HAMPTON, Va. -- It wasn't easy, but No. 19 Kutztown got the best of Ferrum once again.

The Golden Bears got five decisions and NCAA Division II's top-ranked heavyweight, Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), came through with an 11-1 major decision in the final bout of the night as Kutztown held off Ferrum, 19-13, for the American College championship Saturday night in the Virginia Duals at Hampton Coliseum.

Kutztown topped Ferrum for the title for the third time in as many trips to the Duals since 2017 and won its fourth American College title since 2016 --improving to 12-0 at the Duals since that time in the process. Though Ferrum gave the Bears tough matches in 2017 (27-12) and 2019 (27-14), this year's result hung in the balance until the final match.

The Panthers didn't allow KU to accumulate any bonus points until Dunn Jr.'s major at 285 and trailed just 15-13 heading into the final match. A monumental upset wasn't in the cards, however, as Kutztown's (4-1) defending national champion broke open a close match in the second period with a stalling penalty point, takedown and two-point nearfall for an 8-1 lead. Another takedown in the waning seconds and riding time point provided the final margin of victory.

Joe Renne (Great Meadows, N.J./Hackettstown) and Michael Albergo (Longport, N.J./Saint Augustine Prep) picked up decisions at 125 and 141, but they were countered by a decision from Ferrum's Levi Englman at 133 and a 10-2 major from Austin Smith at 149. The latter gave the Panthers their only lead of the night, 7-6.

Kutztown went back in front on a 5-3 decision by Michael Cusick (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) at 157 and AJ Bencivenga (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) followed with a 10-4 decision over Galilee Kissell at 165. Bencivenga tried mightily to score one more take down in the late going for a major.

Malik Barr and Connor Rogovich (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) engaged in the best match of the night at 174. Rogovich was 15 seconds away from victory when Barr hit a takedown for a 4-3 edge, but Kutztown's senior escaped with three seconds remaining to send the bout to overtime. An extra minute decided nothing, so on they went. Rogovich escaped the bottom five seconds into the second OT period, but Barr was able to respond with a reversal for a 6-5 win.

Barr's win pulled Ferrum within 12-10, but James Potts (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) answered for KU with a 7-6 decision over Jacob Grady at 184. Ferrum closed once more when Braden Homsey got the go-ahead takedown in the final minute at 197 to edge Anthony Emig (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), 13-11.

The Golden Bears return home next Saturday to host the Kutztown University Duals at O'Pake Fieldhouse. KU is slated to face American International, Queens (N.C.), UNC Pembroke and Davis & Elkins starting at 10 a.m.

 

#19 KUTZTOWN vs. FERRUM Saturday, January 11, 2020 | Hampton, Va. (Hampton Coliseum)
WT.		KUTZ	FER
125	Joe Renne (KUTZ) dec. JD McMillin (FER), 6-4	3	0
133	Levi Englman (FER) dec. Collin Wickramaratna (KUTZ), 7-3	3	3
141	Michael Albergo (KUTZ) dec. Hayden Funck (FER), 7-1	6	3
149	Austin Smith (FER) major dec. Robbie Hazard (KUTZ), 10-2	6	7
157	Michael Cusick (KUTZ) dec. Elijah Martin (FER), 5-3	9	7
165	AJ Bencivenga (KUTZ) dec. Galilee Kissell (FER), 10-4	12	7
174	Malik Barr (FER) dec. Connor Rogovich (KUTZ), 6-5 (TB-1)	12	10
184	James Potts (KUTZ) dec. Jacob Grady (FER), 7-6	15	10
197	Braden Homsey (FER) dec. Anthony Emig (KUTZ), 13-11	15	13
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KUTZ) major dec. Carlos Leyva (FER), 11-1	19	13