CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) fought back with two wins in consolation matches to cement his status as an All-American, while Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) claimed a pair of victories for Kutztown University wrestling at the 2023 NCAA Division II Championships inside the Alliant Energy PowerHouse Friday.
 
Weinberg entered the tournament with a 24-1 record, ranked fifth in the latest NWCA rankings and seeded eighth at 184 lbs., but ran up against 10th-ranked Alex Kauffman of Central Oklahoma in the first round. Kauffman already had a match under his belt with a pigtail victory and used that momentum to notch a pin at 5:26, sending Kutztown's redshirt sophomore into the wrestle backs.
 
Weinberg wasn't ready to see his special season come to a premature end. Winner of 24 consecutive matches prior to the Super Region 1 final, the Philadelphian came back strong against Clint Morrisette with a 15-0 technical fall that went the distance. Weinberg's dominance included three takedowns and a four-point nearfall.
 
In the second round of consolations with All-American honors on the line, Weinberg grabbed an early lead with a first period takedown of seventh-seeded and 12th-ranked Josh Jones (McKendree). He led 2-1 going to the third, slipped out for a quick escape and turned another takedown in the final minute into his team-leading 13th pin of the season at 6:16.
 
Weinberg will be responsible for Kutztown's 34th All-American honor all-time, now it's all about how high on the podium he'll stand. Saturday morning in the consolation quarterfinals Weinberg is matched up with Colter Bye of Upper Iowa.
 
Gimbor, making his first career appearance at nationals, advanced out of the preliminary round with a 9-5 decision over Glenville State's Gaetano DeLeonardis. It was the Bernville, Pa., native's second win over DeLeonardis this season. Eight of Gimbor's nine points came on a pair of takedowns and two-point nearfalls in the first and second periods.
 
Gimbor's first round match with eighth-seeded and sixth-ranked Hunter Mullin of Western Colorado went down to the wire, but Mullin survived for a 4-3 victory. KU's redshirt freshman took a 1-0 lead on a second period escape and answered a reversal from Mullin with an escape early in the third to make it 2-2. A takedown with 49 seconds remaining by Mullin proved to be the difference.
 
A five-point second period paved the way for Gimbor to capture his first-round consolation match, 9-7, over Newberry's Patrick Wunderlich, but his run would come to a close one win shy of joining Weinberg as an All-American. Second-seeded Alex Farenchak of Gannon outlasted Gimbor, 8-3, in the second round of consolations and Gimbor finished his first season as a Golden Bear with a 21-10 record.
 
Kutztown earned nine points in the team standings with the performances of Weinberg and Gimbor. The Bears are currently ranked tied for 27th among 50 teams with at least one qualifier at this year's championships.
 
Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m. EST/10 a.m. CST.
 

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NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 10, 2023 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Alliant Energy PowerHouse
 
KUTZTOWN RESULTS
 
165 LBS.
Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg)
PRELIM – WIN dec. Gaetano DeLeonardis (Glenville State), 9-5
R1 – LOSS dec. #6 Hunter Mullin (Western Colorado), 4-3
CR1 – WIN dec. Patrick Wunderlich (Newberry), 9-7
CR2 – LOSS dec. #3 Alex Farenchak (Gannon), 8-3
 
184 LBS.
#5 Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan)
R1 – LOSS pinned by #10 Alex Kauffman (Central Oklahoma), 5:26
CR1 – WIN technical fall Clint Morrisette (King), 15-0 (7:00)
CR2 – WIN pinned #12 Josh Jones (McKendree), 6:16