Video Replay
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University wrestling team won five bouts against Mercyhurst University Saturday afternoon. KU won four of the final six matches, including a pin by
Jeff Reimel (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) at 184 to bring KU within one, but an early lead from the Lakers fell out of reach as Kutztown fell 19-18 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action from Keystone Arena.
Kutztown won 3-of-4 regionally-ranked matchups Saturday, all of which by decision.
Austin Petril (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby (Ursinus)) opened with an impressive victory in a match with two of the top-four 125-pounders in Super Region I. In a rematch against Eric Bartos from the PSAC Championships in December, when Barton pinned Petril late in the third period, Petril held his ground in his home arena Saturday. He won a 10-4 decision against Bartos, who is ranked third in the region.
Mercyhurst built its lead with three straight wins, including two by bonus points, to open a 12-3 lead through 141.
Mikey O'Brien (Lansdale, Pa., North Penn) got KU back in the win column with an 11-4 decision at 157. Like Petril, O'Brien also defeated the third-ranked wrestler in the region while avenging a loss from PSACs. Owen Watkins had pinned O'Brien at PSACs, but O'Brien responded with a convincing upset win Saturday, who entered Saturday ranked eighth in the region.
The Lakers won a major decision at 165, but
James Meyer (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) answered with a 3-1 overtime win at 174.
The momentum continued to build for KU at 184. Reimel was in a battle with Zach Breeden and leading late. Looking for extra points to get KU into contention, Reimel turned Breeden in the third period for a late pinfall in 5:49, his second pin over Breeden this season, to set the team score at 16-15 with two bouts remaining.
Mercyhurst's nationally-ranked 197-pounder won a 9-4 decision over KU's freshman, putting KU down four and needing at least a major decision for a tiebreaker.
Ryan Appleby (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere), ranked third in Division II and second in the region, went up against the sixth-ranked heavyweight in the region, Jacob Robb. Robb took the lead early, but Appleby pushed forward and continued to score points to maintain a steady lead. Appleby had Robb in a down position late in the third, but was unable to tilt or turn him for potential back points. Appleby won a 12-7 decision, putting KU one point short of completing the comeback.
Kutztown returns to action next Saturday, Jan. 20, for another PSAC home match. KU hosts Gannon University at 12 p.m. from Keystone Arena.
| Wt. |
Summary |
KU |
MU |
| 125 |
Au. Petril (KU) over Eric Bartos (HURST) (Dec 10-4) |
3 |
0 |
| 133 |
Aidan Burke (HURST) over L. Miller (KU) (MD 10-1) |
0 |
4 |
| 141 |
Kevin Kinyua (HURST) over An. Petril (KU) (TF 17-0 5:15) |
0 |
5 |
| 149 |
#10 Logan Grass (HURST) over C. Haegele (KU) (Dec 10-4) |
0 |
3 |
| 157 |
M. O'Brien (KU) over Owen Watkins (HURST) (Dec 11-4) |
3 |
0 |
| 165 |
Gavin Wilkerson (HURST) over B. Manley (KU) (MD 15-7) |
0 |
4 |
| 174 |
J. Meyer (KU) over Nick Konyk (HURST) (SV-1 3-1) |
3 |
0 |
| 184 |
J. Reimel (KU) over Zach Breeden (HURST) (Fall 5:49) |
6 |
0 |
| 197 |
#8 Wes Phipps (HURST) over D. Mainiero (KU) (Dec 9-4) |
0 |
3 |
| 285 |
#3 R. Appleby (KU) over Jacob Robb (HURST) (Dec 12-7) |
3 |
0 |
| Team Score: |
18 |
19 |
