FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Kutztown University wrestling team competed against three nationally-ranked programs at the NWCA National Duals in Indiana on Thursday. Despite dropping the three matches, KU took in the lure of the prestigious invitational as being recognized as one of the best programs in the country.
 
Kutztown opened the day with a 28-9 loss to No. 9 Indianapolis, followed with a 26-8 loss to No. 15 Lake Erie, and capped the three-match day with a 33-9 setback to No. 6 Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Seven different Golden Bears won matches Thursday. In the opener against Indianapolis, Austin Petril (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby (Ursinus)) opened with a 6-4 decision and Lucas Miller (Perkiomenville, Pa./Boyertown Area) followed with an 11-2 major decision to put KU out to a 7-0 lead. Indy featured nationally-ranked wrestlers in two of the next three weight classes to take the lead.
 
Connor Rogovich (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) won a 9-5 decision at 165, but it was KU's last win of the match.
 
Kutztown faced off with No. 15 Lake Erie College next, who won the first three bouts before Chad Haegele (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) snapped the streak with a 4-1 decision at 149.
 
In the KU-Lake Erie match, seven of KU's eight losses were by decision. The seven losses came by a combined 14 points, an average of just two points per match. No. 3 Ryan Appleby (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere) ended the Lake Erie match with an 18-2 tech. fall for his 10th win of the season.
 
In the finale against No. 6 Pitt-Johnstown, Jeff Reimel (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) won by pinfall in 1:54 at 184, and Dominic Mainiero (Nutley, N.J./Queen of Peace) won a 5-4 decision at 197.
 
Kutztown returns home for a string of home matches. KU hosts Mercyhurst on Jan. 13, Gannon on Jan. 20, and the second annual KU Duals on Jan. 26-27.
 
 
Match #1 Champ. Round 1
#9 Indianapolis defeated Kutztown 28-9
125 – Au. Petril (Kutztown) over D.J. Smith (Indianapolis) Dec 6-4
133 – L. Miller (Kutztown) over Dillon Hurst (Indianapolis) Maj 11-2
141 - #2 Nick Crume (Indianapolis) over An. Petril (Kutztown) Maj 14-1
149 - Angelo Robles (Indianapolis) over C. Haegele (Kutztown) TB-1 4-1
157 - #8 Heath Lange (Indianapolis) over M. O'Brien (Kutztown) Fall 0:20
165 – C. Rogovich (Kutztown) over J.D. Waters (Indianapolis) Dec 9-5
174 - Luke Kriech (Indianapolis) over J. Meyer (Kutztown) Dec 6-1
184 - #11 Brody Conner (Indianapolis) over J. Reimel (Kutztown) Dec 3-1
197 - Jordan Collins (Indianapolis) over E. Kauffman (Kutztown) Fall 0:54
285 - #4 Dylan Faulkenberg (Indianapolis) over #3 R. Appleby (Kutztown) Maj 11-2
Kutztown's team score was adjusted by -1.000 for unsportsmanlike conduct
Indianapolis's team score was adjusted by -1.000 for unsportsmanlike conduct
 
 
Match #2 Cons. Round 1
#15 Lake Erie College defeated Kutztown 26-8
125 - #6 Blake Glogouski (Lake Erie College) over Au. Petril (Kutztown) SV-1 4-2
133 - Forrest Glogouski (Lake Erie College) over L. Miller (Kutztown) Dec 7-1
141 - Sean O'Hearon (Lake Erie College) over An. Petril (Kutztown) Dec 4-3
149 – C. Haegele (Kutztown) over John Siemasz (Lake Erie College) Dec 4-1
157 - Andrew Lieb (Lake Erie College) over B. Manley (Kutztown) Dec 9-8
165 - #5 Nick Vandermeer (Lake Erie College) over C. Rogovich (Kutztown) TF 18-1
174 - Brendan Winning (Lake Erie College) over J. Meyer (Kutztown) SV-1 3-1
184 - #8 Tyler Hughes (Lake Erie College) over J. Reimel (Kutztown) Dec 3-2
197 - Jesse Palser (Lake Erie College) over D. Mainiero (Kutztown) Dec 3-1
285 – #3 R. Appleby (Kutztown) over Chris Droege (Lake Erie College) TF 18-2
 
 
Match #3
#6 Pitt-Johnstown defeated Kutztown 33-9
125 - Brendan Howard (Pitt-Johnstown) over Au. Petril (Kutztown) SV-2 5-3
133 - Sam Holandez (Pitt-Johnstown) over L. Miller (Kutztown) Dec 8-3
141 - #5 Chris Eddins (Pitt-Johnstown) over An. Petril (Kutztown) Fall 1:58
149 - Corey Falleroni (Pitt-Johnstown) over C. Haegele (Kutztown) Dec 4-1
157 - #2 Cody Law (Pitt-Johnstown) over M. O'Brien (Kutztown) Maj 15-4
165 - Devin Austin (Pitt-Johnstown) over C. Rogovich (Kutztown) Fall 0:28
174 - Steven Edwards (Pitt-Johnstown) over J. Meyer (Kutztown) Dec 9-3
184 – J. Reimel (Kutztown) over Tony Welsh (Pitt-Johnstown) Fall 1:54
197 – D. Mainiero (Kutztown) over Alex Delp (Pitt-Johnstown) Dec 5-4
285 - Damon Sims Jr. (Pitt-Johnstown) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
Pitt-Johnstown's team score was adjusted by -1.000 for coach