WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 12, 2024) -- In their final tune up ahead of the 2024 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Wrestling Championships, the King's College wrestling team posted a dominant 49-4 victory over Sussex County Community College in McGrane Gymnasium on Friday evening. The Monarchs improve to 3-2 overall in dual meets.
 
Patrick Horvath got the Monarchs on the board in the opening bout at 125, battling back after a 3-1 first period to pick up an important take down in the second on his way to a 7-5 decision win over Roman Citro. Cole Anderson then pushed the King's (3-2) lead to 9-0 with a win by fall in 1:42 over Chris Casale at 133. In the 141 match up, Hugh Bittenbender dominated the match, using a take down in each of the first and second periods before using a take down and a pair of near falls to record the 19-1 technical fall victory over Seth Hagensen.
 
Sussex County got their lone win in the match at 157 as Bret Murphy battled through the full seven minutes before falling by a 17-5 major decision to Thaylor Sibblies, allowing the Skylanders to close within 20-4. Connor Wrobleski responded with a quick pin in 2:51 in the 174 bout over Shawn Pawlowski. Then in the 184 contest, Jacob Hachtmann tired out Noah Ripley after holding a 9-3 edge heading into the final period by recording four quick take downs for a 22-6 technical fall victory. Nick Valenzano rounded out an exciting match for the Monarchs, defeating Shane Saulenier by fall in 3:25 at 285 to help secure the 49-4 victory for King's on Friday evening.
 
King's also collected forfeit wins at 157 from MJ Turi, at 165 from Alex Ballantyne, and at 197 from Richard Fronheiser.
 
In exhibition matches, Quinn O'Callaghan dropped a 19-3 technical fall to Chris Dwyer at 125, while Nick Germano dominated Seth Hagensen with a quick take down before recording four near falls on his way to a 16-0 technical fall win in the first period at 141.
 
King's sets their sights on the 2024 MAC Championships on Saturday, January 20 at York College (Pa.). Action is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.