WILKES-BARRE, PA (DECEMBER 22, 2023) -- The King's College wrestling team had a short trip across town to compete in the Wilkes Open. The Monarchs witnessed 11 members compete in the Marts Center.
 
Aiden Shaughnessy (So.) – 141
Shaunessy lost his first bout with a 17-0 technical fall against Aaron Kurzer. The sophomore won his second contest as a Monarch in a 2:12 fall over Wilkes' Lucas Macking. Scranton's Shkeb Nadir pinned Shaunessy in 1:22.
 
Hugh Bittenbender (So.) – 141
Bittenbender took a technical fall to Deon Pleasant of Drexel 16-0. The sophomore won his next two matches in decisions. The first decision win was against Braden Sitton of 84 Athletes by 9-3 and the second win was a 12-9 decision over Army's John Schneider. Bittenbender would later take a 15-0 technical fall defeat to Lucas Macking of Wilkes.
 
MJ Turi (Fy.) – 149
Turi lost his first bout to Luca Errico of Virginia in 4:09. He would lose to Rutgers' Sebastiano Nini by decision 4-2.
 
Shane Kibler (So.) – 149
Kibler lost his first match in an 8-5 decision against Duke's Sean O'Donnel. The sophomore would bounce back and won his next two in a 9-5 decision over Carter Gill of Buffalo and a 22-10 major decision against Jake Courtney. Kibler lost in a close matchup to Binghamton's Caleb Sweet in a 11-7 decision.
 
Bret Murphy (Jr.) – 157
Murphy took a 7-2 decision loss to Marymount's Tallion Elliot Jr and fell to Christopher Crawford of Wyoming Seminary in 2:01.
 
Nick Costello (Fy.) – 165
Costello was pinned by Penn College's Mason Leshock in 1:23. He later lost in a 20-5 technical fall to Rafael Knapp of Buffalo.
 
Xavian Ramos (So.) – 165
Ramos was defeated by Carson Wells of Wilkes in a 17-4 decision. The sophomore dropped his second bout in an 8-0 major decision to Binghampton's Tyler Reed.
 
Connor Wrobleski (So.) – 174
Wrobleski took a 19-4 technical fall to Army's Dillon Sheehy. The Monarch came back with vengeance and pinned Marymount's Hezzy Hussey in 1:52. Wrobleski fought hard in three periods but fell to David Hussey of Duke in a 5-0 decision.
 
Jacob Hachtmann (Fy.) – 184
Hatchmann dropped his first matchup against Lucas Miller of Wilkes in a 5-2 decision. The first year would then take an 11-3 major decision defeat against Wilkes' Chris Nuss before taking a 15-11 win over Parviz Niyozzoda of Virgina.  
 
Richard Fronheiser (Jr.) – 197
Fronheiser suffered a 9-2 decision loss to Lonnel Owens-Pabon of Buffalo. The junior Monarch took a 17-1 technical fall against Army's Tom Godbee
             
Bill Grace (Gr.) – 285/HWT
Grace was bested in a major forfeit in his first matchup against Binghamton's Trent Sibble. The experienced wrestler would then overtake Marymount's Brey Loving in a 9-4 decision. Grace battled Dustin Uribes of The Apprentice School and remained victorious in a 14-10 decision. The graduate fell to Rutgers' Kyle Epperly in 1:00 by pinfall.
 
The Monarchs will take a break for the holidays before hosting Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opponent Alvernia at 7 p.m. pm Tuesday, January 9^th. The squad will then have a short turnaround as they will battle Sussex County Community College on Friday, January 12^th at 7 p.m.