KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown wrestling faced its fourth ranked opponent in as many matches, and just like Friday night, the opponent proved to be just a little bit stronger as KU lost to No. 16 Mercyhurst 23-10 Saturday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference match at Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (6-3 overall, 2-2 PSAC) pulled to within 15-10 after trailing 12-3 midway through the match, but the Lakers (7-6, 3-1) won the final two bouts to win the match.
Collin Wickramaratna (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) won via decision at 141 for the second time in as many days to put his team on the scoreboard after the first two bouts went to Mercyhurst. After the Lakers took the next two,
Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) recorded an important victory at 165 via a major decision. Sixth-ranked
Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) earned a 10-6 decision at 184 and the Maroon and Gold were within striking distance with just 197 and 285 left. But eighth-ranked Luke McGonigal of Mercyhurst was just too much at 197 and
Dustin Swanson (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) battled right until the end, trailing just 1-0 until the final few seconds.
Kutztown will look to end its current losing streak and get back into the win column in conference competition when it travels to take on Pitt-Johnstown in its next match on Friday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. The defending PSAC champion Mountain Cats are currently unbeaten at 12-0 and 4-0 in the conference, and is just another ranked opponent that the Golden Bears will add to the streak.
KUTZTOWN VS. #16 MERCYHURST
SATURDAY, JAN. 28, 2023 | KUTZTOWN, PA. | KEYSTONE ARENA |
| WT. |
MATCH |
KUTZ |
HURST |
| 125 |
Billy Smith (HURST) dec. Julien Maldonado (KUTZ), 10-4 |
0 |
3 |
| 133 |
#4 Eric Bartos (HURST) dec. KJ Fenstermacher (KUTZ), 7-1 |
0 |
6 |
| 141 |
Collin Wickramaratna (KUTZ) dec. Jake Niffenegger (HURST), 3-1 |
3 |
6 |
| 149 |
Mike Zacur (HURST) dec. Trent Thompson (KUTZ), 13-8 |
3 |
9 |
| 157 |
Max Stedeford (HURST) dec. Sean Smith (KUTZ), 2-0 |
3 |
12 |
| 165 |
Dalton Gimbor (KUTZ) maj. dec. Mike Clark (HURST), 15-2 |
7 |
12 |
| 174 |
#6 Dillon Walker (HURST) dec. Ethan Baney (KUTZ), 7-2 |
7 |
15 |
| 184 |
#6 Matthew Weinberg (KUTZ) dec. Chase Stein (HURST), 10-6 |
10 |
15 |
| 197 |
#8 Luke McGonigal (HURST) tech fall Tyler Fisher (KUTZ), 17-0 (5:52) |
10 |
20 |
| 285 |
Hunter Harnish (HURST) dec. Dustin Swanson (KUTZ), 3-0 |
10 |
23 |
|
