YORK, PA (February 24, 2023) -- In an exciting opening day of the 2023 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, five members of the King's College wrestling program advanced through the brackets and will continue their season and fight for a spot in the NCAA Division III National Tournament tomorrow morning.

In the 125 bout, Gus Petruske IV started the day in the opening round with a technical fall win over Shenandoah's Tyler McDonald in 1:24. He was then met by a tough opponent in Averett's Mason Barrett as he was downed by a 9-5 decision before seeing his day end in a battle, dropping a 12-9 decision to Ferrum's Adrian Samano.

Cole Anderson picked up an early win at 133 in his first match by a fall in 1:35 over Southern Virginia's Francisco Ramirez. After a tough 15-6 major decision loss to Nico Diaz from Stevens, Anderson rallied to earn an 8-3 decision victory over Lycoming's Jaciah Whitcomb and remain alive in the 133 bracket. His day would come to a close in the consolation bracket as he fell to Washington & Lee's David Rubin.

The 141 bracket saw Hugh Bittenbender downed by a 13-3 major decision to Alvernia's Avery Leonard before dropping a 20-10 major decision to Delaware Valley's Taylor Weaver.

In 149 action, Shane Kibler fell to a tough foe in Roanoke's Morgan Robinson before ending his day with an 11-3 major decision loss to Colin Bridges from Washington & Lee.

Bret Murphy battled through his day, going 2-2 at 157, as he began with a fall win in 2:18 over Cameron Hatchett from Shenandoah. He then went to the third period before falling to Ryan Smith from Stevens but bounced right back with a 9-5 decision against Southern Virginia's Weston Hirshi. Murphy would face his final opponent of the day in York's Jared Bair as he fell in 2:48.

Francis Theroux remains alive and will compete tomorrow at 165. He started the regionals with a 9-0 major decision over Greensboro's Luke Gregory before posting a 5-4 decision against Lycoming's Chase Chapman. Despite some early successes, Theroux took on a tough Matt Lackman from Alvernia and fell, but the first year rallied to earn a win in the consolation bracket by a 13-5 major decision over Gettysburg's Justin Richey.

Kade Kravits would continue his strong season as he went undefeated through his two bouts at 174. He opened the day with a 6-3 decision victory over John Summer of Messiah before posting a 7-4 decision win in the quarterfinals over Dylan Weaver of Shenandoah and will prepare for his semifinal match up tomorrow morning.

At 184, Connor Wrobleski also remains alive in competition as he earned a thrilling 4-3 tiebreaker victory over Delaware Valley's Jaden Roberts to start the day. After a tough 5-0 decision loss to Frank Medina of Stevens in the quarterfinals, Wrobleski earned a spot in tomorrow's action with a 21-10 major decision win over Lycoming's James Ellis.

In the 197 bracket, Richard Fronheiser went 2-1 on the day. After a tough 3-0 decision loss to York's Camden Farrow in his opening match, Fronheiser battled his way through the consolation bracket with an 8-0 major decision win over Thiel's Braydon Herbster and a 3-1 decision over Washington & Lee's John Ryan Sedovy.

The heavyweight bouts saw Jacob Feese earned a quick fall victory in 52 seconds over Caleb Burkhart of Wilkes. It was in the quarterfinals that Feese would drop a heartbreaking 2-0 decision to Alvernia's Palmer Rodenhaber, but Feese would fight back to a fall win in 4:16 over Hyden Benner of Messiah to remain alive in the heavyweight bracket for tomorrow.

Action is set to begin again on day two of the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships at 11:00 a.m. in York, Pa.