WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – After the Ithaca College men's wrestling team went 3-0 in pool action to win its group, the No. 19 ranked Bombers had a nationally ranked matchup at the Budd Whitehill National Duals with No. 5 Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the semifinals. The Blugolds are the two-time tournament champion and proved to be a tough matchup with strong wrestlers throughout their lineup.
 
The Bombers came up short against the Blugolds (37-6) but ended the 36^th Annual Budd Whitehill Duals on a high note as they defeated the Springfield College Pride, 29-21. The Bombers now stand at 9-1 in duals as next up they will take part in the SUNYAC Championships on Saturday, January 18 on the campus of SUNY Cortland.
 
#5 WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE 37, #19 ITHACA COLLEGE 6
125 LBS: Izzy Balsiger (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Tomah Gummow (Ithaca) TF 19-4
133 LBS: Isaias Torres (Ithaca) over Calvin Singewald (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Dec 10-4
141 LBS: Royce Butt (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Will Bentrim (Ithaca) Dec 4-2
149 LBS: Wenchard Pierre-Louis (Ithaca) over Zach Sato (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) Dec 13-7
157 LBS: Landon Church (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Brian Bienus (Ithaca) Maj 10-0
165 LBS: Preston Carlisle (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Max Casiano (Ithaca) Fall 4:24
174 LBS: Jared Stricker (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Jackson Gray (Ithaca) Dec 9-6
184 LBS: Zak McPhee (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Xavier Pommells (Ithaca) Maj 11-3
197 LBS: Ian Pepple (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Ryan Galka (Ithaca) Fall 4:46
285 LBS: Sloan Welch (Wisconsin-Eau Claire) over Charlie Turner (Ithaca) Fall 0:39
 
It was an even matchup to begin with the team's trading bouts and IC picking up wins at 133 lbs. and 149 lbs. Isaias Torres earned the 10-4 win over Wisconsin-Eau's Calvin Singewald and Wenchard Pierre-Louis scored the Bombers three more team points as he was able to defeat an All-American from the 2023-24 season in Zach Sato with Pierre-Louis earning the 13-7 decision. This could quite possibly be a preview of a potential NCAA Division III Championship matchup.
 
The Blugolds opened up a double-digit team lead at 18-6 after Preston Carlisle earned the fall over Max Casiano in 4:24 at 165 lbs. It was another exciting matchup at 174 lbs. that featured the returning national champion in Jared Stricker and IC's Jackson Gray. They traded shots and Stricker came up with the narrow 9-6 decision. Wisconsin-Eau Claire took the final three weight classes enroute to the 37-6 win.
 
#19 ITHACA COLLEGE 29, SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE 21
125 LBS: Jack Callahan (Springfield) over Tomah Gummow (Ithaca) Fall 2:10
133 LBS: Isaias Torres (Ithaca) over Jaden Colwell (Springfield) Fall 2:15
141 LBS: Will Bentrim (Ithaca) over Kevin Sevigny (Springfield) Maj 16-3
149 LBS: Wenchard Pierre-Louis (Ithaca) over Patrick Hickey (Springfield) TF 18-2
157 LBS: Brian Bienus (Ithaca) over Luke Temple (Springfield) Dec 6-4
165 LBS: Jake Deguire (Springfield) over Akio Sanders (Ithaca) Fall 0:57
174 LBS: Jackson Gray (Ithaca) over Nick Rogers (Springfield) TF 17-2
184 LBS: Myles Leonard (Springfield) over Xavier Pommells (Ithaca) Dec 12-8
197 LBS: Eamon Callaghan (Ithaca) over Nick Blitz (Springfield) Fall 3:40
285 LBS: Benjamin Katz (Springfield) over Charlie Turner (Ithaca) Fall 2:45
 
Isaias Torres remained perfect on the weekend as dominated Springfield's Jaden Colwell and scored the pin in 2:15. Next up, the Bombers earned nine total team points in back-to-back bouts as Will Bentrim scored at will as he defeated Kevin Sevigny in a 16-3 major decision. Wenchard Pierre-Louis improved to 14-1 on the season as he made it tough on his opponent enroute to a 18-2 tech fall over Patrick Hickey.
 
The Bombers went up 18-6 after Brian Bienus picked up a 6-4 win over the Pride's Luke Temple and Jackson Gray capped off his weekend in impressive fashion winning easily in a 17-2 tech fall over Nick Rogers. Eamon Callaghan was able to clinch Ithaca third place as he ended up pinning Nick Blitz at 197 lbs. within the second period at 3:40.