FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Ithaca College wrestling team went 2-1 in its first three matches at the NWCA Division III National Duals at Fort Wayne, Ind. The dual-meet tournament features 10 of the top-12 teams in the latest NWCA Division III rankings and 17 of the 24 participating teams are nationally ranked. Ithaca posted victories over Wheaton (Ill.) and Washington & Jefferson, and fell to eighth-ranked Coe in its other match during the Friday morning session. Action continues Friday night with a 5 p.m. match against #23 Olivet.
 
#12 ITHACA 28, WHEATON (ILL.) 9
 
Ithaca began its day with a 28-9 victory over Wheaton (Ill.) College in the opening round. Ithaca took an 18-0 lead with pins by Alex Gomez (133) and Nick Wahba (141) and decision victories by Jimmy Kaishian (125) and Eamonn Gaffney (149).
 
Nick Velez won a major decision at 165 by a 15-5 score. Velez is ranked ninth in the nation at 165 and his victory came against sixth-ranked Stephen Aiello of Wheaton.  The Bombers also got  decision wins from Jaison White at 174 and Joe Sprung at heavyweight.
 
#8 COE 21, #12 ITHACA 12
 
Ithaca faced eighth-ranked Coe in the round of 16 and built an early lead, but Coe won six of the final seven bouts in the dual in a 21-12 win. All four Ithaca victories came via decision, from Kaishian, Gomez, Wahba and Kevin Collins. Ithaca lost one match via decision in sudden victory and another on a takedown in the final 15 seconds of the bout.
 
#12 ITHACA 32, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON 6
 
The Bombers went to the consolation bracket and won eight of the 10 bouts in a 32-6 victory over Washington & Jefferson. Kaishian started the day with a major decision at 125 and Gomez won by decision at 133. Eamonn Gaffney saw his first action of the matches in Indiana at 149 and won by third-period pin to give Ithaca a 13-3 advantage.
 
In the 157-pound bout, Ithaca's Kevin Collins faced number-one ranked Nick Carr of Washington & Jefferson. Each wrestler scored an escape during the regulation portion of the match and it went to overtime, where Carr got an early takedown for a close victory.
 
Ithaca's Jaison White came back for an 8-7 victory at 174 to make the score 20-6, and the Bombers got a forfeit victory at 184 to lead 26-6 and clinch the dual victory. Greg DuVall at 197 and Joe Sprung at heavyweight each won by decision to clinch the final points.


#12 Ithaca defeated Wheaton (Ill.), 28-9
125 - James Kaishian (Ithaca) over Carlos Fuentez (Wheaton (IL)) Dec 11-5
133 - Alex Gomez (Ithaca) over Tom Foy (Wheaton (IL)) Fall 1:01
141 - Nick Wahba (Ithaca) over Gage Burt (Wheaton (IL)) Fall 1:12
149 - Eamonn Gaffney (Ithaca) over Stuart Morton (Wheaton (IL)) Dec 9-3
157 - Mark Savenok (Wheaton (IL)) over Kevin Collins (Ithaca) Dec 4-3
165 - Nick Velez (Ithaca) over Stephen Aiello (Wheaton (IL)) Maj 15-5
174 - Jaison White (Ithaca) over Frank Aiello (Wheaton (IL)) Dec 6-4
184 - Daniel Olsen (Wheaton (IL)) over Steven Sabella (Ithaca) Dec 10-3
197 - Michael Swider (Wheaton (IL)) over Gregory Duvall (Ithaca) Dec 3-1
285 - Joseph Sprung (Ithaca) over Tad Haugen (Wheaton (IL)) Dec 3-2

#8 Coe defeated #12 Ithaca, 21-12
125 - James Kaishian (Ithaca) over Jan Rosenburg (Coe) Dec 8-3
133 - Alex Gomez (Ithaca) over Mike Gussarson (Coe) Dec 7-6
141 - Nick Wahba (Ithaca) over Luke Kremer (Coe) Dec 5-1
149 - Josh Donkle (Coe) over Daniel Pak (Ithaca) Dec 10-8
157 - Kevin Collins (Ithaca) over Brody Beck (Coe) Dec 8-2
165 - Farai Sewera (Coe) over Nick Velez (Ithaca) Maj 8-0
174 - Ryan Harrington (Coe) over Jaison White (Ithaca) SV-1 6-4
184 - Ryan Sheldon (Coe) over Zachary Conner (Ithaca) Dec 6-2
197 - Donnie Horner (Coe) over Gregory Duvall (Ithaca) TF 21-5
285 - Kirk Owens (Coe) over Daniel Glinko (Ithaca) Dec 7-4

#12 Ithaca defeated Washington & Jefferson, 32-6
125 - James Kaishian (Ithaca) over Salvatore Anderson (Washington and Jefferson) Maj 17-5
133 - Alex Gomez (Ithaca) over Jacob Spearman (Washington and Jefferson) Dec 2-0
141 - Daniel Pommerer (Washington and Jefferson) over Adam Moser (Ithaca) Dec 3-2
149 - Eamonn Gaffney (Ithaca) over Logan Strope (Washington and Jefferson) Fall 6:21
157 - Nicholas Carr (Washington and Jefferson) over Kevin Collins (Ithaca) SV-1 3-1
165 - Nick Velez (Ithaca) over Brian Haney (Washington and Jefferson) Maj 17-3
174 - Jaison White (Ithaca) over Sonnieboy Blanco (Washington and Jefferson) Dec 8-7
184 - Steven Sabella (Ithaca) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
197 - Gregory Duvall (Ithaca) over William Oberschelp (Washington and Jefferson) Dec 9-2
285 - Joseph Sprung (Ithaca) over Yamil Cristobal (Washington and Jefferson) Dec 5-1