NOVEMBER 22, 2008
KING'S WRESTLERS RALLY FALLS SHORT IN 27-24 LOSS TO HUNTER
WILKES-BARRE -- Visiting Hunter College jumped out to a 15-0 lead but a King's College rally fell short as the Monarchs dropped a 27-24 Metropolitan Wrestling Conference decision Saturday in Scandlon Gym.
With the loss, King's fell to 2-3 on the year while Hunter stands at 2-2.
The Hawks jumped out to a 12-0 lead when Evan Velez and Sean Messina posted respective falls of Michael Tabasco and Anthony Dietrick at 125 and 133 pounds. Kyle Cammaroto would give Hunter a 15-0 advantage with a 7-3 decision over Tony Miele at 141.
King's would reach the scoreboard at 149 when Frankie Davis took a 3-0 lead over Nadah Bailey following two second-period penalty points and an escape. Bailey would escape to start the third period to cut the lead to 3-1. Neither grappler would score the rest of the way but Bailey earned a riding time point to bring the final score to 3-2.
At 157, King's Taylor Green built a 4-1 first period lead over Matt Cartusciello on the strength of two takedowns. The lead would grow to 6-1 on a pair of second period penalty points. Green would escape to start the third period, then added a takedown and riding time point for a 10-1 major decision, cutting the Hunter lead to 15-7.
In the 165-pound bout, King's Jerry Robbins would take a 2-0 lead over Jerry Spiegal on an early takedown, then scored an important pin just as the buzzer sounded at the end of the period, bringing the Monarchs to within 15-13.
At 174, King's defending Metropolitan Conference champion Mike Reilly used a takedown and 10 near fall points to build a 12-0 first period lead over Ryan Baxter. Reilly would then give King's its first lead of the day when he pinned Baxter at 3:35 to put the Monarchs ahead 19-15.
Hunter would counter when Joey Scott pinned King's Zach Wilkinson in 2:18 to put the Hawks back on top, 21-19. Hunter would lock up the meet at 197 when Brian Scher pinned Zach Martinez at 2:30 to push the teal to 27-19.
In the final bout at 285, King's Chris Rash jumped out to a 10-1 first period lead over Dan Heydebrand. Rash would add two second period takedowns to take a 14-3 lead into the final frame. Rash would secure one final takedown and three near fall points to post a 20-3 technical fall, bringing the final score to 27-24.
Hunter 27 - King's 24
125 - Evan Velez (H) pinned Michael Tabasco (K), 2:57
133 - Sean Messina (H) pinned Anthony Dietrick (K), 3:36
141 - Kyle Cammaroto (H) dec. Tony Miele (K), 7-3
149 - Frankie Davis (K) dec. Nadah Bailey (H), 3-2
157 - Taylor Green (K) major dec. Matt Cartusciello (H), 10-1
165 - Jerry Robbins (K) pinned Joseph Spiegal (H), 3:00
174 - Mike Reilly (K) pinned Ryan Baxter (H), 3:35
184 - Joey Scott (H) pinned Zach Wilkinson (K), 2:18
197 - Brian Scher (H) pinned Zach Martinez (K), 2:30
285 - Chris Rash (K) technical fall Dan Heydebrand (H), 20-3 (7:00)
Prior to the match King's held its Wrestling Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Michael Stas (Class of 1978), Stan Motyka ('89), Dean McDavitt ('89), Jason Schlingman ('03), Mitch Marcks ('04), and Jim Morgan ('04) were all enshrined. Additionally, King's honored two-time NCAA Division III national champion David Morgan with a banner highlighting his accomplishments. The banner will be displayed in the rafters of Scandlon Gymnasium.