Results: KU vs. Ashland | KU vs. Lake Erie
PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The 18th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team traveled to Ohio and dropped a pair of matches to No. 12 Ashland University, 25-14, and No. 14 Lake Erie, 29-12, on Saturday at Lake Erie College.
The first match of the day was against Ashland, and things started off with 17-2 tech. fall in favor of Kutztown's
Austin Petril (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby (Ursinus)), giving the Golden Bears a quick 5-0 lead.
Unfortunately, Ashland picked up a head of steam and went on to win the next four bouts by way of two major decisions, one fall and one decision giving Ashland a 17-5 lead.
Third-ranked
T.C. Warner (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley (Bloomsburg)) gave Kutztown signs of life after scraping out a 1-0 decision at 165 to give the Golden Bears three points, bringing the score to 17-8. The momentum continued into the next bout as
Joe Balboni (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton (Old Dominion)) picked up a 7-1 decision at 174 to bring the score to 17-11.
Ashland regained momentum after dropping the last two matches and picked up a decision and technical fall, clinching the team win with a score 25-11.
Ryan Appleby (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere) closed out the match with a 6-3 decision to ultimately bring the score to 25-14.
After the defeat to Ashland, Kutztown faced 14th-ranked Lake Erie in its final match of the day.
Lake Erie was granted a quick six points as Kutztown forfeited its 125 slot. Lake Erie extended its lead to 9-0 after picking up a sudden victory.
Ryne Morrison (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston (Ursinus)) cut the deficit for Kutztown by picking up a fall and six points to bring the score to 9-6.
After Lake Erie picked up another three points with a decision in the 149 slot and added an additional point, bringing the score to 12-5.
Lake Erie picked up 10 more points in the next two matches to jump out to a 22-5 lead.
Balboni notched his second victory of the day with a 9-4 decision to bring the score to 22-8.
Lake Erie picked up two more victories by way of decision and major decision.
Despite Lake Erie already clinching the team victory, Appleby picked up his second victory of the day with a 9-1 major decision to close the match with a 29-12 score in favor of Lake Erie.
Kutztown will return to conference competition next weekend as it faces off against Mercyhurst on Friday, Feb. 3, and Gannon on Saturday, Feb. 4 in Erie, Pa.
