KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- No. 21 Kutztown wrestling brought its regular season to an emphatic close, Thursday, getting pins from Trent Thompson (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) (125), Javien DeLeon (Allentown, Pa./Liberty) (133) and third-ranked Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (184) along with a technical fall from Hunter Horton (James Creek, Pa./Tussey Mountain) (174) to defeat East Stroudsburg, 33-12, on Senior Night.

The Golden Bears raced out to a 15-0 lead and never looked back. Thompson, one of four seniors honored during a pre-match ceremony, quickly took the Warriors' Jason Athey to his back in the 125-pound bout for his fifth pin of the season in 1:14. Teammate DeLeon followed suit at 133 with a quick takedown and 59-second pin of Ben Makaritis.

Kutztown (5-2, 5-2 PSAC) extended its lead with a 3-0 decision from Jared Fulton (Nottingham, Pa./Solanco) at 141 before ESU (6-5, 2-5 PSAC) got on the board with a forfeit win from Patrick Noonan at 149.

The Warriors wouldn't be able to build upon the forfeit, however, as Kutztown responded with victories in the next four weight classes to put the match out of reach.

No. 12 Bailey Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) scored five first period points on a takedown and two-point nearfall against Eric Falleni at 157 and made the early lead stand up in a 7-2 decision. Twin brother and seventh-ranked Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) amassed four takedowns in a 15-6 major decision over Luke Ciampa at 165 for his team-leading 24th win of the season (24-5).

Kutztown's lead continued to grow behind a 17-2 (6:44) tech. fall from Hunter Horton (James Creek, Pa./Tussey Mountain) over Robert Burke at 174. Horton posted five takedowns and a four-point nearfall in just his second dual appearance of the season. All-American and third-ranked Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) secured his 20th win of the year (20-3) by pinning Jarrett Pantuso in 1:38 to make it 33-6 KU following the 184-pound bout.

The Maroon and Gold also claimed a pair of exhibition wins at the conclusion of the dual. Senior Roman Moser (Eagleville, Pa./Methacton) closed out his Golden Bear career with a 6:55 pin of Kasim Bahar, while Alex Ward (Manassas, Va./Battlefield) earned a 20-8 major decision over Kody Edwards.

Thompson and Moser were joined by Ethan Baney (Hanover, Pa./South Western) and Nathaniel Fossett (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) as the wrestling program celebrated Senior Night festivities.

Kutztown now turns its attention to the upcoming NCAA Super Region I Championships at Keystone Arena on Saturday, March 2. The Golden Bears will be looking to qualify wrestlers for the NCAA DII Championships in Park City, Kan., at the super regional. Top three finishers in each of the 10 weight classes will punch their tickets to nationals.

For more information and tickets to the Super Region I Championships, CLICK HERE.

 

#21 KUTZTOWN VS. EAST STROUDSBURG THURSDAY, FEB. 15, 2024 | KUTZTOWN, PA. | KEYSTONE ARENA
WT.	MATCH	KUTZ	ESU
125	Trent Thompson (KUTZ) pinned Jason Athey (ESU), 1:14	6	0
133	Javien DeLeon (KUTZ) pinned Ben Makaritis (ESU), 0:59	12	0
141	Jared Fulton (KUTZ) dec. Carlens Lapaix (ESU), 3-0	15	0
149	Patrick Noonan (ESU) won by forfeit	15	6
157	#12 Bailey Gimbor (KUTZ) dec. Eric Falleni (ESU), 7-2	18	6
165	#7 Dalton Gimbor (KUTZ) major dec. Luke Ciampa (ESU), 15-6	22	6
174	Hunter Horton (KUTZ) tech. fall Robert Burke (ESU), 17-2 (6:44)	27	6
184	#3 Matthew Weinberg (KUTZ) pinned Jarrett Pantuso (ESU), 1:38	33	6
197	Ajay Hiller (ESU) dec. Liam Akers (KUTZ), 5-0	33	9
285	#12 Layton Schmick (ESU) dec. Dustin Swanson (KUTZ), 6-1	33	12
EXHIBITIONS
174	Roman Moser (KUTZ) pinned Kasim Bahar (ESU), 6:55
184	Alex Ward (KUTZ) major dec. Kody Edwards (ESU), 20-8