HAMPTON, Va. – The Kutztown University wrestling team defeated The University of Central Florida on Friday morning, 31-9, in the first day of the Virginia Duals.
 
Kutztown (3-3, 0-2 PSAC) raced out to a 24-0 lead and led throughout the match en route to its 31-9 victory. The Golden Bears had eight wrestlers come out victorious, including three by major decision and two by technical fall.
 
Sophomores Austin Petril (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby (Ursinus)) and Anthony Petril (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby (Ursinus)) got the Golden Bears out to a quick 6-0 lead with wins by decision at 125 and 133.
 
Travis Roper (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) and redshirt-junior Joe Esposito (Sewell, N.J./Saint Augustine Prep) both won by major decision to put KU up 19-0. Roper won 17-8 at 141 pounds, while Esposito was victorious with a 16-5 win at 149.
 
Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South (Lock Haven)) improved his record to 12-3 with an 18-2 victory by technical fall at 157, while James Meyer (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) picked up his second win of the year with a 16-1 technical fall at 165.
 
Redshirt-senior Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) picked up a 3-1 decision at 197 pounds and Ryan Appleby (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere) won 12-2 by major decision at 285 in the final bout of the match.
 
Kutztown returns to action tomorrow afternoon in the second day of the Virginia Duals at 2 p.m. against Liberty University.
 
Kutztown 31, Central Florida 9
125: Au. Petril (KU) dec. Timothy Sakow (UCF), 5-1 – KU leads 3-0
133: An. Petril (KU) dec. Justus Griffith (UCF), 16-10 – KU leads 6-0
141: T. Roper (KU) maj. dec. Nicholas Anthony (UCF), 17-8 – KU leads 10-0
149: J. Esposito (KU) maj. dec. Matthew Seymour (UCF), 16-5 – KU leads 14-0
157: M. Martoccio (KU) tech. fall Austin Bailey (UCF), 18-2 – KU leads 19-0
165: J. Meyer (KU) tech. fall Calvin Cook (UCF), 16-1 – KU leads 24-0
174: Geordan Speiller (UCF) pins J. Balboni (KU), 1:30 – KU leads 24-6
184: Chandler Dobler (UCF) dec. C. Schildt (KU), 3-1 – KU leads 24-9
197: B. Clark (KU) dec. Tyrell Walker (UCF), 3-1 – KU leads 27-9
285: R. Appleby (KU) maj. dec. Angel Perez (UCF), 12-2 – KU wins 31-9