WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 18, 2024) -- The King's College wrestling team hosted the 2025 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Wrestling Championships in McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs were fifth of seven teams and witnessed six members earn podium finishes. Most notably seeing Frankie Theroux and Jacob Hachtmann collect bronze medals in their respected weight classes.
 
Patrick Horvath – 125
Horvath battled hard in his first bout of the afternoon against Jacob Delvecchio of York in a 7-4 decision loss. The junior wrestler dominated in his next match with a 20-5 technical fall win over Misericordia's Hayden Best. After a takedown late in the third period, Horvath secured a 9-3 decision win over Bryce Arnold of Messiah. In the last bout of the day, he lost in a hard-fought battle to Jocob Delvecchio to gain a fourth place podium finish.
 
Cole Anderson – 133
Anderson started the day off strong with an 8-4 decision win over Messiah's Mason Casey. The New Jersey native pushed Logan Barkey to the final minute but succumbed to an 11-9 loss. In his final bout of the tournament, Anderson fell to Taylor Weaver of Delaware Valley in a 15-0 technical fall.
 
Nick Germano – 133
Germano lost his first match of the day to Caiden Hellar of Messiah in a 5-0 decision. The New York native came right back to defeat Messiah's Mason Carey in a 6-2 decision. Germano dropped his last two bouts due to a medical forfeit. He placed sixth in the 133 weight class.
 
Angel Avalos – 141
Avalos entered his first MAC Championship against Messiah's Shaun Quirk. The first year fought hard but fell in 2:23. Avalos was dropped by Kruz Mccusker of Misericordia in 2:13 to end the afternoon.
 
Shane Kibler – 149
Kibler dominated in his first match of the day with an 18-2 technical fall over Misericordia's Myles Tirpak. The junior wrestler fell to Dalton Monger of Messiah in 0:41. Kibler dropped his final matchup to Stevens' Tyler Roe in a 19-4 technical fall.
 
MJ Turi – 157
Turi defeated Romello Leibensperger of Misericordia in a 1:01 pin. In his next matchup, the sophomore battled with Messiah's Noah Rice as they went into overtime. Turi was able to take down Rice to score three points and stand victorious in a 4-1 decision. During the semi-finals, the Scranton native lost to Ryan Smith of Stevens in an 8-0 major decision. Turi fell to Tyler Venet of Stevens in an 8-0 major decision. In the final match of the afternoon, Rice and Turi duked it out once more with Rice walking away by a 1:45 pinfall. The Monarch finished sixth overall.
 
Alex Ballantyne – 165
Ballantyne fought hard in his first match but was dropped in 2:05 by Chris Stathopoulos of Stevens. The junior wrestler defeated Alvernia's Ryan Lepore by default. Ballantyne took a medical forfeit loss to Darrale Barrett and ended the day at fifth place.
 
Jordan Bentley – 165
Bentley had his first bout against nationally ranked Matt Lackman of Alvernia. The first year battled through the first period but succumbed to a 16-1 loss in the second. Bentley was defeated by Delaware Valley's Darrale Barrett in an 18-0 technical fall.
 
Jacob Hachtmann – 174
Hachtmann rolled over Chris Piazza of Stevens with a 13-3 major decision win.  In the semi-finals, the sophomore wrestler was dropped by Alvernia's Nathan Lackman in a 21-6 technical fall. Hatchmann came back strong with a 6-3 decision win over William Knapp of Alvernia. He stood victorious in the final bout of the afternoon due to a medical forfeit by Stevens' Harrison Hinojosa to take third overall.
 
Jake Bobersky – 184
Bobersky was defeated by Stevens' Joel Martsinovsky in a 5-0 decision. The first year rallied and came out with a 9-2 decision win over Tristan Cuellar of Misericordia. In his final match, Bobersky battled with Stevens' Branden Bulatao but was bested in a 5-0 decision.  
 
Frankie Theroux – 184
Theroux won his first match of the day against Luke Moore of Delaware Valley in a 9-4 decision. The New York native lost in the semi-finals to Messiah's Ryder Slayton by a 5-0 decision. Theroux returned to the mats with a win over Branden Bulatao of Stevens by a 12-0 major decision. It was neck-and-neck in the final match, the Monarch held on to a 10-9 decision victory over Alvernia's Hayden Mclellan. Theroux took third to put a stamp on the afternoon.
 
Richard Fronheiser – 197
It was a close match for Fronheiser as he took on Joseph Russel of Stevens. The senior wrestler battled hard in the final seconds but lost in an 11-10 decision. Fronheiser returned to the mats and defeated Misericordia's Simeon Hunte in a 7-3 decision. During his final bout, Fronheiser fell to Myles Brown of Alvernia in 2:57.
 
Nick Valenzano – HWT
Valenzano fell to Owen Reber of Alvernia in 1:17. The junior wrestler lost by pinfall against Stevens' Max Ruiz in 3:39.
 
King's will return home to take on Lycoming at 1 p.m. in the Scandlon Auxiliary Gymnasium on Saturday, January 25^th. The squad will recognize their five seniors prior to the start of the meet. The team will have a short turnaround as they will travel to Centenary (NJ) on Monday, January 27^th at 7 p.m.