Video Replay
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University wrestling team continues to flex its muscle in the second half of the season, securing its sixth straight dual victory and third consecutive win in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), downing the Millersville University Marauders on Friday evening, 25-16.
Despite having to forfeit at 125 lbs. due to a last-minute injury, the Maroon and Gold (7-6, 3-3 PSAC) quickly erased a 6-0 deficit and built a lead of their own, winning four-straight bouts at 133, 141, 149 and 157 lbs.
In the closest bout of the evening,
Christopher Crane (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) battled back, trailing 4-1 in the first period, to claim the 13-11 decision over Millersville's Alex Baider at 133 lbs. Crane has now won five consecutive matches and improves his season record to 9-6.
Anthony Petril (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby (Ursinus)) cruised to an 8-0 maj. dec. at 141 lbs., taking down MU's Kevin Constantine with ease and controlling the bout for its entirety. After dropping eight of his first nine matches, Petril is now hitting his stride, winning his fifth straight bout.
Austin Scrivani (Layton, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) and
Mikey O'Brien (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) each totaled 12 points in their individual matchups, dispatching their opponents at 149 lbs. and 157 lbs, 12-8 and 12-5, respectively. Petril's win put KU ahead, 7-6, but the victories from Scrivani and O'Brien put the Golden Bears in control of the match, leading 13-6 headed into the 165-lb. bout.
Bill Manley (Monroe Township, Pa./Tunkhannock Area) took on the Marauders' nationally-ranked No. 9 Shane Ruhnke and put up an admirable fight to begin the bout, recording two first-period takedowns. Ruhnke, however, showed his ability and poise as the tilt progressed, besting Manley by tech. fall, 22-7, 1:18 into the second period.
Chad Haegele (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) led from start to finish at 174 lbs., but a resilient Kyle Narber gave him all he could handle as Haegele had to hang on in the final period to get the 11-7 win. The win for Haegele is his first in his last six tries, wrestling at 174 lbs. for the first time this season.
Jeff Reimel (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) continues to show a flair for the dramatic at 184 lbs., pinning Millersville's Evan Morrill less than two minutes into the bout. Reimel has now won five-in-a-row, posting bonus points in all five matches and pinning three of those five opponents.
Dominic Mainiero (Nutley, N.J./Queen of Peace) fell in a one-sided bout to MU's Colton Dull, losing by tech. fall shortly after the second period whistle. With Kutztown ahead by six point with one bout remaining, it was up to
Ryan Appleby (Belvidere, N.J./Belvidere) to maintain this advantage and secure the seventh dual victory of the season for head coach
Robert Fisher.
Appleby delivered in the clutch at 285 lbs., winning 10-6 over the Marauders' Zachary Yackenchick, to put the finishing touches on the 25-16 win. Despite a somewhat tight score, Appleby controlled the bout from the outset, bringing the action to a reluctant Yackenchick who was in survival mode against the nationally-ranked No. 5 Appleby.
KU has one final dual remaining this season, hosting Shippensburg University for Senior Night at Keystone Arena on Tuesday, Feb 13 at 7:30 p.m. The team will then turn its attention to the NCAA Super Region I Championships in Johnstown, which begin on Feb. 23.
| Wt. |
Match Summary |
KUTZ |
MILL |
| 125 |
Conner Sheehan (MILL) by forfeit |
0.0 |
6.0 |
| 133 |
C. Crane (KUTZ) over Alex Baider (MILL) (Dec 13-11) |
3.0 |
0.0 |
| 141 |
An. Petril (KUTZ) over Kevin Constantine (MILL) (MD 8-0) |
4.0 |
0.0 |
| 149 |
A. Scrivani (KUTZ) over Eric Fuentes (MILL) (Dec 12-8) |
3.0 |
0.0 |
| 157 |
M. O'Brien (KUTZ) over Seth Decker (MILL) (Dec 12-5) |
3.0 |
0.0 |
| 165 |
#9 Shane Ruhnke (MILL) over B. Manley (KUTZ) (TF 22-7 4:18) |
0.0 |
5.0 |
| 174 |
C. Haegele (KUTZ) over Kyle Narber (MILL) (Dec 11-7) |
3.0 |
0.0 |
| 184 |
J. Reimel (KUTZ) over Evan Morrill (MILL) (Fall 1:49) |
6.0 |
0.0 |
| 197 |
Colton Dull (MILL) over D. Mainiero (KUTZ) (TF 15-0 3:09) |
0.0 |
5.0 |
| 285 |
#5 R. Appleby (KUTZ) over Zachary Yackenchick (MILL) (Dec 10-6) |
3.0 |
0.0 |
| Score |
|
25.0 |
16.0 |
