SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The 11th-ranked Kutztown wrestling team bounced back from a tough trip to Erie last week with its ninth dual victory of the season, 35-9, in a PSAC matchup at Shippensburg Friday night.

Shippensburg took an early lead behind transfer Tyeshawn White, who used a late third-period escape to knock off Matt Wilde (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), 6-5, at 125. White improved to 4-0 since joining the Raiders, while Wilde's five-match winning streak came to a close. It was just the second setback for the Boyertown native in nine duals.

Collin Wickramaratna (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), coming off his first defeat in 13 matches, responded in a huge way. The senior, who is currently ranked fourth in the country in the NWCA rankings, amassed three first-period takedowns and 12 back points in the second to make quick work of Josh Jackson by technical fall, 18-2 (5:00).

Though the Raiders (2-10, 0-7 PSAC) would briefly go back in front, 6-5, on DeAndre Reed's decision at 141, the hosts yielded six-point forfeits to Michael Cusick (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) at 149 and Kibwe McNair (Lansdale, Pa./Methacton) at 157, allowing Kutztown to take control of the match.

Ethan Baney (Hanover, Pa./South Western) recorded the only two takedowns in his 174-pound bout with Nyiem Flucas to grind out a 5-2 win, setting in motion four straight victories for the Maroon and Gold (9-2, 4-2 PSAC) to close the match.

Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) wrestled strong again. The newest Golden Bear took Drake Brenize to the mat four times in a 10-2 major decision that increased Kutztown's lead to an insurmountable 24-9 with two weights remaining.

Brian Kennerly (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) produced KU's second tech. fall of the night, 17-2, over Connor Livingston, just 11 seconds from the schedule distance (6:49). Kennerly, a University of Virginia transfer, collected five takedowns and six back points in his second tech. fall of the year.

Top-ranked Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) had no trouble keeping his unbeaten season going. The Bethlehem Catholic product improved to 16-0 with a 4:52 pin of Danny Scheib. Dunn Jr. had already taken Scheib down five times before earning the fall in the waning stages of the second.

The Golden Bears will shoot for their 14th season of 10 dual wins or more in the last 15 when they welcome East Stroudsburg to Keystone Arena for Senior Night this coming Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m.

 

#11 KUTZTOWN AT SHIPPENSBURG FRIDAY, FEB. 11, 2022 | SHIPPENSBURG, PA. | HEIGES FIELD HOUSE
WT.	MATCH	KU	SHIP
125	Tyshawn White (SHIP) dec. Matt Wilde (KU), 6-5	0	3
133	#4 Collin Wickramaratna (KU) tech. fall Josh Jackson (SHIP), 18-2 (5:00)	5	3
141	DeAndre Reed (SHIP) dec. KJ Fenstermacher (KU), 3-1	5	6
149	Michael Cusick (KU) won by forfeit	11	6
157	Kibwe McNair (KU) won by forfeit	17	6
165	John Bachar (SHIP) dec. Sean Smith (KU), 6-5	17	9
174	Ethan Baney (KU) dec. Nyiem Flucas (SHIP), 5-2	20	9
184	Matthew Weinberg (KU) major dec. Drake Brenize (SHIP), 10-2	24	9
197	Brian Kennerly (KU) tech. fall Connor Livingston (SHIP), 17-2 (6:49)	29	9
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KU) pinned Danny Scheib (SHIP), 4:52	35	9