WILKES-BARRE (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University men's wrestling team took on Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) foe Wilkes University on the road Saturday afternoon and got wins by fall from a pair of student-athletes, but ultimately fell, 29-19.

Youssef Ait Boulahri and Dan Eckley each picked up their second pins of the season in their matches.

Russell Benson controlled his match from the opening whistle and earned a 6-1 decision over Michael Richardson to make the team score 12-3. DelVal surrendered the first two weights by way of forfeit.

Mike Rubino trailed 10-8 late in his match and was looking for a takedown to tie the match, but got caught by Dan O'Connor and was taken down as Connor came away with the 12-8 decision. That made the team score, 15-3, Colonels.

At 157 pounds, Zach Zuckerman was taken down by Liam Flaherty in the early going and Flaherty maintained position to take a 4-0 first period lead. Flaherty continued to rack up the back points in the first and took a 12-0 lead into the second. Flaherty closed the match in the second period with a 16-1 technical fall victory.

Chris Richardson took the mat for the Aggies at 165 against James Geiger. Geiger took an early 6-0 lead with a takedown and back points. Geiger had an impressive takedown and fall in the second to earn six more points for Wilkes.

At 174 pounds, Ait Boulahri took on James DeVito. DeVito got on the board first with a takedown near the edge of the circle. Ait Boulahri countered with a takedown of his own but a DeVito escape helped him maintain the lead, 3-2. In the second, Ait Boulahri found his shot and got a take down to go ahead, 5-3, after a back point. Ait Boulahri had an impressive takedown late in the second and kept his feet in bounds as he worked DeVito to his back and earned the pin.

Jake Nase took on Mitchell at 191 pounds and was in full control as he rallied for a 12-4 major decision to cut the team's deficit to 26-13.

At 197 pounds, Austin Williams had an entertaining bout against Moustafa Almeky. Williams fought off a couple shots and earned a takedown and escape in the first period to take a 3-2 lead into the second. Almeky escaped from the bottom position to start the second and tie it at 3-3. Almeky scored again with a takedown to go ahead by two.  Williams fought for more points but came away empty-handed and Almeky took an 8-3 decision.

In the final regulation match, the Aggie heavyweight Eckley got on the board first with a takedown of Horton, but an escape made it 2-1. Eckley extended his lead to 5-1 with a takedown and second period escape. Late in the second, Horton got a takedown but Eckley quickly escaped and it went to the third 6-3. Just seconds into the final period, Eckley got Horton to his back to earn his second fall of the season.

The Colonels took the match by a final score of, 29-19.
 
Wilkes 29, Delaware Valley 19
125 – Matt Martin (Wilkes) by forfeit; 6-0 Colonels
133 – Nick Bauer (Wilkes) by forfeit; 12-0 Colonels
141 - Russell Benson (DelVal) by dec. Michael Richardson, 6-1; 12-3 Colonels
149 – Dylan O'Connor (Wilkes) by dec. Mike Rubino, 12-9; 15-3 Colonels
157 – Liam Flaherty (Wilkes) by tech. fall Zach Zuckerman, 16-1 (3:20); 20-3 Colonels
165 – James Geiger (Wilkes) by fall Chris Richardson, 3:17; 26-3 Colonels
174 - Youssef Ait Boulahri (DelVal) by fall John DeVito, 5:54; 26-9 Colonels
184 – Jake Nase (DelVal) by maj. dec. Brady Mitchell, 12-4; 26-13 Colonels
197 – Moustafa Almeky (Wilkes) by dec. Austin Williams, 8-3; 29-13 Colonels
285 - Dan Eckley (DelVal) by fall Roger Horton, 5:15; 29-19 Colonels
 
Exhibitions:
141 – B. Horton (W) dec. C. Owen (D) 5-4
197/285 – I. Johnson (D) dec. S. McCurdy (W) 7-6
149 – F. Gabriel (W) fall C. Owen (D) 4:11
141 – R. Benson (D) dec. M. Shaffer (W) 9-3
141 – A. Kokilanande (W) dec. Z. Zuckerman (D) 7-3
157 – C. Dix (W) fall M. Rubino (D) 0:22
165/174 – C. Richardson (D) fall T. Duboff (W) 2:52
174 – Y. Ait Boulahri (D) fall S. Gardner (W) 2:30
184 – A. Perez (W) dec. J. Nase (D) 10-2
197 – I. Johnson (D) medical forfeit R. Bruce (W)
285 – N. Rauch (W) dec D. Eckley (D) 6-4
197/285 – A. Williams (D) fall K. Falcon (W) 4:20