HAMPTON, Va. -- Kutztown sustained its run of success at the Virginia Duals, Saturday, with NCAA Division II's 12th-ranked Golden Bears bringing home a 34-12 win over Davis & Elkins in the semifinals and a 24-12 victory over Averett in the American College bracket championship for its fifth title since 2016.

The Golden Bears, who received a first-round bye, are now unbeaten in their last 14 matches at the Virginia Duals. Kutztown also won the American College championship in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
 

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#12 KUTZTOWN 34, DAVIS & ELKINS 12
Semifinals

The Golden Bears were eager to get back on the mat after a 3-0 showing at last weekend's KU Duals and wasted no time putting Davis & Elkins in a hole.

Matt Wilde (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) racked up four takedowns and four back points in a match-opening 18-3 (5:39) tech fall over Nicholas Ammirati at 125 pounds to put Kutztown up 5-0. Fifth-ranked Collin Wickramaratna (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) followed with a 3-1 decision over Vincent Scollo at 133, using a first period takedown and an early second period escape to extend the Maroon and Gold's lead to 8-0.

Michael Torres (Allentown, Pa./Liberty) was the recipient of the first of two Senator forfeits at 141, giving KU 14 unanswered team points.

Nationally-ranked Craig Cook and Noah Tarr pulled D&E back within 14-8 on the strength of back-to-back majors at 149 and 157, but AJ Bencivenga (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) answered with a major of his own, 11-2, over Hunter Smith at 165 and Ethan Baney (Hanover, Pa./South Western) registered Kutztown's (5-0) only pin of the match at the 55-second mark against Bradden Galassi in the 174-pound bout.

Brian Kennerly (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) raced out to an 11-2 lead over Joshua Sanders after three minutes in the 197 match, collecting three takedowns and a four-point nearfall. He tacked on another takedown and four-point nearfall in the second and wrapped up an 18-3 tech. fall (5:07) with an escape seven seconds into the third period.

Kutztown's top-ranked heavyweight Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), also picked up a forfeit win.

 

#12 KUTZTOWN VS. DAVIS & ELKINS SATURDAY, JAN. 15, 2022 | HAMPTON, VA. | HAMPTON COLISEUM
WT.	MATCH	KU	D&E
125	Matt Wilde (KU) tech. fall Nicholas Ammirati (D&E), 18-3 (5:39)	5	0
133	#5 Collin Wickramaratna (KU) dec. Vincent Scollo (D&E), 3-1	8	0
141	Michael Torres (KU) won by forfeit	14	0
149	#10 Craig Cook (D&E) major dec. Michael Cusick (KU), 10-2	14	4
157	Noah Tarr (D&E) major dec. Kibwe McNair (KU), 13-2	14	8
165	AJ Bencivenga (KU) major dec. Hunter Smith (D&E), 11-2	18	8
174	Ethan Baney (KU) pinned Bradden Galassi (D&E), 0:55	24	8
184	Michael Schneider (D&E) major dec. Tyler Fisher (KU), 14-2	24	12
197	Brian Kennerly (KU) tech. fall Joshua Sanders (D&E), 18-3 (5:07)	29	12
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KU) won by forfeit	35	12
	Kutztown point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct	34	12

 

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#12 KUTZTOWN 24, AVERETT 12
Championship

Upset-minded Averett attempted to dethrone the Golden Bears, but Kutztown rallied late by claiming the last four bouts to capture a 24-12 victory over the Cougars.

Averett's Brandon Woody scored the only bonus points during the first half of the match with a 22-6 tech. fall at 141 pounds, but the Division III Cougars (16-6) added to an 8-3 lead with consecutive decisions from Jesse Alvarado, 9-5, at 157, and Anthony Taylor, 12-9, at 165.

Down 14-6 at that point, Kutztown (6-0) came roaring back to take the title.

Ethan Baney (Hanover, Pa./South Western) got the Bears started with a 4-1 decision over George Moseley at 174, while newcomer Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) grabbed a 13-5 major decision over Khalil Mitchell at 184 for his first collegiate win.

Kutztown was in good hands the rest of the way. Brian Kennerly (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) and Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) each recorded first-period pins to carry the Bears to the win. Kennerly downed William Baldwin in 2:02 at 197, with Dunn Jr. notching his fourth dual pin this season. Dunn Jr. is 6-0 in duals with his remaining two victories by forfeit.

Kutztown will resume PSAC dual action this coming Friday, Jan. 21, at Millersville.

 

#12 KUTZTOWN VS. AVERETT SATURDAY, JAN. 15, 2022 | HAMPTON, VA. | HAMPTON COLISEUM
WT.	MATCH	KU	AU
125	Samuel Braswell (AU) dec. Matt Wilde (KU), 3-2	0	3
133	#5 Collin Wickramaratna (KU) dec. Mason Barrett (AU), 7-4	3	3
141	Brandon Woody (AU) tech fall. Michael Torres (KU), 22-6 (7:00)	3	8
149	Michael Cusick (KU) dec. Hunter Campbell (AU), 3-2	6	8
157	Jesse Alvarado (AU) dec. Sean Smith (KU), 9-5	6	11
165	Anthony Taylor (AU) dec. AJ Bencivenga (KU), 12-9	6	14
174	Ethan Baney (KU) dec. George Moseley (AU), 4-1	9	14
184	Matthew Weinberg (KU) major dec. Khalil Mitchell (AU), 13-5	13	14
197	Brian Kennerly (KU) pinned William Baldwin (AU), 2:02	19	14
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KU) pinned Jamar Christian (AU), 2:46	25	14
	Averett point deducted for head coach unsportsmanlike conduct	25	13
	Averett point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct	25	12
	Kutztown point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct	24	12