The Wilkes wrestling team faced its highest-ranked opponent of the season in No. 4 Ithaca, and the Bombers left Wilkes-Barre with seven individual wins to take a 26-10 victory over the Colonels.

Freshman Scott Mantua (Clarksville, MD/River Hill) recorded the biggest win of his career as he downed fourth-ranked Jon Gregory, giving Wilkes an early 3-0 advantage. Mantua handed Gregory his third loss of the season.

The Bombers on the other hand, won four-straight matches – all by major decisions to jump out to a 16-3 lead. Ben Marich (Kempton, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) would finally get the Colonels back on the winning track at 165 with a 5-2 win over John Dale, pulling Wilkes within 10 (16-6).

At 174, Frank Heffernan (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) made it two-in-a-row with a 12-0 major decision win over Joe Beach. Heffernan is currently ranked No. 9 in his weight class.

Ithaca would go on to win the final two bouts of the match to improve to 19-1 on the year. Wilkes fell to 21-7 on the year and will face Elizabethtown on the road next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

No. 4 Ithaca 26 No. 15 Wilkes 10

125 – Scott Mantua (Clarksville, MD/River Hill) (Wilkes) dec. No. 4 Jon Gregory (8-6) 3-0
133 – No. 3 Chad Winowich (Ithaca) maj. dec. Ryan Wilson (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township) (8-0) 3-4
141 – No. 7 Jeremy Stierly (Ithaca) maj. Dec. Kris Krawchuk (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) (10-2) 3-8
149 – No. 1 Blaine Woszczak (Ithaca) maj. Dec. Anthony Dattolo (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) (13-4) 3-12
157 – William Horwath (Ithaca) maj. dec. Matt Ellery (Somerset, NJ/Middlesex) (13-3) 3-16
165 – Ben Marich (Kempton, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) (Wilkes) dec. John Dale 5-2 6-16
174 – No. 9 Frank Heffernan (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) (Wilkes) maj. dec. Joe Beach (12-0) 10-16
184 – Josue Mendez (Ithaca) dec. Jesse Villella (Port Crane, NY/Chenango Forks) (11-6) 10-19
197 –David Sbriscia (Ithaca) dec. No. 7 Zach Pizarro (Easton, Pa./Easton) (5-2) 10-22
285 – Joe Goetz (Ithaca) maj. dec. Justin Franiak (Collegeville/Springford) (10-2) 10-26