RESULTS

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. -- Collin Wickramaratna (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) got back on track with a strong performance at Saturday's Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Open. The returning All-American picked up four straight wins on his way to the 133-pound final, leading the nationally-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team with a runner-up finish.

Wickramaratna had a tough start to the season two weekends ago at the ESU Open, taking a pair of defeats against Division I opponents. After compiling a 24-2 record during his first season in Maroon and Gold in 2019-20, the Marlton, N.J., native wasn't about to let that linger.

Seeded third in his weight class Saturday, Wickramaratna opened with a 9-4 decision over Binghamton's Ivan Garcia and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 13-3 major decision against Clarion's Alex Blake. The sixth-ranked grappler in Division II at 133, Wickramaratna added an 8-3 decision over George Mason's Michael Rapuano in the quarterfinals and a 12-5 decision over Army's Rich Treanor in the semifinals.

In his title bout against Spartan Combat RTC entry Ethan Fernandez, Wickramaratna led into the final minute, but Fernandez used a takedown to flip a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 victory.

While no Golden Bear went as far as Wickramaratna, four reached the quarterfinals of their respective brackets.

At 125 pounds, Matt Wilde (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) was off to a strong start with a 10-4 decision against Millersville's Bryce Beatty in the first round and a 6-2 win over Hunter Verge of Clarion in the second. Wilde never got the opportunity to oppose top seed Anthony Noto of Lock Haven, as an injury forced him to withdraw.

Freshman Sean Smith (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) blanked Blaine Hammond, 2-0, in his first match of the day at 157. He followed that up with a 4:00 pin of Pitt-Johnstown's Kyler Crawford, before falling to a pair of Clarion entries in the quarters and consolation quarters.

Fellow newcomer Brian Kennerly (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby), a University of Virigina transfer, clawed out decisions against Matt Kelly (Binghamton), 4-2, and Kevin Pandorf (Navy Prep), 9-3, but his run at 197 would ultimately end with a 3-2 loss to No. 2 seed Nunzio Crowley of Long Island.

Freshman Dustin Swanson (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) was KU's only representative at heavyweight and scored a second round pin over Garrett College's Naslir Duncan in a mere 56 seconds to reach the quarterfinals. Swanson ran into a similar fate as Smith, dropping consecutive matches to Army teammates Eric Keosseian and Cade Karlson in the quarters and consolation quarters.

Other Golden Bears to capture multiple wins Saturday included 125-pounder Julien Maldonado (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) (2-2, pin), 149-pounders Michael Cusick (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) (2-2) and Kibwe McNair (Lansdale, Pa./Methacton) (2-2) and 174-pounder Ethan Baney (Hanover, Pa./South Western) (3-1, pin).

Kutztown will open its 2021-22 dual season on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m., with a home match against PSAC foe Seton Hill. The Bears then wrap up their pre-winter break schedule with a trip to Hackettstown, N.J., Dec. 5, for the Bob Quade Cyclone Open.