FEBRUARY 18, 2011
KING'S-WILKES WRESTLERS SETTLE FOR 22-22 DRAW
WILKES-BARRE – Peter Dwyer came through with a clutch decision in the final match of the night as the King's College wrestling team pulled out a 22-22 draw with 15th ranked Wilkes University Friday night in Scandlon Gymnasium.
In the final competition before the post-seaosn begins next weekend, neither team used its full full line-up. The match began at 285-pounds and the Colonels quickly took the lead on a 2-0 decision by Chris Smith. Wilkes upped the lead to 7-0 when Anthony Peterson earned a 14-0 major decision at 125-pounds. The Monarchs closed to within 7-6 when Mike LaPorta registered a first-period pin, but King's was forced to forfeit at 141-pounds, allowing the Colonels to extend the advantage to 13-6.
After King's Chris Mazzocchi earned an 8-4 decision at 149, Monarch teammate Tommy Desir followed with a 15-7 major decision to bring King's to tie the score at 13-13. At 165, Wilkes' Ben Marich picked up a 7-0 decision to stretch the Colonel lead to 16-13. King's standout Mike Reilly improved to 27-1 with a third period pin, giving the Monarchs their first lead of the night at 19-16. Wilkes, though, picked up its second forfeit victory of the night to recapture a 22-19, setting up the final bout of the night at 197.
Daniel Brown of Wilkes scored a first-period takedown for a 2-0 lead but Dwyer recorded an escape and takedown to a 3-2 lead after the first period. Dwyer added a second period escape to carry a 4-2 lead into the final period. Brown selected the neutral position and both grapplers missed out on takedown chances. Dwyer, however, would seal a 6-2 victory with a takedown with 0:16 left in the contest.
In all, King's won five of the eight matches wrestled to overcome the two forfeit losses.
The Monarchs will now be idle until Sunday, February 27 when King's plays host to the 2011 Metropolitan Conference Championships in Scandlon Gymnasium.
Information is available at www.kingscollegeathletics.com
King's 22 – Wilkes 22
285 – Chris Smith (W) dec. Anthony Corigliano, 2-0
125 – Anthony Peterson (W) major dec. Ricky Dorsey, 14-0
133 – Mike LaPorta (K) pinned Grifffin Panicucci, 1:25
141 – Ryan Wilson (W) won by forfeit
149 – Chris Mazzocchi (K) dec. Philip Racciato, 8-4
157 – Tommy Desir (K) major dec. Shane Everett, 15-7
165 – Ben Marich (W) dec. Frank Marinucci, 7-0
174 – Mike Reilly (K) pinned Dustin Slough, 6:29
184 – David Oberrender (W) won by forfeit
197 – Peter Dwyer (K) dec. Daniel Brown, 6-2
