WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Gettysburg College wrestling team improved to 4-0 this season with a trio of victories at the McDaniel College Duals on Saturday.
Gettysburg earned wins over West Virginia University Institute of Technology (20-18), University of Scranton (34-15), and Penn State University-Mont Alto (31-18).
Freshmen
Barrett Connor (Glenside, Pa./Germantown Academy),
Quinn Merrigan (Canton, Mass./Canton), and
Anthony Puca (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) and sophomore
Camden Stoops (East Prospect, Pa./Eastern York) each posted three victories on the day.
Connor put Gettysburg on the board against West Virginia Tech, recording a major decision (10-2) against Alfred Martinez at 133 pounds. Freshman
Jake Bracken (Chatsworth, Calif./Harward-Westlake School) followed up with a decision (7-5) at 141, while Merrigan pinned Steven Beam early in the second period (3:39) at 149.
West Virginia Tech posted three consecutive victories to take a 15-13 edge before Stoops and Puca sealed the win. Stoops shut out Aaron Wallace for a major decision (8-0) at 184 before Puca edged Tola Morakinvo 8-7 for the clinching decision.
The Bullets won four of five contested matches against Scranton with the remaining bouts all resulting in forfeits. Freshman
Noah Malamut (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep) scored a major decision (8-0) at 125 and Connor followed up with a 12-6 decision at 133. After the Royals picked up a win at 141 pounds, Merrigan recorded his second-straight pin, this time with nine seconds to spare in the first period of his match at 149.
Senior
Pat Thomas (Jamesport, N.Y./Riverhead) added a 4-1 decision of Zachary D'Apolito at 165 before Gettysburg clinched the decision with forfeits at the final three weight classes.
Gettysburg jumped out a 19-0 lead against Penn State-Mont Alto with a pair of forfeits, a major decision, and a decision. Bracken logged a major decision (8-0) at 141 and Merrigan picked up an 8-4 win at 149, ending a streak of five consecutive falls for the first-year. He improved to 8-2 this season.
Stoops and Puca closed out the Gettysburg victory. Stoops posted his third pin of the fall and improved to 10-6 this season with a second-period fall (4:08) against Diantra Landry. Puca made quick work of Rayem Ali at 197, registering his first collegiate pin in 48 seconds.
Gettysburg returns to action at the Messiah College Petrofes Invitational on Dec. 5-6.
Gettysburg 20, West Virginia Tech 18125: TJ Bean (W) dec.
Noah Malamut 7-6; (0-3)
133: Barrett Connor (G) maj. dec. Alfred Martinez 10-2; (4-3)
141: Jake Bracken (G) dec. Robert McNeil 7-5; (7-3)
149: Quinn Merrigan (G) pinned Steven Beam 3:39; (13-3)
157: Conrad Lacey (W) won by forfeit; (13-9)
165: Dirk Ponchak (W) dec.
Pat Thomas 6-2; (13-12)
174: Colton Rowe (W) dec.
Tyler Cunningham 10-4; (13-15)
184: Camden Stoops (G) maj. dec. Aaron Wallace 8-0; (17-15)
197: Anthony Puca (G) dec. Tola Morakinvo 8-7; (20-15)
HWT: Jon Boarman (W) dec.
Joey Bragg 7-0. (20-18)
Gettysburg 34, Scranton 15125: Noah Malamut (G) maj. dec. Brandon Davis 8-0; (4-0)
133: Barrett Connor (G) dec. James Samson 12-6; (7-0)
141: James Kelly (S) dec.
Jake Bracken 7-1; (7-3)
149: Quinn Merrigan (G) pinned Danny White 2:51; (13-3)
157: Ian Evans (S) won by forfeit; (13-9)
165: Pat Thomas (G) dec. Zachary D'Apolito 4-1; (16-9)
174: Shawn Flesche (S) won by forfeit; (16-15)
184: Camden Stoops (G) won by forfeit; (22-15)
197: Anthony Puca (G) won by forfeit; (28-15)
HWT: Joey Bragg (G) won by forfeit; (34-15)
Gettysburg 31, Penn State-Mont Alto 18125: Noah Malamut (G) won by forfeit; (6-0)
133: Barrett Connor (G) won by forfeit; (12-0)
141: Jake Bracken (G) maj. dec. Eric Janisko 8-0; (16-0)
149: Quinn Merrigan (G) dec. Joseph Holden 8-4; (19-0)
157: Tyler Rhoads (P) won by forfeit; (19-6)
165: Elijah Harris (P) pinned
Pat Thomas 0:56; (19-12)
174: no match;
184: Camden Stoops (G) pinned Diantra Landry 4:08; (25-12)
197: Anthony Puca (G) pinned Rayem Ali 0:48; (31-12)
HWT: Jaron Burke (P) pinned
Joey Bragg 2:10; (31-18)
