HAMPTON, Va. -- The 19th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team punched its ticket to the American College bracket championship of the Virginia Duals with a 32-8 semifinal win over Liberty on Saturday afternoon at the Hampton Coliseum.

The Golden Bears scored the first 26 points and won 8-of-10 bouts overall to successfully earn another title bid. For the third time since 2017, KU will face Ferrum in the final. Ferrum turned back Waynesburg, 29-10, in the other semifinal.

Kutztown won the first six weight classes, clinching the victory in the process. Joe Renne (Great Meadows, N.J./Hackettstown) started fast at 125 pounds with a takedown and six back points, before earning maximum points on an injury default by Tristan Walls just past the mid point of the first period.

A forfeit victory for Collin Wickramaratna (Malton, N.J./Cherokee) at 133 doubled the Golden Bears' (3-1) lead, ahead of decisions from Michael Albergo (Longport, N.J./Saint Augustine Prep) (141) and Michael Cusick (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) (149).

Chad Haegele (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) continued KU's run of unanswered points with a 3-1 decision over Chris Cantrell at 157 and Connor Rogovich (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) locked up the win with a 17-2 technical fall against David Over at 3:25 of the 165-pound bout. Rogovich collected three nearfalls in the first period accounting for 10 points and ended the match in the opening minute of the second with four additional back points.

Liberty avoided the shutout on Cody Richmond's last second reversal at 174 that made the difference in a 7-6 decision over AJ Bencivenga (Cranford, N.J./Cranford). Bencivenga had taken a 6-5 lead on a takedown less than half a minute prior. James Potts (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) (184) and Tommy Killoran (Perkiomenville, Pa./Boyertown) (285) won by decision to provide KU's final points, while Liberty got a tech. fall at 197.

With the victory, Kutztown improved to 11-0 at the Virginia Duals since 2016. The Golden Bears defeated Ferrum for the American Conference championship in 2017 and 2019.

 

#19 KUTZTOWN vs. LIBERTY Saturday, January 11, 2020 | Hampton, Va. (Hampton Coliseum)
WT.		KUTZ	LU
125	Joe Renne (KUTZ) inj. def. Tristan Walls (LU), 1:41	6	0
133	Collin Wickramaratna (KUTZ) wins by forfeit	12	0
141	Michael Albergo (KUTZ) dec. Charles Hudson (LU), 11-5	15	0
149	Michael Cusick (KUTZ) dec. Michael Gowen (LU), 9-3	18	0
157	Chad Haegele (KUTZ) dec. Chris Cantrell (LU), 3-1	21	0
165	Connor Rogovich (KUTZ) tech. fall David Over (LU), 17-2 (3:25)	26	0
174	Cody Richmond (LU) dec. AJ Bencivenga (KUTZ), 7-6	26	3
184	James Potts (KUTZ) dec. Ethan Martin (LU), 5-2	29	3
197	Blake Barrick (LU) tech. fall Anthony Emig (KUTZ), 18-0 (3:36)	29	8
285	Tommy Killoran (KUTZ) dec. Jeffrey Allen (LU), 4-2	32	8