The No. 15 ranked Ithaca College wrestling program crossed state lines to take on the Wilkes University Colonels in a traditional dual matchup. Wilkes came in with a 6-13 dual record, but their record doesn't show how tough their lineup is. They have three ranked wrestlers highlighted by No. 14 Cameron Butka at 197, two honorable mentions (125 Austin Fashouer/285 Caleb Burkhart), and multiple other 20-plus win wrestlers.

The match started off hot for Wilkes as D3 Honorable Mention No. 21 Fashouer picked up a fall over Francisco Muriel. Jack Bauer has over 20 wins at 141 for the Colonels but managed to cut to 133 which proved a tall task for Isaias Torres. A close decision put Wilkes up 9-0 going into 141.

Luis Hernandez hit the flashiest and most efficient move of the match. Hernandez hit a double overhook throw that drew some excitement from the crowd and even more excitement from the Ithaca bench as he picked up a fall after switching to a headlock pinning combination. Why settle for a Greco-Roman 5 when you can add six to the team score?

No. 15 ranked Matthew Beyer gave Ithaca their first lead of the match after putting on a takedown clinic to earn a 15-4 major.

Travis Jones extended the Bombers lead after a dominant 6-0 decision where he showed some frustration that he didn't pull out bonus points. The ref gave an early first period stall, but Jones didn't get any more stall calls after amassing almost six minutes of riding time.

Ithaca was up 13-12 before dropping three close decisions from 165 to 184. The most anticipated bout of the match preview was approaching.

No. 5 Eze Chukwuezi was walking onto No. 14 Butka's home mat. Eze came into the match on a pinning spree, sticking his last three opponents in less time than it would take to wrestle a full regulation match. Butka was also coming in on a streak with a few ranked wins being tacked on his belt. Eze fought off an early takedown attempt and pressured his way to a Butka stall call. Then the offense began to fly. He was shooting at ridiculous rates until he hit a smooth cross knee pick in the second period only to transition to a bottom leg cradle. Surprisingly, he never got the fall as Butka survived until the buzzer. That propelled Eze to a 11-3 major decision and put the Bombers within one entering the final bout of the night.

Jeremy Mazzella had the match on his shoulders against a ranked heavyweight. Burkhart came into this match tied for second in pins in all of D3 wrestling with 16 falls to his name.

Mazzella doesn't even have 16 matches wrestled at heavyweight. It looked like David vs. Goliath, and not only because Mazzella was giving up a ton of weight. Mazzella kept the match close entering the third period. The score was tied 0-0, but Burkhart was a force on top throwing in legs and racking up two minutes of riding time.

Burkhart got an escape to take the lead 1-0 with a riding time point in his back pocket. Mazzella needed to score. With time ticking off the clock Burkhart was content playing defense to secure the upset win over the nationally ranked Ithaca Bombers. Mazzella ramped up the action with just over a minute and a half on the clock. Mazzella got in deep on a shot, transitioned over for a takedown. As the clock winded down, so did Burkhart's riding time. Before you knew it the time ran out, the buzzer was barely able to pierce the deafening sound of the Martz Center, and Mazella ended the match on top cutting Burkhart's riding time below the 1:00 mark. No riding time point awarded, and Jeremy Mazzella knocked off Wilke's ranked heavyweight to secure the comeback win for the Bombers.

Ithaca ended the match with a victory over Wilkes 20-18. They lengthen their win streak to six (including two ranked upsets) going into the final dual of the year. Ithaca hosts Cortland at 7 p.m. on Wednesday as part of the annual Rumble and Tumble.