ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College wrestling team, ranked eighth by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, opened its dual match season with a convincing 43-3 victory over visiting RIT at Ben Light Gymnasium on Wednesday. The Bombers won nine of the 10 bouts, including five by pin.

The Bombers took an early lead on the most exciting bout of the night at 125 pounds. Henry Beaman scored a 7-5 overtime decision over Mike Nguyen of RIT with a takedown in the closing seconds of the one-minute overtime period. That match was tied 2-2 headed to the third period, where Beaman scored an escape to take a lead. After Nguyen had a takedown, Beaman got the reversal to go ahead 5-4, but Nguyen had a riding time point and it sent the bout to overtime.

Three of Ithaca's five pins came from nationally-ranked wrestlers. Ricky Gomez scored a pin at 4:07 in the 133-pound match. Derek Brenon earned a first-period pin at 157 and Jules Doliscar also scored a pin in the first period in the 174-pound weight class.

At 184, Kyle McKeighan got a pin at the 3:31 mark over RIT's Collin Doane and in the heavyweight bout Cris Ramirez got the pin just eight seconds into the second period.

The Bombers also picked up team bonus points by virtue of a major decision at 197 pounds where Kyle McKeighan posted a 14-1 win over his opponent. Marvin Amazan got a 6-2 decision victory at 141 pounds and Evan Connors won a 4-3 decision at 165.

Ithaca returns to action Saturday afternoon, with a  4:30 dual at Oswego.

ITHACA COLLEGE 43, RIT 3
Ben Light Gymnasium; Ithaca, N.Y.

125 - Henry Beaman (IC) dec. Mike Nguyen (RIT) 7-5 ot
133 - Ricky Gomez (IC) pinned Greg Jones (RIT) 4:07
141 - Marvin Amazan (IC) dec. Lucas Howland (RIT) 6-2
149 - Jake Harvey (RIT) dec. Joe Rollins (IC) 9-3
157 - Derek Brenon (IC) pinned Nicholas Greenquist (RIT) 1:43
165 - Evan Connors (IC) dec. Ethan Testa (RIT) 4-3
174 - Jules Doliscar (IC) pinned Nick Fisk (RIT) 1:43
184 - Kyle McKeighan (IC) pinned Collin Doane (RIT) 3:31
197 - Ricky Dracup (IC) maj. dec. Jake Swearingen (RIT) 14-1
285 - Cris Ramirez (IC) pinned Somara Atkinson (RIT) 3:08