ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College wrestling team won a dual match between nationally-ranked teams as the ninth-ranked Bombers won 18-12 over 11th-ranked Wilkes on Friday night at Glazer Arena. All 10 matches were decided by decision, with Ithaca claiming six of the 10 contested bouts. Ithaca improved to 10-2 on the season and Wilkes is 14-5.
 
The dual started at 197 pounds. Ithaca's Greg DuVall had a first-period takedown to hold a 2-0 lead. Each wrestler had an escape and DuVall led 3-1 in the third period, and added another takedown with 30 seconds left. Eric Bach escaped for that point, and the riding-time point gave DuVall a 6-2 decision.
 
Wilkes came back to tie the score with an 8-4 decision win at heavyweight by Dave Oberrender against Ithaca's Joe Sprung.
 
At 125, a matchup between nationally-ranked wrestlers, Geuseppe Rea of Wilkes led 2-1 after the first period with a first-period takedown of Ithaca's Jimmy Kaishian. Kaishian had an early escape in the second period to tie the score 2-2. Rea chose down in the third period and got an escape for the 3-2 lead, and added two takedowns in the third period on the way to an 8-5 decision victory. Rea is ranked ninth and Kaishian is ranked 10th by the NWCA.
 
Wilkes extended its lead to 9-3 in the team scoring with a 5-1 decision win at 133 pounds by Matthew Grossman over third-ranked Ithaca wrestler Alex Gomez.
 
At 141 pounds, Nick Wahba had a first-period takedown and built a 2-minute, 18-second riding time advantage into the second period before Pankil Chander of Wilkes managed an escape. Wahba got an escape early in the third period and added a takedown for a 5-1 lead. Chander got a reversal in the final seconds but Wahba had an escape and riding time for a 7-3 decision.
 
Ithaca won the 149-pound match to tie the dual 9-9. Josh Evans of Wilkes had two first-period takedowns. Ithaca's Dan Pak trailed 4-1 after the first period but started with the advantage. He earned three near-fall points to tie the bout 4-4 and rode out the period to hold a potential riding-time point. Pak started the third period down and escaped right away for a 5-4 lead. He got a takedown and near-fall points and the riding time for an 11-4 victory.
 
The Bombers took a 12-9 dual lead with a 5-0 decision victory for Kevin Collins at 157. Collins had a first-period takedown, and then rode out the second period with the advantage for a riding-time point. He added a third period takedown.
 
Nick Velez added to the Ithaca lead at 165. Velez trailed 4-1 after Stephen Turner of Wilkes had two early takedowns. Velez turned things with a first-period reversal and two near-fall points to lead 5-4 after the opening three minutes. In the second period, Velez added an escape and takedown to lead 8-4. The third period started neutral and Turner got a takedown and two near-fall points, but Velez had a reversal to lead 10-8. An escape for Turner made it 10-9 with 40 seconds left in the period, but Velez had a late takedown for a 12-9 decision. Ithaca led the team score 15-9.
 
Nik Hansen was awarded a first-period point after a stalling point was called against Kyle Diesel of Wilkes. Diesel had a second-period escape and takedown, but Hansen had a late escape to make it 3-2. Diesel started the third period with the advantage and rode out the period for a riding-time point and a 4-2 decision victory.
 
Ithaca clinched the dual-meet victory in the final bout, at 184 pounds, where eighth-ranked Carlos Toribio had a takedown in the first period, another in the second period, and had a third-period escape and riding-time point for a 6-0 win.
 
Prior to the match, Ithaca honored its three seniors – Anthony Cabrera, Kevin Collins and Alex Gomez. The group has helped the Bombers to a 42-15 record over the last four years, back-to-back ECWC Championships and two top-five finishes at the NCAA Tournament.
 
#9 ITHACA 18, #11 WILKES 12
Glazer Arena; Ithaca, N.Y.
Feb. 13, 2015

125: Geuseppe Rea (WIL) dec. Jimmy Kaishian (ITH) 8-5
133: Matthew Grossman (WIL) dec. Alex Gomez (ITH), 5-1
141: Nick Wahba (ITH) dec. Pankil Chander (WIL) 7-3
149: Dan Pak (ITH) dec. Josh Evans (WIL) 11-4
157: Kevin Collins (ITH) dec. Sean Lombardi (WIL) 5-0
165: Nick Velez (ITH) dec. Stephen Turner (WIL) 12-9
174: Kyle Diesel (WIL) dec. Nik Hansen (ITH) 4-2
184: Carlos Toribio (ITH) dec. Levi Veppert (WIL) 6-0
**197: Greg DuVall (ITH) dec. Eric Bach (WIL) 6-2
HWT: Dave Oberrender (WIL) dec. Joe Sprung (ITH) 8-4