The Wilkes University wrestling team cruised to a 31-9 Metropolitan Conference victory over Elizabethtown, winning all but two bouts to improve to 16-5-2 for the year. The 20th-ranked Colonels have now won four-straight matches.
Three Colonels competed in their final home bouts of their collegiate careers, two of which won in impressive fashion. At 133, senior
Josh Pauling (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) took a 12-3 major decision win over Martin Harnish to give Wilkes its first points of the match. Fellow senior
Shaun Farnham (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) had to forfeit his bout at 125 due to a failed skin check. At 149
Erik Smith (Danville, Pa./Danville) took an 11-3 major decision win over Ronald Cuff.
At 141,
Anthony Dattolo (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) captured his third pin in his last four bouts, this time over Jarrod Cawley in 4:12. His seventh-straight victory gave the Colonels a 10-6 lead which they would not lose the rest of the way.
James Histead continued the winning ways for Wilkes at 157 with an 11-2 major decision win over Brian Frantz. His victory gave the Colonels an 18-6 lead. At 165,
Richard Sparks (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P Schalick) won his second-straight bout with a 5-2 decision over Michael Lussier before
Frank Heffernan (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) took a 5-0 shutout win over Paul Connor.
Buddy Gouger (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) and
Zach Pizarro (Easton, Pa./Easton) both picked up wins at 184 and 197 respectively, with Pizarro taking a 10-1 major decision win over Jordan Becker.
Wilkes will be looking for its fifth-straight match when the Colonels head to Ithaca tomorrow at 1 p.m.
No. 20 Wilkes 31 Elizabethtown 9
125 – Will Bentley (E) (forfeit) 0-6
133 –
Josh Pauling (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) (W) 12-3 maj. dec. Martin Harnish 4-6
141 –
Anthony Dattolo (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) (W) pinned (4:12) Jarrod Cawley 10-6
149 –
Erik Smith (Danville, Pa./Danville) (W) 11-3 maj. dec Ronald Cuff 14-6
157 – James Histead (W) 11-2 maj. dec. Brian Frantz 18-6
165 –
Richard Sparks (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P Schalick) (W) 5-2 dec. Michael Lussier 21-6
174 –
Frank Heffernan (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) (W) 5-0 dec. Paul Connor 24-6
184 –
Buddy Gouger (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) (W) 4-3 dec. William Meaney 27-6
197 –
Zach Pizarro (Easton, Pa./Easton) (W) 10-1 maj. dec. Jordan Becker 31-6
Hwt – Deron Sharp (E) 5-3 dec.
Andrew Feldman (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) 31-9
