GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College wrestling team went 2-0 at the 13th annual Mel Berry Duals which took place at Thiel's Beeghly Gymnasium on Saturday.
Thiel beat Alfred State 37-13 and then went on to defeat Mercyhurst North East 28-17.
Thiel earned four victories by pin against Alfred State. At 141, Jason Baker (New Alexandria, Pa. /Derry Area) pinned Paul Knapp in 1:06. At 165, Peyton Hearn (Conneaut, Pa./Conneaut Area) recorded his second pin in under a minute over Loujerry Etienne.
Austin Bonacci (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) picked up a major decision victory over Cale Bartosch at 157.
Dylan Proper (Titusville, Pa./Maplewood) and Landon Westover (Canton, Ohio/Field) went back-to-back at 184 and 197 with their pins to seal the Tomcats' first win.
Against Mercyhurst North East, after suffering a loss at 125, Jake Alberts (Ellwood City/Lincoln ) brought the lead back into Thiel's favor when he defeated Dillon Schnars by major decision at 133. Alberts also defeated Alfred State's Jesse Pitoni by decision at 133 earlier in the night.
Mercyhurst North East won the next two bouts by pin and major decision to hold a 13-4 lead heading into 157.
Bonacci tallied his second major decision on the night over Aaron Morris to trim the Saints' lead 13-8 going into 165.
Josh Christner (Greenville, Pa./Living Word Christian School) and Peyton Hearn (Conneaut, Pa./Conneaut Area) recorded consecutive wins by forfeit at 165 and 174 regaining the lead before the 184-bout.
Cameron Prebble (Sharpsville, Pa./Sharpsville) gutted out a sudden death victory by decision over Draven Douglas at 184 to extend Thiel's lead 23-13.
Senior Gage Gladysz (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) picked up another victory in his return to the heavyweight division when he defeated Reagan Soledad by tech fall at 6:56 to help seal Thiel's second win on the night.
The Tomcats will look to extend their winning streak when they travel to Waynesburg to face off against the Yellow Jackets in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) match. First bout is scheduled for 7 pm.
