Live Stats | National Rankings (2-11-16) | Super Region I Rankings (2-10-16) KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Five Golden Bear seniors will be honored at Keystone Arena Friday night, Feb. 12, as the Kutztown University wrestling team takes on Shippensburg University at 7 p.m. in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup on Senior Night in the team's final home match of the season.
Julio Arredondo (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area),
Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton),
Joe Esposito (Sewell, N.J./Saint Augustine Prep),
Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South (Lock Haven)) and
Daniel Ortiz (Reading, PA, Reading) will take the mat pre-match to recognize and honor their career contributions to the KU wrestling program.
Also this week, the latest national and Super Region I rankings were released. As a team, Kutztown received votes in the national coaches' poll and was ranked seventh in Super Region I. It had three wrestlers ranked in the region and one in the nation.
Martoccio moved up one spot to fifth in the latest national rankings at 157 pounds, while remaining second in Super Region I. Clark remained second at 197 in the region, and
Ryan Appleby (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere) remained at fourth at heavyweight.
Kutztown (10-5, 2-3 PSAC) looks to secure its second-consecutive dual win on Friday night after taking down Millersville on Wednesday, 28-9. The Golden Bears currently sit fifth in the PSAC standings among Division II teams, while Shippensburg (10-7, 4-2) is in third in the conference and is ranked fifth in Super Region I.
Martoccio, KU's 157-pounder, leads the team with 20 wins, including a 13-1 record in dual matches. He is second on the team with three pins and has recorded four wins by major decision.
For his career, Martoccio has an 81-35 career record and is fifth all-time in KU history with 81 career victories. He earned All-PSAC honors twice in his career after finishing third at the PSAC Championships in 2014 and second in 2015. Martoccio is a team captain and placed seventh at the 2015 National Championships, earning himself All-America honors.
KU's 197-pounder, Clark, is second on the team this season with 18 wins, including an 11-0 record in dual matches. He has recorded two pins and is tied for the team-lead with four victories by major decision.
Clark qualified for the National Championships in his freshman campaign at KU, placed sixth at the Super Region 1 Championships last season and placed second at the PSAC Championships earlier this season. He earned 2015 All-PSAC honors and is 12th all-time in school history with 65 career wins.
Esposito has compiled three wins this season at 149 pounds for the Golden Bears. He was named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and earned All-PSAC honors in 2013 after placing third at the PSAC Championships. For his career, Esposito has 22 wins, including five pins.
Arredondo has three wins this season, including two at the PSAC Championships. He had a 9-6 record as a junior and was the only Golden Bear to place at the Mat Mayhem Open, finishing third. Arredondo has 15 career wins with Kutztown.
Ortiz is a four-year member of the Golden Bears. After competing in his first two years, he remained with and supported the program by continuing to train and practice with the team in the wrestling room. He won 10 matches in his career, highlighted by winning the heavyweight championship at the 2013 ESU Open.
Sophomore 125-pounder
Austin Petril (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby (Ursinus)) is third on KU with 14 wins. He is tied for the team-lead with three wins by technical fall and his fastest pin of the season was in 1:16.
Appleby and
Travis Roper (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) each have 12 wins on the season for the Golden Bears. Appleby, KU's 285-pounder, is tied for the team-lead with four major decisions. Roper leads the team with four pins and is tied for fourth with three major decisions.
Collin Schildt (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) has picked up nine victories for the Golden Bears. He has an 8-5 record at 184 pounds and is 1-1 at 197.
James Meyer (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and
Joe Balboni (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton (Old Dominion)) have each contributed seven wins this season. Meyer, KU's 165-pounder, has three wins by major decision and a victory by technical fall. Balboni is tied for the team-high with three wins by technical fall, all at 174 pounds.
Following Friday's night dual meet, Kutztown rounds out its regular season with a road meet at East Stroudsburg University on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.
