Wilkes-Barre, Pa. – The Ithaca wrestling team (19-1) extended its school record by winning its 19th match of the season in Friday's 26-10 victory at Wilkes (21-6). The Bombers recorded major decisions in five of their seven wins in the match-up of Division III's two winningest teams. The victory was #150 for Ithaca coach Marty Nichols; he's now tied with John Murray, his college coach, atop Ithaca's all-time list.
Senior Dave Sbriscia (Warren Hills/Stewartsville, N.J.) clinched the win for Ithaca by upsetting the nation's seventh-ranked wrestler to put the Bombers up 22-10 after the Colonels had won two straight bouts to close to within nine points. Sbriscia is now 12-4 this year and 64-35 in his career.
Three nationally ranked Bombers recorded consecutive major decisions, starting with junior Chad Winowich (Abington Heights/Clarks Summit, Pa.), ranked third at 133 pounds. Winowich blanked his opponent 8-0 to stay undefeated in dual matches (10-0) on the season. He's now 25-5 with four major decisions this winter and 92-37 overall as a Bomber.
Wrestling at 141 pounds, sophomore Jeremy Stierly (Owen J. Roberts/Pottstown, Pa.) is now 27-4 with 10 major decisions this season and 46-14 overall as a Bomber. Stierly is ranked seventh nationally.
Junior Blaine Woszczak (Wall/Manasquan, N.J.), the nation's top-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, raised his record to 31-5 with his team-best 12th major decision of the season. Woszczak is 95-30 in his career and ranks 20th on Ithaca's all-time wins list.
Senior Willie Horwath (Liberty/Bethlehem, Pa.) followed Woszczak with a major decision (his sixth of the season). He's now 23-6 this season (11-1 in dual matches) and 114-40 as a Bomber. Horwath passed Ron Gross (113 wins from 1986 to 1990) for sixth on the program's all-time list.
Freshman Josue Mendez (Brentwood/Brentwood) and senior heavyweight Joe Goetz (New Hyde Park Memorial/New Hyde Park) rounded out Ithaca's winners. Mendez was an 11-6 victor at 174 pounds to improve to 12-10 this year. Goetz capped the match with a win by major decision. He's 10-5 this winter and 56-36 in his career.
The Bombers conclude their dual-match season Wednesday, hosting #14 Cortland (15-3) at 7 p.m.
#4 ITHACA 26, #15 Wilkes 10
125: Scott Mantua (WU) dec. #4 Jon Gregory, 8-6
133: #3 Chad Winowich (IC) major dec. Ryan Wilson, 8-0
141: #7 Jeremy Stierly (IC) major dec. Kris Krawchuk, 10-2
149: #1 Blaine Woszczak (IC) major dec. Anthony Dattolo, 13-4
157: Willie Horwath (IC) major dec. Matt Ellery, 13-3
165: Ben Marich (WU) dec. John Dale, 5-2
174: #9 Frank Heffernan (WU) major dec. Joe Beach, 12-0
184: Josue Mendez (IC) dec. Jose Villella, 11-6
197: Dave Sbriscia (IC) dec. #7 Zach Pizzaro, 5-2
285: Joe Goetz (IC) major dec. Justin Franiak, 10-2
