FEBRUARY 13, 2009
KING'S WRESTLERS FALL TO WILKES, 29-9
WILKES-BARRE -- Visiting Wilkes University won seven of the 10 bouts wrestled to post a 29-9 victory over host King's College Friday evening in Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the win, 20th ranked Wilkes improved to 17-6-2 while the Monarchs slipped to 13-14.
In the first match at 125-pounds Wilkes Shaun Farnum scored a takedown and two near fall points to build a 4-0 lead entering the second period. Tabasco answered with a quick takedown in the second period but Farnum escaped for a 5-2 lead. In the third period Farnum would again escape and added a riding time point to secure a 7-2 decision.
At 133-pounds, Wilkes' Josh Pauling built a 4-0 first period lead over Anthony Dietrick with a takedown and two near fall points. Pauling would add a reversal with 0:26 left in the second period to take a 6-0 lead entering the final frame. Dietrick would answer with a takedown and received one stalling point as Pauling held on for a 6-3 decision while giving the Colonels a 6-0 lead.
In the 141-pound bout, King's Tony Miele took down Antony Dattolo, but surrendered a reversal. Miele would quickly escape to take a 3-2 lead. Miele then secured a takedown with 0:06 on the clock to take a 5-2 lead entering the second period. Miele would fight off a number of close takedown attempts before registering a takedown of his own to buid a 7-2 lead heading into the final period. Dattolo would turn Miele to his back twice for five near fall points to tie the score at 7-7, but Miele scored an escape and takedown with 0:06 left to register a 10-7 decision while cutting the Wilkes lead to 6-3.
At 149, Wilkes Erik Smith used a takedown to build a 2-0 lead over Frankie Davis after one period. Smith escaped to start the second period, and then took Davis to his back for a pin at 3:59. In the next bout at 157, King's coach Ned McGinley elected to sit starter Taylor Green, who is recovering from an injury, in favor of back-up 149-pounder Chris Poleto. Wilkes would take advantage when James Histed scored a pin in 0:49 to give the Colonels an 18-3 lead.
King's Jerry Robbing broke open a scoreless bout with an escape from Rich Sparks to start the third period. Sparks would answer with a takedown and two near fall points for a 4-1 lead but Robbins countered with a reversal to cut the lead to 4-3. Neither wrestler scored again, however, as Sparks secured the victory to give the Colonels a 21-3 lead.
At 174, King's defending Metropolitan Conference champion Mike Reilly took a 1-0 lead over Wilkes' Frank Heffernan with a second period escape. In the third period Reilly then add three near fall points and a time advantage point to earn a 5-0 decision while cutting the Wilkes lead to 21-6.
In the 184-pound bout, King's Zach Wilkinson used a second period escape to take a 1-0 lead over Buddy Gougher. A third period escape by Gougher tied the score at 1-1 as the wrestlers enter overtime. After a scoreless first overtime period Wilkinson escaped in the second extra session for a 2-1 lead. In the third overtime Wilkinson would turn Gougher to his back for three near fall points, garnering a 5-1 decision and cutting the Colonel lead to 21-9.
At 197-pounds, Wilkes' Zach Pizzaro iced the match with a 17-2 technical fall victory in 3:17 over King's 174-pound back-up Lewis Snover.
In the final bout at 285-pounds, Wilkes' Chris Smith used a second period escape and takedown to build a 3-0 lead over Chris Rash. After an escape by Rash, Smith added another takedown to increase the lead to 5-1 entering the third period. Neither wrestler would score again but Smith added a riding time point for a 6-1 decision.
Both King's and Wilkes will compete in the Metropolitan Conference Championships Sunday, February 22 at York College, York, Pa.
Wilkes 29 - King's 9
141 – Tony Miele (K) dec. Anthony Dattolo (W), 10-7
Referee: Pete Smith
