YORK, PA (January 20, 2024) -- The King's College wrestling team had a successful day at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship tournament in York (PA). The Monarchs witnessed six members earn podium finishes on Saturday afternoon. Bill Grace (Gr.) took second place at 285, Richard Fronheiser (Jr.) had a third place finish at 197, and MJ Turi (Fy.) battled for fifth place at 149. Hugh Bittenbender (So.) at 141, Bret Murphy (Jr.) at 157, and Nick Valenzano (So.) at 285 all recorded sixth place finishes in the tournament. King's finished sixth of six teams with 53.5 points at M&T Bank Field House.
 
Quinn O'Callaghan (Fy.) – 125
After an opening-round bye in the 125 bracket, Quinn O'Callaghan fell in the quarterfinals in 0:50 to Akhil Vega of Stevens before his day ended in 0:51 to Vincent Principe of Stevens in the consolation bracket.
 
Hugh Bittenbender (So.) – 141
In the 141 bracket, Hugh Bittenbender had a tough start to the day as he dropped a decision by technical fall to Alvernia's Garrett Gehr. Bittenbender saw a familiar opponent in the consolation bracket as he defeated teammate Nick Germano by a 5-1 decision after using a first-period takedown to secure the win and advance. The sophomore had a 10-2 lead going into the second period, he was able to outlast York's Bryan Diaz in the third period to take a 14-9 decision. In the fifth place match, Bittenbender pestered Garrett Gehr of Alvernia but ultimately lost in a 17-2 technical fall to take a sixth place finish.
 
Nick Germano (Jr.) – 141
Nick Germano also battled through the 141 bracket in the championship meet. Germano earned a first-round bye before taking on a tough competitor in Alvernia's Avery Leonard who handed Germano a technical fall loss in the quarterfinals. Germano's day came to a close at the hands of teammate Hugh Bittenbender in the consolation bracket, falling by a 5-1 decision.
 
Shane Kibler (So.) – 149
Shane Kibler had a strong start to the meet at 149, defeating Alvernia's Quinn Tobin by a 4-2 decision after using an important takedown in the second period to secure the victory in his opening bout. Kibler then took on a tough opponent in York's Nicholas Paolucci before falling by major decision, 15-3, in the quarterfinals. Kibler bounced back in the consolation bracket, rallying from a first-period takedown to record two quick escapes and a late takedown to defeat Delaware Valley's Greg Croce by fall in 5:28. The sophomore met fellow teammate MJ Turi in the next bout and fell in a close matchup 4-2 decision.
 
MJ Turi (Fy.) – 149
Also in action in the 149 bracket was MJ Turi who fell by a 5-1 decision in his opening round bout to Alvernia's Chance Babb. Turi had an answer in his next match as he dominated the final period with a four-point swing to defeat Messiah's Camerin Deville by a 7-6 decision. The Monarch defeated fellow teammate Shane Kibler in a neck-in-neck battle that ended in a 4-2 decision. Turi defeated Mike Rubino to take fifth place by pinfall in 2:32.
 
Bret Murphy (Jr.) – 157
Bret Murphy opened the championship meet with a 6-2 decision victory over Alvernia's Brandon Flores, earning a reversal mid-way through the third period to take the lead and adding a takedown late to claim the win. Murphy then pulled out a gritty win in the quarterfinals over Messiah's Clay Gainer, using a quick takedown in the first period and a big reversal in the third to secure the 5-3 decision and claim a spot in the semifinals of the 157 bracket. The junior dropped his next bout in an 18-0 technical fall to Steven's Ryan Smith. Murphy put up a good fight against Jared Blair of York but was pinned in 1:42. The Monarch succumbed to a 17-2 technical fall loss in the third period of the fifth place matchup by Delaware Valley's Hayden Mann to take sixth place overall.
 
Alex Ballantyne (So.) – 165
After waiting through his first-round bye, Alex Ballantyne was downed in 1:50 by Harrison Hinojosa of Stevens. Ballantyne wrapped up his day in the consolation bracket as he fell by a 15-6 major decision to teammate Xavian Ramos.
 
Xavian Ramos (So.) – 165
In a tough 165 bracket, Xavian Ramos drew a daunting opening-round match against top-ranked Matt Lackman from Alvernia but put up a strong effort before falling in 1:51. Ramos remained alive in the championship meet, recording a takedown and near fall in the first period and totaling eight points in the third to defeat teammate Alex Ballantyne by a 15-6 decision and advance. The sophomore was downed by York's Alan DeVries in an 8-0 major decision.
 
Nick Costello (Fy.) – 174
Nick Costello battled through the opening period before eventually falling in 4:08 to Jimmy Circle from Alvernia in the opening match of the 174 bracket. Costello then hung tough with a gritty opponent in Alvernia's Gavin Hollingsworth before falling at the end of the first period.
 
Jacob Hachtmann (Fy.) – 184
The 184 bracket saw Jacob Hachtmann fall by a 13-0 major decision to Ryder Slayton from Messiah in the opening round. He then picked up two escapes in the second period to close within 6-2 of Brendan Newbury from Stevens, but Newbury cruised to a 19-4 technical fall win in the consolation bracket.
 
Richard Fronheiser (Jr.) – 197
Rich Fronheiser started with a tough draw in the 197 bracket, falling to Messiah's Sawyer Dereszynski by a 9-7 decision after Dereszynski scored eight late points to secure the victory. Fronheiser battled back in the consolation bracket, dominating Alvernia's Myles Brown to a 13-0 major decision win, claiming six points in the second period alone on his way to the win. The veteran wrestler outlasted Brock Hofler with an early takedown to seal a 3-0 decision win. Fronheiser advanced to the third place bout after taking a major forfeit win over Delaware Valley's Daniel Eckley. After a 3-1 first period in the third place bout, Fronheiser took the lead by having a couple takedowns and escapes against Sawyer Dereszynski of Messiah, the Monarch would later win third place by a 9-7 decision.
 
Elijah Rivera (Fy.) – 197
Also in the 197 bracket, Elijah Rivera came up against a tough opponent in Delaware Valley's Daniel Eckley and fell in 1:43. The first year fell to Joe Russell of Stevens in 1:22.
 
Bill Grace (Gr.) – 285
Bill Grace received a first round bye in the 285 bracket. Grace dominated in his first match of the afternoon after a takedown and a near fall to put him up seven points and later won by pinfall over Christian Connor of Messiah in 1:31. The veteran wrestler had an early takedown in the first period to take the lead against Stevens' Max Ruiz. Ruiz neutralized the matchup in the third before Grace got an escape and stalling point to take a 5-4 decision win to go to the championship round. In the final round of the afternoon, Grace frustrated Messiah's Hayden Benner for three periods before losing by a 7-2 decision to take home a second place finish.
 
Nick Valenzano (So.) – 285
In the 285 bracket, Nick Valenzano fell in 2:33 to Messiah's Hayden Benner to start his appearance in the championship meet. In his next matchup, the sophomore battled hard and downed Ben Rosa of Stevens in 4:12. Valenzano had a tough matchup against Steven's Max Ruiz, he was able to get within three after a reversal before being pinned in 5:11. In his last matchup, Valenzano fell in the second period to York's Derek Martin in 4:45 by pinfall to take sixth place overall.
 
The Monarchs will be back in action after a week of preparation for a road battle against Lycoming College at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 27^th. The squad will be back in McGrane Gymnasium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 1^st to take on Centenary (NJ).