YORK, PA (January 21, 2023) -- Graduate student Kade Kravits had a day of milestones as he finished second overall in the 174 bracket to earn All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) honors. He also surpassed the 100-win milestone for his career to become just the ninth player in program history to accomplish the feat. Kravits was just one of five Monarchs to earn a podium finish on Saturday at the 2023 MAC Championships hosted by York College (Pa.). Overall, the Monarchs finished sixth out of eight teams with 84.5 points.
 
In the 125 bracket, Gus Petruske IV finished fourth overall as he battled through the bracket. The fifth seed defeated Delaware Valley's Shane Holefelder by fall in 3:30 before earning a technical fall win at the end of the first period over York's Luke Ragusa. In the quarterfinals, Petruske fell by a 16-5 major decision to Austin Fashouer from Wilkes and headed to the consolation bracket. The senior then took on Lycoming's Kaden Majcher and defeated his foe by a 17-12 decision before advancing to the third-place bout by earning a 9-2 decision victory over Alvernia's Keito Shaw. Petruske would then earn the fourth-place finish in the weight class after coming face-to-face with Fashouer again.
 
At 133, first year Cole Anderson was the fifth seed and earned a first round bye before pinning York's Conner Henning in 1:22 in the quarterfinals. Anderson would then fall by a 5-2 decision to the fourth-seeded Anthony Portillo from Alvernia to bump down to the consolation bracket. Anderson matched up with Anthony Bistany of Stevens and earned a 13-4 major decision win before pinning Alvernia's Jimmy King in 1:41 to advance through the bracket. Anderson went head-to-head with third-seeded Wilfred Jimenez from York but fell by decision, 7-1. In the fifth-place bout, Anderson won by a medical forfeit to earn a spot on the 133 podium in his first MAC Championships.
 
Also at 133 was sophomore Nick Germano who won his first-round matchup over York's Daniel Barra by an 8-0 major decision. Germano would head to overtime with Lycoming's Jaciah Whitcomb and win by a sudden victory 4-2 decision, but he then fell in 4:05 to Stevens' Anthony Bistany. In the consolation bracket, Germano defeated Conner Henning of York by an 8-2 decision before dropping his second match of the day by a 10-2 major decision to Michael Richardson of Wilkes.
 
The 141 bracket saw first year Hugh Bittenbender earn a podium finish in his first MAC Championship appearance. After a first-round bye, Bittenbender earned a gritty 20-16 decision win over Delaware Valley's Sean O'Toole. Then a medical forfeit victory propelled Bittenbender to the semifinals where he would fall in 4:26 to the top-seeded Kyle Slendorn from Stevens. In the consolation bracket, Bittenbender dropped a tough 14-4 major decision contest to Justin Cilliotta from Stevens, but the first year would bounce back to defeat second-seeded Jack Bauer of Wilkes by medical forfeit and earn the fifth-place finish on the podium in the 141-weight class.
 
Cam Leslie was the lone Monarch in the 149-weight class. Leslie would fall in the first round to the fifth-seeded Brandon Flores from Alvernia in 6:36, but he would rally in the consolation bracket to pick up a 13-5 decision victory over York's Joseph Cinquemani. Leslie's day would come to an end in the next bout as he fell in 4:04 to the third-seeded Chance Babb from Alvernia.
 
In the 157 bracket were Colby Spencer and Bret Murphy. Spencer came in as the fifth seed but dropped to the consolation bracket early with a 2:20 fall to Jaryn Hartranft from Wilkes. His day came to a close as he fell in 4:25 to Branden Bulatao of Stevens. Murphy fell by a gritty 7-4 decision to the second-seeded Robert Lawlor from Alvernia but would rally to win by a 7-0 decision over Messiah's Jared Butler. Despite a great effort in his prior match, Murphy would fall by a 13-4 major decision to Lycoming's Hunter O'Connor.
 
Francis Theroux had a strong start to his first MAC Championships, earning the sixth seed in the 165 bracket. Theroux started the day strong with a 7-2 decision win over Delaware Valley's Cooper Kidd and quickly picked up a 13-0 major decision victory against Wilkes' Charles Everdale. It was in the quarterfinals that Theroux would fall in 5:39 to Lycoming's Chase Chapman. In the consolation bracket, Theroux picked up a quick 6-2 decision over Jack Bailey from Stevens, but Adam Coleman from Delaware Valley would end Theroux's day with a 4-0 decision win.
 
Also at 165 was Alex Ballantyne who fell in the opening round to the fifth-seeded James Geiger from Wilkes in 1:01. Ballantyne then faced a tough opponent in Charles Everdale from Wilkes as he fell in 4:36 to end his day.
 
Kravits entered the match just two victories away from the 100-win mark for his career. The third seed earned a first round by before picking up a 2-0 decision over Messiah's Josh Groff for career win 99. The milestone victory came in the next match over sixth-seeded Chris Nuss from Wilkes as Kravits downed the Colonel by a 3-1 sudden victory win. Kravits kept rolling through the bracket as he won by a 7-2 decision over Lycoming's Eli Crum to earn a spot in the championship bout. Kravits faced the top-ranked Stefan Major from Stevens, but despite a valiant effort fell by an 8-1 decision to earn the silver medal and All-MAC honors.
 
Also in 174 was Joe Davis as he faced a tough task in the opening round against the second-seeded Joel Martsinovsky from Stevens. Davis fell in 2:02 to the Duck before falling in 1:51 to Messiah's Tim Eddinger in the consolation bracket.
 
First year Connor Wrobleski made his mark on his first MAC Championships as well in the 184 bracket. The fifth seed earned an opening round bye and came out to a strong start with a 1:21 pin against Lycoming's Nick Parrella. Wrobleski then pinned Brendan Newbury from Stevens in 4:17 to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. The first year came head-to-head with top-ranked Isaac Kassis from Alvernia where he lost by a tough 4-1 decision. Wrobleski then had a strong start to the consolation bracket with a 1:26 fall win over the sixth-seed Blaise Wagner from Stevens. In the third-place bout, Wrobleski was downed by a tough 4-0 decision to the third seed Ryder Slayton from Messiah to earn the fourth-place finish and a spot on the podium.
 
Also in the 184 bracket was Richard Fronheiser who advanced thanks to a first-round bye before falling despite a valiant effort to sixth-seeded Blaise Wagner from Stevens. Fronheiser earned a win by technical fall, 19-3, in 6:03 over Alvernia's Brian Czaus, then capitalized on the momentum with a 9-1 major decision win over Messiah's Donte Hibbert. Fronheiser's comeback efforts came to a close in the consolation round of eight as he fell by a 3-2 decision to Brendan Newbury from Stevens.
 
Senior Bill Grace was the lone Monarch at 197 and faced adversity early as he fell by a 17-2 technical fall to fifth-seeded Mauro Pellot from Alvernia. Grace bowed out in the consolation bracket as he fell by a 9-4 decision to sixth-seeded Hunter Lowe from Wilkes.
 
A trio of Monarchs competed in the 285 bracket. Jacob Feese earned a fall victory over Christian Conner of Messiah in the first round but dropped an 18-0 technical fall decision to top-ranked John Fulmer from Lycoming. Feese would pick up a quick 50 second fall win over York's Brock Hofler before falling by a 12-4 major decision to the fourth-seed in Austin Williams from Delaware Valley.
 
Also at 285 was Johnny Rivera who fell in 1:26 to the fourth-seeded Austin Williams from Delaware Valley before falling in 0:18 in the consolation bracket to Lycoming's Jacob Davis. The final Monarch in the bracket was first year Nick Valenzano who fell to the third-seed in Stevens' Michael Dooley in 2:46. In the consolation bracket, Valenzano fell in 4:26 to Trevor Gitski from Wilkes.
 
The Monarchs will be back in action next weekend as they host a pair of dual meets over the weekend. Friday's match will feature Delaware Valley at 7:00 p.m. before taking on Lycoming at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday in McGrane Gymnasium.