KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Competing in Keystone Arena for the first time since February, 2020, 11th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling won 7-of-10 bouts to top Seton Hill, 29-15, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference dual Wednesday night.

The Golden Bears got off to a strong start as senior Matt Wilde (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) captured a 10-2 major decision over Frank Bonura at 125 pounds to improve to 7-0 on the season.

Returning All-American Collin Wickramaratna (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), ranked sixth nationally in the 133-pound weight class, pinned the Griffins' William Burgess in the opening minute of the second period to extend Kutztown's (1-0, 1-0 PSAC) lead to 10-0.

Seton Hill got on the board with a 6-2 decision from Joel Cawoski at 141, but it was quickly neutralized when Michael Cusick (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) answered with a hard-fought 7-5 overtime victory for the Maroon and Gold at 149. SHU's Logan McKoy rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the final minute of the third to force OT, but Cusick won it on a takedown 19 seconds into the extra period.

Though KU got bonus points from AJ Bencivenga (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) with an 11-3 major decision against Colby Romjue at 165 and freshman Ethan Baney (Hanover, Pa./South Western) edged Luke Ewing 4-3 at 174, the visiting Griffins (1-1, 0-1 PSAC) were still in the match late on pins by Tyler Alberts (157) and Brandon Matthews (184).

Graduate transfer Brian Kennerly (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) made sure the Bears would prevail on this night, though. Kutztown led 20-15 heading into Kennerly's 197-pound bout against Brendan Finnerty, which went down to the wire. Kennerly got an early third-period escape and takedown to claim an 8-6 decision and put the result out of reach.

Top-ranked heavyweight Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), the 2019 Division II national champion and two-time All-American, would pick up a victory by forfeit to provide the final margin of victory for KU.

Kutztown will compete once more before Winter Break, this coming Sunday at the Bob Quade Cyclone Open hosted by Centenary College (N.J.).

 

#11 KUTZTOWN VS. SETON HILL WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, 2021 | KUTZTOWN, PA. | KEYSTONE ARENA
WT.	MATCH	KU	SHU
125	Matt Wilde (KU) major dec. Frank Bonura (SHU), 10-2	4	0
133	#6 Collin Wickramaratna (KU) pinned William Burgess (SHU), 3:26	10	0
141	Joel Cawoski (SHU) dec. Michael Albergo (KU), 6-2	10	3
149	Michael Cusick (KU) dec. Logan McKoy (SHU), 7-5 (SV1)	13	3
157	Tyler Alberts (SHU) pinned Bryce Buckman (KU), 1:01	13	9
165	AJ Bencivenga (KU) major dec. Colby Romjue (SHU), 11-3	17	9
174	Ethan Baney (KU) dec. Luke Ewing (SHU), 4-3	20	9
184	Brandon Matthews (SHU) pinned James Holder (KU), 2:08	20	15
197	Brian Kennerly (KU) dec. Brendan Finnerty (SHU), 8-6	23	15
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KU) won by forfeit	29	15