WILKES-BARRE, PA – The University of Scranton used three straight wins to close the match on way to a thrilling 23-21 upset of Wilkes University Friday night in the first round of the 2018 Cross County Challenge hosted by King's College.
 
Wilkes dropped to 11-15 overall following the dual match defeat while Scranton improved to 9-5 overall on the season after the victory.
 
Kyle Trout (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) put Wilkes on the board first with a 16-7 major decision over Jake Thomson at 125-pounds. Scranton quickly took its first advantage of the match in the next bout when Nick DiPierro pinned Jake Dimarsico (Thiells, NY/North Rockland) in 3:18 at 133-pounds.
 
Matthew Grossmann (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) gave Wilkes the match lead at 8-6 when he earned a 15-5 major decision over Brandon Altieri at 141-pounds. Josh Evans (Palmerton, PA/Palmerton) pushed the Colonel lead to 12-6 at 149-pounds when he deafeated Thomas Conlon by major decision. Kyle Medrow (West Chester, PA/West Chester Henderson) continued the Wilkes extra-point wins taking a 14-6 major decision over William Laughlin at 157-pounds as the advantage grew to 16-6 after five bouts.
 
Scranton added a decision win at 165-pounds before John Ritter (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty)'s 16-0 sweep of Thomas Gombas kept Wilkes ahead 21-9. From there it was three straight Scranton wins to close the match including two extra-point wins at 197 and 285 to clinch the upset. Matthew Judge (Eynon, PA/Valley View) fell by a 6-2 decision at 184-pounds before Moustafa Almeky (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) suffered a 21-7 technical fall at 197-pounds and Nasser McCummings (Stafford, VA/North Stafford) was pinned in 5:26 at heavyweight to lift the Royals to the victory.
 
Wilkes concludes wrestling at the Cross County Challenge tomorrow (Saturday) with a dual match against Keystone College at 12:00 p.m. at Scranton.
 
Scranton 23, Wilkes 21
125 – K. Trout (W) major dec. Jake Thomson (S), 16-7
133 - Nick DiPierro (S) pinned J. Dimarsico (W), 3:18
141 – M. Grossman (W)  major dec. Brandon Altieri (S), 15-5
149 – J. Evans (W)  major dec. Thomas Conlon (S)
157 – K. Medrow (W) major dec. William Laughlin (S), 14-6
165 - Kevin Merle (S) dec. A. Gyenizs (W), 8-4
174 – J. Ritter (W) tech fall Thomas Gombas (S), 16-0, 4:33
184 -  Zachary D'Apolito (S) dec. M. Judge (W), 6-2
197 - Daniel D'Agostino (S) tech fall M. Almeky (W), 21-7, 5:48
285 - Keegan Connelly (S) pinned N. McCummings, 5:26
 
Exhibition:
285 -  William Oxley(S) pinned R. Thomson III (W), 1:18