KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The 24th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team rallied from a 15-10 deficit midway through Thursday night's PSAC dual opener against Seton Hill, winning the last five matches to capture a 34-15 victory at Keystone Arena.
A pair of forfeits by the Griffins at 174 and 184 pounds swung the match in Kutztown's (1-0, 1-0 PSAC) favor, and
Liam Akers (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) (197) and
Dustin Swanson (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) (285) made sure the Maroon and Gold remained in front.
Seton Hill (3-4, 0-1 PSAC) got a second-period pin from 125-pounder William Burgess and a third-period pin by Braxton Miller at 157 to take a five-point lead midway through the match. KU countered with a 12-2 major decision from
Javien DeLeon (Allentown, Pa./Liberty) against Kyle Burkholder at 133 and a 4:34 pin by
Aliazer Alicea (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) over Nikolas Ferra at 141.
Nationally ranked No. 11
Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) helped start the Golden Bears on the comeback trail. Gimbor collected a takedown, three-point nearfall, reversal and riding time point in a 9-3 win over Kane Kettering at 165 that drew KU within 15-13.
The SHU forfeits resulted in wins for
Alex Ward (Manassas, Va./Battlefield) (174) and No. 3
Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (184), while putting the hosts in control, 25-15.
Akers blanked Finnerty 5-0 at 197, before Swanson pinned Ethan Cain at 2:06 in the heavyweight matchup to close the match.
Thursday night's match was the first of three at home for Kutztown this year, but the Bears won't return to Keystone Arena until Feb. 2, when they take on Pitt-Johnstown. Next up for KU is a trip to Shippensburg next Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.
#24 KUTZTOWN VS. SETON HILL
THURSDAY, NOV. 30, 2023 | KUTZTOWN, PA. | KEYSTONE ARENA |
| WT. |
MATCH |
KUTZ |
SHU |
| 125 |
William Burgess (SHU) pinned Trent Thompson (KUTZ), 4:12 |
0 |
6 |
| 133 |
Javien DeLeon (KUTZ) major dec. Kyle Burkholder (SHU), 12-2 |
4 |
6 |
| 141 |
Aliazer Alicea (KUTZ) pinned Nikolas Ferra (SHU), 4:34 |
10 |
6 |
| 149 |
Nolan Daerr (SHU) dec. Andreo Ferraina (KUTZ), 4-1 (SV-1) |
10 |
9 |
| 157 |
Braxton Miller (SHU) pinned Sean Smith (KUTZ), 6:34 |
10 |
15 |
| 165 |
#11 Dalton Gimbor (KUTZ) dec. Kane Kettering (SHU), 9-3 |
13 |
15 |
| 174 |
Alex Ward (KUTZ) won by forfeit |
19 |
15 |
| 184 |
#3 Matthew Weinberg (KUTZ) won by forfeit |
25 |
15 |
| 197 |
Liam Akers (KUTZ) dec. Brendan Finnerty (SHU), 5-0 |
28 |
15 |
| 285 |
Dustin Swanson (KUTZ) pinned Ethan Cain (SHU), 2:06 |
34 |
15 |
