ERIE, Pa. -- Kutztown remained unbeaten in dual competition, using a technical fall from Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) at 184 pounds, and major decisions by Nic Allison (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) (125) and Aliazer Alicea (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) (149) to slip by Mercyhurst, 19-18, in a PSAC match Friday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

It was a tough test for the Golden Bears (3-0, 3-0 PSAC), as Mercyhurst is receiving votes in the latest NWCA Division II Poll, while the Bears came in ranked tied for 21st. The match lived up to its billing, with similar results from bout-to-bout.

KU jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the strength of a 12-3 major decision by Allison in the opener. The redshirt freshman trailed Billy Smith, 3-1, entering the second period but came up big with 11 points on an escape, takedown and seven back points to take control.

The Lakers (5-4, 2-1 PSAC) scored the next seven points across two weight classes to take their only lead of the night. Nate Knowlton edged Javien DeLeon (Allentown, Pa./Liberty), 5-2, on an overtime takedown at 133 and Jake Niffenegger topped Jared Fulton (Nottingham, Pa./Solanco) by major decision, 14-3, at 141.

Alicea answered Niffenegger's major with one of his own. The Lancaster, Pa., native collected three takedowns and a two-point nearfall on his way to a convincing 14-4 win over Bret Minnick in the 149-pound battle.

Back-to-back decisions from the Gimbor twins provided Kutztown with some breathing room. Bailey Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg), ranked 12th at 157 lbs., protected a third-period lead with an escape and riding time point to double up Max Stedeford, 6-3. In the only ranked showdown of the evening, No. 7 Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) secured takedowns in the first and third to defeat No. 6 Dillon Walker, 7-2, at 165 and push the Bears' lead to 14-7.

Mercyhurst picked up an 8-4 win from Chase Stein at 174, but third-ranked Weinberg put the Maroon and Gold back on the right track. The 2023 All-American built an 11-0 lead after one against Vincent Scaramuzzino with a takedown and two four-point nearfalls. He tacked on two additional takedowns in the second to notch his fifth technical fall of the season, 17-1, at 3:35.

The Golden Bears weren't in the clear until the final horn. Trever Begin countered Weinberg's technical fall with a 16-0 shutout and technical fall over Liam Akers (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) to bring the Lakers within 19-15 at 197. Christian Taylor's third period escape allowed him to edge Dustin Swanson (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot), 5-4, in the heavyweight bout, but it was not enough to flip the match in Mercyhurst's favor, the home side coming up one point short.

Friday's win was Kutztown's first over the Lakers in three seasons and just its third in the last 13 meetings. The Golden Bears won for just the second time in seven trips to Mercyhurst since the 2010-11 season (2018-19).

Kutztown will look to complete the Erie sweep tomorrow when it heads to Gannon for an 11 a.m. start. The Golden Knights are also receiving votes in the NWCA Division II Poll.

 

#21 KUTZTOWN AT MERCYHURST FRIDAY, JAN. 26, 2024 | ERIE, PA. | MERCYHURST ATHLETIC CENTER
WT.	MATCH	KUTZ	HURST
125	Nic Allison (KUTZ) major dec. Billy Smith (HURST), 12-3	4	0
133	Nate Knowlton (HURST) dec. Javien DeLeon (KUTZ), 5-2 (SV-1)	4	3
141	Jake Niffenegger (HURST) major dec. Jared Fulton (KUTZ), 14-3	4	7
149	Aliazer Alicea (KUTZ) major dec. Bret Minnick (HURST), 14-4	8	7
157	#12 Bailey Gimbor (KUTZ) dec. Max Stedeford (HURST), 6-3	11	7
165	#7 Dalton Gimbor (KUTZ) dec. #6 Dillon Walker (HURST), 7-2	14	7
174	Chase Stein (HURST) dec. Ethan Baney (KUTZ), 8-4	14	10
184	#3 Matthew Weinberg (KUTZ) tech. fall Vincent Scaramuzzino (HURST), 17-1 (3:35)	19	10
197	Trever Begin (HURST) tech. fall Liam Akers (KUTZ), 16-0 (6:52)	19	15
285	Christian Taylor (HURST) dec. Dustin Swanson (KUTZ), 5-4	19	18