ITHACA, N.Y. – The fourth-ranked wrestling team (5-0) defeated the #22 Lycoming Warriors (3-1) in a match-up of unbeaten nationally ranked Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference (ECWC) opponents Thursday at Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers earned bonus points in seven of their eight victories, including four major decisions and a fall in the first five bouts.
Senior Jon Gregory (Phillipsburg/Phillipsburg, N.J.), ranked fifth nationally, remained unbeaten on the season with a 12-3 major decision at 125 pounds. Gregory, who's now 10-0 this year and 65-29 in his career, recorded a last-second reversal to pick up the fourth point.
At 133 pounds, sophomore Seth Ecker (Pottstown/Pottstown, Pa.) recorded Ithaca's second straight major decision, winning by a 17-3 count. Ecker raised his season record to 7-2 and his career mark to 31-10.
Sophomore Jeremy Stierly (Owen J. Roberts/Pottstown, Pa.) raised his season record to 7-1 by winning an 11-3 major decision at 141 pounds; three of his wins this year have come by major decision. Stierly's career mark stands at 28-11.
Unbeaten junior Blaine Woszczak (Wall/Manasquan, N.J.), ranked second nationally at 149 pounds, collected his fourth major decision of the year by winning 11-1. Woszczak is 8-0 this year and 71-25 as a Bomber.
Senior Willie Horwath (Liberty/Bethlehem, Pa.), ranked eighth at 157 pounds, notched his first pin of the season, finishing off his opponent with 12 seconds left after building up a 10-1 lead. Horwath's win stretched his dual-match winning streak to 19 and was the 99th victory of his career, leaving him one short of becoming the 20th Ithaca wrestler to reach 100 wins. He's 8-1 this year.
After the Warriors won their first bout – a major decision by the nation's fourth-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, junior David Priest (Wyomissing/Douglassville, Pa.) clinched Ithaca's victory with a pin at 174 pounds. Priest, ranked fourth nationally, was up 3-2 when he recorded his team-best fourth fall with just three seconds left in the opening period.
Sophomore Chris Carabello (Governor Mifflin/Shillington, Pa.) improved to 3-1, winning 3-0 at 184 pounds. The bout was scoreless until Carabello scored a takedown 45 seconds into the final period.
Sophomore Matt Mahon (Brighton/Rochester) capped the win by pinning his heavyweight opponent just 41 seconds into the match. Mahon's pin – his third of the year – raised his season record to 7-1.
Ithaca improved its all-time mark against Lycoming to 10-6, winning for the sixth time in the last seven meetings. The Bombers compete at the Cornell Invitational Saturday. They'll be the only non-Division I team at the event, which features three teams ranked in the top 20.
#4 ITHACA 37, #22 Lycoming 7
125: #5 Jon Gregory (IC) major dec. Noel Faison, 12-3
133: Seth Ecker (IC) major dec. Andrew Lewis, 17-3
141: Jeremy Stierly (IC) major dec. Jonathan Quiggle
149: #2 Blaine Woszczak (IC) major dec. Isaiah Britton, 11-1
157: #8 Willie Horwath (IC) WBF Colton Eyer, 6:48
165: #4 Christopher Dahlheimer (LC) major dec. Derek Brenon, 11-0
174: #4 David Priest (IC) WBF Kyle Crouthamel, 2:57
184: Chris Carabello (IC) dec. Troy Hayre, 3-0
197: Russel Korbel (LC) beat Tom Heckman, 4-0
285: Matt Mahon (IC) WBF Zach Eckstrom, 0:41
Exhibition matches
141 – Eric Grieco (LC) dec. Nicholas DeFrieitas, 6-3
157 – Doug Kramer (IC) dec. Patrick Reynolds, 7-4
165 – Jeff Thomas (LC) dec. Jason Fraser 6-3
Official: Emerson Baugher
