BLOOMSBURG, PA (January 11, 2023) -- It was an exciting day for the King's College wrestling team as they split the tri-match with the Division II opponents, defeating East Stroudsburg University, 17-16, in the opening match before falling to the host Bloomsburg University, 39-10, in the night cap. Bloomsburg improved to 2-7 overall in duals with the sweep, East Stroudsburg fell to 3-4, and King's improved to 3-1.
 
vs. East Stroudsburg – W, 17-16:
The Monarchs started the day with a big team win over Division II East Stroudsburg, 17-16. The bout began with the 157-weight class where Colby Spencer battled with Bryce Parenti before falling by decision, 4-3. East Stroudsburg picked up another early win by decision, 7-3, at 165 as Francis Theroux dropped his match to the Warriors' Sergio Cespedes.
 
King's got on the board at 174 as Kade Kravits dominated Robert Burke to an 11-0 major decision victory to pull the Monarchs within 6-4. Connor Wrobleski followed up at 184 with another big win for King's, defeating Davis Lee by a major decision victory, 8-0, as the Monarchs took the lead in the match, 8-6.
 
A closely-contested match up at 197 saw Rich Fronheiser drop an 8-4 decision to Ajay Hiller, but it was a second-period escape and a riding time advantage for Jacob Feese at 285 that proved the difference as Feese earned the 4-3 decision win.
 
With King's leading, 11-9, Gus Petruske IV was evenly matched with Brady Carter in the 125 bout, but an early 4-2 lead in the opening period proved to be the difference as Petruske won by an 11-9 decision to increase the Monarchs lead to 14-9. Despite a gritty performance by Nick Germano, the sophomore fell in the 133 match up to Cameron Enriquez by a 13-5 major decision as East Stroudsburg closed within 14-13.
 
Hugh Bittenbender sealed the win at 141 over Jack Dardia. After trailing 3-2 heading into the third period, Bittenbender used an escape and his riding time advantage to pull out the 4-3 decision victory and see King's with a 17-13 advantage heading into the final bout. Cameron Leslie finished off the match for the Monarchs as East Stroudsburg's Eric Felleni held a 5-0 edge going into the third, but Leslie posted two escapes to close the deficit before falling by an 8-2 decision. The thrilling match with Division II East Stroudsburg came to a close as King's won, 17-16.
 
In the exhibition match at 197, Abubakar Saka fell by a score of 21-5 to the Warriors' Matthew Richardson.
 
vs. Bloomsburg – L, 10-39:
In their second match of the day, the Monarchs fell to the host Bloomsburg, 39-10. The Huskies jumped out to an early 9-0 lead over King's as Colby Spencer fell by technical fall at 157 to John Reho, and Bret Murphy dropped a major decision to Trenton Harder at 165.
 
Kade Kravits picked up his second win of the day as he outlasted Anthony Derosa, 2-0, to earn the decision victory at 174 and put King's on the board, 9-3. Connor Wrobleski at 184, Rich Fronheiser at 197, and Nick Valenzano at 285 were all downed by Bloomsburg by falls as the Huskies lead swelled to 27-3.
 
Patrick Horvath battled at 125 with Bloomsburg's Kevin Riedinger, forcing an overtime period, and it was Horvath who came out on top as he won the sudden victory, 10-8, and closed the deficit to 27-6. Another match went to the hosts as the 133 bout saw Cole Rhone pin Nick Germano.
 
Hugh Bittenbender saw his second victory of the event at 141 as he fought to a 14-6 major decision win over Nik Voros to pull the Monarchs within 33-10, but Bloomsburg solidified their win over the Monarchs, 39-10, as Cameron Leslie lost by fall to Tal-Reese Flemming at 149.
 
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King's will be back on the mat on Tuesday evening as they travel to Reading, Pa. to take on Alvernia University. Action is set to get underway at 7:00 p.m.