EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- Redshirt junior Mitchell Camp (Chadds Ford, Pa./Unionville) is as dedicated a member of the Kutztown University wrestling team as head coach Robert Fisher can remember.

That's what made Wednesday night's 23-22 come-from-behind PSAC dual victory over No. 17 East Stroudsburg all the more satisfying. Camp, a senior academically, delivered a 15-6 major decision in the final bout with the Bears absolutely needing bonus points to emerge with the victory.

"This was a great win for our team," said Fisher. "We were missing three starters due to illness and knew it was going to be a close match. I'm so proud of Mitch. He's never missed a practice in four years and will wrestle any weight we ask him to. He cares so much about his teammates, coaches and this program. To see him step up and will us to that victory was amazing. It's a storybook ending to his career and a memory he or I will never ever forget!"

The match came down to Camp's 157-pound bout against the Warriors' Sergio Cespedes after the teams started the night at 165.

Camp struck first with a takedown in the first, but Cespedes answered a short time later with a reversal. Still, Camp was able to lead 4-2 at the conclusion of the period thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty point and an escape.

It was 6-4 Camp heading to the third, but the Chadds Ford native knew he needed more. Within the first 18 seconds of the final stanza, Camp got an escape and takedown to push his lead to 9-4. He conceded an escape point before Cespedes was hit with a penalty for stalling. Another takedown from Camp made it 12-5.

Leading 12-6 late, Camp was awarded a much-needed takedown with nine seconds left to push him into major decision territory and a final point for riding time sealed a 15-6 victory and the match for Kutztown (10-4, 4-3 PSAC).

Camp's gutsy win capped a crazy comeback for the Golden Bears, who came into the match tied with ESU (3-8, 2-5) for 17th in the latest NWCA Division II Poll. The visitors yielded the first 19 points to the Warriors before top-ranked Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) earned a 13-5 major over Nick Nittoli at 285, Joe Renne (Great Meadows, N.J./Hackettstown) won by forfeit at 125 and Collin Wickramaratna (Malton, N.J./Cherokee) improved to 21-2 with a 6:36 pin of Bryce Parenti at 133 to close the gap to 19-16.

The teams then traded decisions at 141 and 149, with KU's Michael Cusick (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) claiming a 7-3 win over Pierre Liciaga in the penultimate bout to pull the Bears within 22-19 and set up Camp's heroics.

Kutztown also secured double-digit dual victories for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons with Wednesday night's win. With their dual schedule complete, the Golden Bears' attention turns towards the Super Region 1 Championships and qualifying wrestlers for nationals.

KU will travel to Mercyhurst University in Erie for super regionals on Saturday, Feb. 29.

 

#17 KUTZTOWN at #17 EAST STROUDSBURG Wednesday, February 19, 2020 | East Stroudsburg, Pa. (Koehler Fieldhouse)
WT.		KUTZ	ESU
165	Nick Weikel (ESU) major dec. Connor Rogovich (KUTZ), 9-1	0	4
174	#1 Mike Raccioppi (ESU) pinned Reed Custer (KUTZ), 2:39	0	10
184	Elliott Riddick (ESU) pinned Anthony Emig (KUTZ), 5:16	0	16
197	Sczar Charles (ESU) dec. James Potts (KUTZ), 9-7	0	19
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KUTZ) major dec. Nick Nittoli (ESU), 13-5	4	19
125	Joe Renne (KUTZ) won by forfeit	10	19
133	Collin Wickramaratna (KUTZ) pinned Bryce Parenti (ESU), 6:36	16	19
141	Matt Rosa (ESU) dec. Jake Jones (KUTZ), 9-5	16	22
149	Michael Cusick (KUTZ) dec. Pierre Liciaga (ESU), 7-3	19	22
157	Mitchell Camp (KUTZ) major dec. Sergio Cespedes (ESU), 15-6	23	22