7.
 
Matt Martoccio controlled the 157-pound bout from start to finish. With a takedown in the third and ample riding time, Martoccio locked down a 6-0 decision over Mike Springer for his 20th victory of the season.
 
Bo Candelaria followed up with another dominating performance for the Maroon and Gold at 165 pounds. Building on a nine-point lead after the first period, Candelaria finished off with a 14-0 major decision over Arthur Watkins to give KU a 25-7 advantage.
 
Ryan Krecker piled on to the Golden Bears lead at 174 pounds, scoring six takedowns to contribute to a 15-3 major decision against Colton Rebert. Andre Petroski capped off the match with a 7-4 decision at 184 pounds over Marshall Hobbs to earn his 20th victory of the season.
 
Kutztown will host East Stroudsburg on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. for the final dual meet of the regular season.

Results

Kutztown 32, Shippensburg 7
197: Brandan Clark (KU) dec. Jalal Paige (SU), 1-0 (3-0)
285: Ziad Haddad (KU) pins Derek Earnest (SU), 1:12 (9-0)
125: Dante Steffenino (SU) dec.  Nicholas DeMarco (KU), 6-2 (9-3)
133: Travis Roper (KU) pins Karl Lightner (SU), 6:34 (15-3)
141: Matt Benvenuto (KU) dec. Cody Blankenship (SU), 5-1 (18-3)
149: Cameron Throckmorton (SU) maj dec. Jackson Stabile (KU), 10-2 (18-7)
157: Matt Martoccio (KU) dec. Mike Springer (SU), 6-0 (21-7)
165: Bo Candelaria (KU) maj dec. Arthur Watkins (SU) 14-0 (25-7)
174: Ryan Krecker (KU) maj dec. Colton Rebert (SU) 15-3 (29-7)
184: Andre Petroski (KU) dec.  Marshall Hobbs (SU) 7-4 (32-7)

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Exh: Brandon Wolfe (KU) maj dec. Hunter Fenk (SU),  11-2
Exh: Julio Arredondo (KU) dec. Kyle Taylor (SU), 8-3