WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Ursinus College wrestling team lost its final dual meet of the season, as the 28th-ranked Bears (12-1) dropped a 24-18 decision to 19th-ranked Wilkes (16-3) on Saturday afternoon at McDaniel College.
The Bears fell behind 10-0 after three bouts as freshman Christopher Donaldson (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) dropped a 11-2 major decision to Michael Fleck at 125, followed by senior Alex Blank (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) falling to Myzar Mendoza 4-0 at 133.
At 141, sophomore Elisha Gaylor (West Reading, Pa./Wyomissing) lost 3-1 to Ryan Wilson.
Ursinus won the next two bouts as senior Connor McCormick (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) defeated John Lynch via a pin in 1:50 at 149, followed by freshman Richard Jasinski (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) defeating Matt Ellery at 157, 7-0.
Wilkes took the next two matches, as junior William Rieck (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) lost to Nathan White via tech fall at 165, 16-0 at 5:16, then freshman Mathew Kreuger (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) lost to Dustin Stough at 174 via a pin in 1:37.
In an exciting bout at 184, freshman Daniel Manganaro (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) defeated Buddy Gouger 4-3. Manganaro earned an escape with 15 seconds left to take the win.
At 197, senior Connor McNamara (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) won his bout via pin at 2:44 over Dave Oberrender to make the score 21-18.
At heavyweight, junior William Cornely (Cinnaminson, N.J./Camden Catholic) came up on a short end of a 10-8 decision to William Fletcher. Fletcher earned a takedown with just under a minute to go, then got an escape with 16 seconds left. Cornely took a shot with six seconds to go but did not get it.
Ursinus will get set for the Centennial Conference Championships in two weeks at Gettysburg.
Wilkes (16-3) 24, Ursinus (12-1) 18
125: Michael Fleck (W) maj. dec. Christopher Donaldson 11-2; (W 4-0)
133: Myzar Mendoza (W) dec. Alex Blank 4-0; (W 7-0)
141: Ryan Wilson (W) dec. Elisha Gaylor 3-1; (W 10-0)
149: Connor McCormick (U) pinned John Lynch 1:50; (W 10-6)
157: Richard Jasinski (U) dec, Matt Ellery 7-0; (W 10-9)
165: Nathan White (W) tech. fell William Rieck 16-0 (5:16); (W 15-9)
174: Dustin Stough (W) pinned Matthew Kreuger 1:37; (W 21-9)
184: Daniel Manganaro (U) dec. Buddy Gouger 4-3; (W 21-12)
197: Connor McNamara (U) pinned Dave Oberrender 2:44; (W 21-18)
HWT: William Fletcher (W) dec. William Cornely 10-8. (W 24-18)
