JANUARY 22, 2009
KING'S WRESTLERS DEFEAT MUHLENBERG. 39-6
WILKES-BARRE – The King's College wrestling team made its return home a happy one as the Monarchs posted a 39-6 victory over visiting Muhlenberg College Thursday in Scandlon Gymnasium.
Wrestling at home for the first time since November 22, King's raced out to a 22-0 lead after four bouts and never looked back. With the win, King's improved to 8-10 while Muhlenberg fell to 0-3.
In the first match at 125-pounds, King's freshman Mike Tabasco built a 4-1 lead over Dan McEnroy before registering a pin in 2:15 to give the Monarchs a 6-0 lead. The advantage then grew to 12-0 when Anthony Dietrick received a forfeit at 133-pounds.
At 141, Monarch junior Tony Miele built 5-0 lead prior to pinning Kevin Homan in 2:38 to up the King's lead to 18-0 after three bouts. In the 149-pound contest, King's Frankie Davis led Colin Gibson 4-1 after the first period on the strength of two takedowns. Davis then added a pair of second period takedowns to forge a 8-3 lead heading into the final frame. The Monarch junior tacked on two more takedowns and a riding time point for a 13-4 major decision, upping King's advantage to 22-0.
At 157-pounds Muhlenberg's Keith Swanson scored a pair of first period takedowns to take a 4-1 lead over Val Poleto. The score remained the same through the second period as Poleto rode Swanson for the entire 2:00. In the final period Swanson fought off a late Poleto takedown attempt to hold on for a 4-2 decision and cut the King's lead to 22-3.
In the 165-pound match, King's sophomore Jerry Robbins scored a takedown and two sets of near fall points to register a 6-0 lead over Ken Ludwig after one period. Robbins would turn Ludwig to his back twice more in the second period to take a 11-0 lead into the final 2:00 of the match. Robbins turned Ludwig to his back twice more to score a 17-0 technical fall at 5:50 while lifting King's to a 27-3 advantage.
At 174, King's Mike Reilly used an early takedown of Justin Fitch to post a 2-1 first period lead. Fitch then tied the score at 2-2 with an escape moments into the second stanza, but neither wrestler would score during the remainder of the period. In the third period Reilly would used a early reversal to build a 4-2 lead. The Monarch sophomore added three near fall points and a riding time point for a 8-2 decision and a 30-3 King's lead.
In the feature bout of the evening King's Zack Wilkinson (16-3) broke open scoreless bout with Muhlenberg's Matt Horn (10-0) with a second period escape. For the next 2:00 both grapplers fought off scoring opportunities as the bout remained tied heading into the third period. Horn responded by scoring an reversal with 0:38 left to take a 2-1 lead and held off a Wilkinson reversal attempt at the final buzzer to remain unbeaten with a 2-1 decision.
At 197, King's Zack Martinez used a takedown of Bill Sholly to garner a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. After Martinez rode out Sholly the entire second period, the Monarch senior scored a reversal and two near fall points early in the third period to build a 6-1 advantage. Sholly proceeded to cut the lead to 6-4 with an escape and takedown with 1:01 left in the match but was unable to further score. Martinez added a riding time point to walk away with a 7-4 decision, giving King's a 33-6 lead.
In the final bout at 285-pounds, King's Chris Rash sealed the victory by pinning Nick Pallotta in 2:25 to put the cap on a 39-6 Monarch win.
King's will return to action Saturday with tri-meet at New York University. The Monarchs will face York College, Rhode Island College, and host NYU.
King's 00 - Muhlenberg 00
157 - Keith Swanson (M) dec.. Val Poleto (K), 4-2
165 - Jerry Robbins (K) tech fall Ken Ludwig (M), 17-0 (5:50)
285 - Chris Rash (K) pinned Nick Pallotta (M), 2:25
