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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In the exhibition match at 197,
Abubakar Saka fell by a score of 21-5 to the Warriors' Matthew Richardson.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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--MONARCHS--