DOYLESTOWN (PA)--- The Delaware Valley men's wrestling team got off to an explosive start and never looked back, as the Aggies (3-2) won nine of 11 bouts, four coming via fall, en route to a 38-6 victory over King's (1-12) in their first home match of the season.
At 125 pounds, first-year Ryan Kelly got out to a fast 10-0 lead after the first period over Kyle Miller. After starting on bottom to start the second, Kelly escaped 37 seconds in and got a takedown shortly after to extend his advantage to 13-0. With 50 seconds remaining in the period, Kelly got Miller on his pack to secure his fifth pin of the season at 4:10.
Rashad Stratton kept the energized crowd involved at 133 pounds, as the junior got a takedown 30 seconds in and 16 seconds later, pinned Gustav Petruske IV at 46 seconds, Stratton's fourth pin this year, to give the Aggies a 12-0 lead.
Russell Benson led from start to finish at 141 pounds, as the junior held a 2-0 lead after the first three minutes. Noah Clawson earned an escape in the second and third period, but it was sandwiched by a takedown by Benson as he earned the 4-2 decision and gave DelVal a 15-0 lead.
At 149 pounds, Mike Rubino found himself in a hard fought battle with Robert Zelinksi. Rubino got a pair of takedowns in the first period and Zelinski earned an escape, as Rubino held a 4-1 cushion. Zelinski controlled the next two minutes, as he knotted up the bout 4-4 heading to the third period. Rubino started on bottom in the third and got an early escape to take a 5-4 lead, then got a takedown with 43 seconds left to go ahead 7-4. Zelinski escaped with 22 ticks remaining, followed by a takedown to tie the bout at seven after three periods, but Rubino held riding time, giving him the 8-7 decision.
Greg Croce got out to a 4-1 lead after the first period at 157 pounds, with his second takedown coming 2:57 in over Bret Murphy. Croce would go on to lead 6-3 after the second, then took control in the third. He held a 9-4 advantage before getting a takedown with 22 seconds remaining, then received a point for riding time to give him the 12-4 major decision to extend the Aggie lead to 22-0.
At 165 pounds, Adam Coleman and Jackson Marcantonio were scoreless after the first three minutes. Coleman got an escape to start the second, then a takedown 45 seconds in, before pinning Marcantonio at 3:59, continuing the dominance for DelVal, as the led 28-0. The pin was Coleman's third of the season.
At 174 pounds, Cooper Kidd and Kade Kravits were involved in a low-scoring affair, as Kravits led 2-0 after the first. Kidd scored the only point in the second with an escape, as he trailed 2-1 heading to the third. With Kravits starting on bottom in the third, he got an escape with 20 seconds left and held on for a 3-1 decision to get the Monarchs on the board, trimming the DelVal advantage to 28-3.
Chris Richardson found himself down early at 184 pounds to Billy Grace, as Grace got a takedown 10 seconds in. With 25 seconds left in the first period, Richardson picked up a reversal and added on two near fall points, giving him a 4-2 lead after the first. Richardson tacked on another takedown in the second to lead 6-2 heading to the third. The senior cruised in the final two minutes, taking home the 11-2 major decision as the Aggies led 32-3 heading into the final two bouts.
At 197 pounds, Isaiah Johnson took on Jason Sine from King's in an exciting bout. Sine led 4-2 heading into the second period and picked up an early takedown in the second stanza. Johnson answered with a quick escape followed by a takedown midway through the second to trim the deficit to 6-5 heading to the third. After starting on bottom in the third, Johnson got an escape five seconds in to square the score at 6-6. Sine ended up with the final points via takedown with 40 seconds left, as the Monarchs claimed their second bout with the 8-6 decision.
Austin Williams capped off the exciting night with a bang at heavyweight, as the junior scored a takedown 1:54 in. Just under 30 seconds later, Williams got Isaac Mensah on his back and picked up the fourth and final fall for the Aggies, Williams's ninth pin this year, at 2:33 to finish off the 38-6 victory.
The Aggies will be back in action Thursday, January 27th for a home dual against Muhlenberg.
RESULTS:
Ex. 133 – Nick Germano (K) by 18-3 tech. fall over Gio Luciano (7:00)
Ex. HWT – Yusuf Aladinov (D) by fall over David White (6:04)
125 – Ryan Kelly (D) by fall over Kyle Miller (4:18), 6-0 DVU
133 – Rashad Stratton (D) by fall over Gustav Petruske (:46), 12-0 DVU
141 – Russell Benson (D) by 4-2 dec. over Noah Clawson, 15-0 DVU
149 – Mike Rubino (D) by 8-7 dec. over Robert Zelinski, 18-0 DVU
157 – Greg Croce (D) by 12-4 maj. dec. over Bret Murphy, 22-0 DVU
165 – Adam Coleman (D) by fall over Jackson Marcantonio (3:59), 28-0 DVU
174 – Kade Kravits (K) by 3-1 dec. over Cooper Kidd, 28-3 DVU
184 – Chris Richardson (D) by 11-2 maj. dec. over Billy Grace, 32-3 DVU
197 – Jason Sine (K) by 8-6 dec. over Isaiah Johnson, 32-6 DVU
HWT – Austin Williams (D) by fall over Isaac Mensah (2:33) 38-6 DVU
