ERIE, Pa. -- Friday night's highly-anticipated PSAC wrestling dual between No. 6 Gannon and No. 11 Kutztown lived up to its hype, going right down to the wire. In the end, it was the Golden Knights prevailing, 21-18, and dealing the Golden Bears their first loss of the season.

Much as they've done all season, the Golden Bears got off to a great start with victories at 125 and 133 pounds.

Senior Matt Wilde (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-2 to secure a thrilling 5-4 win over Jacob Dunlop with a takedown in the final seconds of the third period. Nationally-ranked Collin Wickramaratna (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) followed with a pin of Christopher Rocha-Perez at 4:43 of the second period to extend Kutztown's (8-1, 3-1 PSAC) lead to 9-0.

Gannon began its climb back with a 4-3 decision from Austin Hertel at 141, and though senior Michael Cusick (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) hung tough at 149 against second-ranked Dom Means, the Golden Knights (8-2, 6-0 PSAC) picked up a 5-1 decision to draw within 9-6.

In last Friday's match against Pitt-Johnstown, Kibwe McNair (Lansdale, Pa./Methacton) provided the fireworks with a quick pin at 157 that sent Kutztown on its way to victory. On this night, the Knights' Nick Young did the same for his team, pinning McNair 76 seconds into their bout and putting the hosts in front for the first time, 12-9.

Gannon won six of the next seven weight classes following Wickramaratna's pin at 133. The Bears' only points during that stretch came from Ethan Baney (Hanover, Pa./South Western) at 174 via injury default. Baney was facing the NWCA's top-ranked 165-pounder and defending national runner-up Alex Farenchak, who was wrestling up a weight. With the two wrestlers tied up in the early going, Farenchak appeared to suffer a serious lower body injury that forced him to retire from the match.

Back on even footing at 15, the Maroon and Gold tried to gain an advantage or keep the match even before turning it over to their national champion heavyweight, Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), but it just wasn't in the cards against a pair of ranked Gannon entries at 184 and 197.

Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) registered an early takedown of No. 10 Joey Petrella and held a 3-1 edge into the closing stages of the second period, before Petrella used a last-second takedown of his own to tie it. Petrella took the lead in the final minute on a reversal and though Weinberg escaped in the final seconds, Petrella pulled back just enough riding time to hold on for a 5-4 decision in a matchup of talented freshmen.

The 197-pound bout between Brian Kennerly (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) and No. 3 Joel Leise was also decided in the final minute when Leise broke a 1-1 deadlock with a takedown and added a riding time point for a 4-1 win.

Dunn Jr. needed a pin to tie the match, but fellow ranked grappler Freddie Nixon wrestled defensive, never opening the door for the KU standout to strike. Nixon scored the first point on a second-period escape, but was tagged with a second stall just ahead of a Dunn Jr. escape early in the third. Those quick two points were enough for Dunn Jr. to keep his unbeaten season going. The Bethlehem native has won 52 consecutive matches dating back to Jan. 5, 2019, during his national championship season.

Gannon strengthened its case for the PSAC dual title, though the Golden Knights must still get through Pitt-Johnstown. Kutztown will have to recover quickly as they turn around for a noon match with 19th-ranked Mercyhurst in Erie Saturday.

 

#11 KUTZTOWN AT #6 GANNON FRIDAY, FEB. 4, 2022 | ERIE, PA. | HAMMERMILL CENTER
WT.	MATCH	KU	GAN
125	Matt Wilde (KU) dec. Jacob Dunlop (GAN), 5-4	3	0
133	#4 Collin Wickramaratna (KU) pinned Christopher Rocha-Perez (GAN), 4:43	9	0
141	Austin Hertel (GAN) dec. KJ Fenstermacher (KU), 4-3	9	3
149	#2 Dom Means (GAN) dec. Michael Cusick (KU), 5-1	9	6
157	Nick Young (GAN) pinned Kibwe McNair (KU), 1:16	9	12
165	Evan Fisler (GAN) dec. AJ Bencivenga (KU), 8-4	9	15
174	Ethan Baney (KU) inj. default #1 Alex Farenchak (GAN), 0:44	15	15
184	#10 Joey Petrella (GAN) dec. Matthew Weinberg (KU), 5-4	15	18
197	#3 Joel Leise (GAN) dec. Brian Kennerly (KU), 4-1	15	21
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KU) dec. #12 Freddie Nixon (GAN), 2-1	18	21