WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The 14^th-ranked Ithaca College wrestling team was back on the mats following its midseason bye week when it traveled to Williams College for a pair of duals against Northeast Region foes in the host Ephs and as well as Wesleyan University. The Bombers kicked off its February slate in resounding fashion, making quick work of both opponents in lopsided duals on Saturday afternoon. The pair of victories improved IC's record to 10-4 in dual competition this season.
 
It was a dominant day for the Bombers who cruised to both triumphs on the day by 30-plus point margins. Ithaca wrestlers conceded just four wrestled bouts on the day, while IC grapplers picked up bonus points in 11 wrestled bouts as well as two bonus-point worthy wins in exhibition bouts.
 
#14 Ithaca 41 – Williams 6
125 LB: David Yeh (Williams) def. Logan Ninos (Ithaca) | DEC: 5-3
133 LB: Travis Jones (Ithaca) def. Dietrich Hartman (Williams) | FALL: 1:05
141 LB: Joseph Rossetti (Williams) def. Tito Colom (Ithaca) | DEC: 2-0
149 LB: Ben Brisman (Ithaca) def. Albert Xing (Williams) | TF: 22-2 (5:15)
157 LB: Tristen Schiafo (Ithaca) receives forfeit win
165 LB: Sam Schneider (Ithaca) def. Nick Anselmi (Williams) | DEC: 8-4
174 LB: #7/6(165) Austin Whitney (Ithaca) def. Dante Gutbrod (Williams) | FALL: 4:10
184 LB: #10/10 Eze Chukwuezi (Ithaca) def. William Smith (Williams) | TF: 23-5 (6:26)
197 LB: Steven Rice (Ithaca) def. Dylan Millson (Williams) | MD: 12-2
285 LB: Dymir Davis-Carruth (Ithaca) receives forfeit win
 
The Bombers began the days action against the tri-meet hosts in what was a delayed start due to yesterday's winter storm, which delayed travel to Massachusetts. Although Williams was able score narrow wins in two of the first three bouts on the day, IC established its dominance over the course of the remainder of the dual. IC wrestlers scored wins in the final seven bouts to easily pull away with all but one of those wins earning at least one bonus point to the team's impressive total.
 
First-year Travis Jones delivered the early result for the Bombers, continuing his excellent breakout campaign with yet-another first-period fall. It took him just 65-seconds to turn Williams' Dietrich Hartman to his back. With the team score tied at 6-6 through three bouts it would be senior Ben Brisman that set to the tone for the remainder of the dual. Brisman handled Williams Albert Xing easily, racking up points in bunches. He nearly locked in a fall of his own, sending Xing to the mat for a takedown and racking up four near-fall, before ultimately settling for a 22-2 technical fall at 5:15. The Bombers would lead for the remainder of the opening match.
 
A forfeit at 157-pounds stretched the IC lead to 17-6, setting the stage for redshirt-sophomore Sam Schneider who bumped up to 165-pounds for today's opening dual. He had a tough ask on his hands against one of Williams' stronger grapplers in Nick Anselmi; however, Schneider connected on a couple key shots to put together enough offense in a hard-fought 8-4 decision win.
 
Four bonus-point bouts concluded the opening dual for the Bombers. Nationally-ranked redshirt-senior Austin Whitney (7^th NWCA | 6^th d3wrestle.com at 165) got the party started bumping up at 174-pounds. He pinned Dante Gutbrod midway through the second period at 4:10. IC's other ranked grappler – sophomore Eze Chukwuezi (10^th NWCA | 10^th d3wrestle.com) – kicked off his impressive day with a 23-5 technical fall at 6:26 of the third period. Senior Steven Rice continued his strong stretch run of the season with a dominant 12-2 major decision over Dylan Millson, while junior Dymir Davis-Carruth bumped up to heavyweight to join 157-pounder Tristen Schiafo in receiving a forfeit victory during the day's first dual.
 
#14 Ithaca 38 – Wesleyan (Conn.) 3
125 LB: Logan Ninos (Ithaca) def. Amir Daouk (Wesleyan) | DEC: 4-3
133 LB: Travis Jones (Ithaca) def. Tristan Stetson (Wesleyan) | DEC: 12-8
141 LB: Tito Colom (Ithaca) def. Andrew Hennessy (Wesleyan) | MD: 18-4
149 LB: Ben Brisman (Ithaca) def. Dario Molina (Wesleyan) | DEC: 10-4
157 LB: Sam Schneider (Ithaca) def. Aaron Goldman (Wesleyan) | MD: 14-5
165 LB: Al Ciccitto (Ithaca) receives forfeit win
174 LB: Marco Gaita (Wesleyan) def. #7/6 (165) Austin Whitney (Ithaca) | DEC: 4-1
184 LB: #10/10 Eze Chukwuezi (Ithaca) def. Pablo Sanchez (Wesleyan) | FALL: 6:03
197 LB: Dymir Davis-Carruth (Ithaca) def. Duncan Kreutter (Wesleyan) | SV-1: 3-1
285 LB: Dalton Elias (Ithaca) def. Owen Verespy (Wesleyan) | FALL: 3:51
EX: Matthew Griffin (Ithaca) def. Greg Fischer (Wesleyan) | FALL: 2:45
EX: Matthew Beyer (Ithaca) def. Kasim Khan (Wesleyan) | TF: 22-2 (5:00)
 
Ithaca kept its momentum right on the rolling when it had the kick turnaround for the back-to-back on the day against Wesleyan. IC began the dual with two convincing exhibition wins, as sophomore Matthew Griffin earned a first-period fall at 2:45 in his 125-pound bout against Greg Fischer. First-year Matthew Beyer also had the offense humming in a runaway 22-2 tech fall over Kasim Khan in a 149-pound exhibition bout. The winning trend continued throughout the duals opening half, as IC rattled off six straight wins to race out to a big double-digit point lead.
 
Sophomore 125-pounder Logan Ninos enjoyed a nice bounce-back from his narrow defeat in the opening dual of the day against Williams. He put together just enough offense to dispatch Wesleyan's scrappy 125-pounder Amir Daouk in a 4-3 decision. Jones followed with another one of his high-scoring battles that has been common for the rookie this season. He hit double-digit points in a bout again in notching a 12-8 decision over Tristan Stetson. Senior Tito Colom also put together a nice response from a hard-luck 2-0 loss in today's opener, sending the offense into form in today's second bout with an 18-4 major decision of Andrew Hennessy to advance IC's lead to 10-0.
 
Three additional wins blew open Ithaca's lead to 23-0. Brisman continued his strong run of form since bumping up to 149-pounds, putting together a workmanlike 10-4 decision over Dario Molina. Schneider jumped back down to his usual 157-pound weight after competing at 165-pounds in the Williams dual. The redshirt-sophomore looked more comfortable for sure in rolling up a 14-5 major decision to move into double-digit victories on the year. Senior Al Ciccitto capped the run with a forfeit received at 165-pounds, which put IC within one point of officially clinching the match.
 
Wesleyan finally got on the board at 174-pounds when top Cardinal grappler and dark-horse contender Marco Gaita clipped Whitney in another wrestle-up bout by a 4-1 decision. However, IC earned the clinching win at 184-pounds when Chukwuezi capped his excellent afternoon with a third-period pin of Pablo Sanchez at 6:03. The triumph improved Chukwuezi's record to 22-2 on the year and was the sophomore's fourth fall of the season. Davis-Carruth also went out on a high-note, securing a clutch takedown in the first sudden-victory period to dispatch Duncan Kreutter at 197-pounds. Senior heavyweight Dalton Elias put the exclamation point on the day when he turned Wesleyan's Owen Verespy to his back at 3:51 to close out the 38-3 IC win.
 
Ithaca will be back in action on Friday, February 14, when the Bombers head to Wilkes University for a 7:00 p.m. clash.