GETTYSBURG, Pa. – A depleted Gettysburg College wrestling team dropped three dual competitions on Saturday inside Bream Gym, including Centennial Conference match ups against Stevens Institute of Technology and Washington & Lee University.
 
A rash of injuries kept some of the usual starters out of the lineup for Gettysburg (5-20, 1-7 CC), which was forced to forfeit eight bouts total on the day. Three of those forfeits came during a 41-6 loss to 16th-ranked Messiah College in the first match.
 
Junior Matt Spano (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) and freshman Eddie Carroll (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) tallied decisions for the Bullets against the Falcons. Spano came up with a 10-5 win over Alex Gosch at 141, while Carroll took down Greg Kabakjian 8-3 in the next bout at 149 pounds.
 
Three forfeits proved the difference in a 30-18 setback to Stevens. Spano remained perfect on the day with a 5-0 win over Mike Kalimtzis at 141. Trailing 4-0 to Connor Bass, freshman Tyler Cunningham (East Berlin, Conn./Xavier) posted all of his points in the final period en route to a 7-5 win at 157. Cunningham picked up a takedown and near-fall and after letting Bass get away, the Gettysburg freshman added another takedown to clinch the victory.
 
Junior Jared Schlett (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) and freshman Nick Diunizio (Fort Walton Beack, Fla./Choctawhatchee) added wins at 197 and heavyweight, respectively, to close the match with Stevens. Schlett jumped in front with a first-period takedown against Mark Garrity and added an escape and the riding time point in the final frame for a 6-3 win. Diunizio controlled most of the final two periods to earn the riding time point, but Brian Schmalz managed a late reversal to jump in front on the scoreboard. The Bullet first-year was able to rebound with an escape and takedown en route to the 4-2 win.
 
Washington & Lee edged Gettysburg 24-22 in the final competition. Spano ended the day with an 8-2 win over Tyler Kaelin at 141 pounds. The junior grappler crossed the 20-win threshold for the third consecutive season on the afternoon and he now stands at 22-11 on the year.
 
Gettysburg jumped ahead 18-9 in the team scoring as Carroll and Cunningham came up with victories. Carroll held on for a 6-5 win over Matt Howell at 157, while Cunningham put Zac Richey on his back at 1:54 in the 165 match.
 
The Generals went ahead 21-18 with a pin and forfeit at 174 and 184, respectively. Senior Joe Fiore (Hicksville, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and Ron Tassoni traded blows at 174 with the W&L grappler managing a late takedown which led to a pin with only three seconds left in the match.
 
Schlett put the Bullets back in front 22-21 with a major decision over Morgan Moskal at 197. Schlett scored three takedowns, two near-falls, and a reversal en route to a 15-2 win.
 
The outcome of the match was decided at heavyweight were Grant Cokeley held on for a 2-1 win over Diunizio. The two grapplers each posted escapes, but Cokeley held on long enough to secure the riding-time point.
 
Gettysburg closes the regular season at home against Lycoming College on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

No. 16 Messiah 41, Gettysburg 6
125: Daniel Rodriguez major dec. Holt Johnson, 9-0
133: Stephen Antonek (MC) won by forfeit.
141: Matt Spano (GC) dec. Alex Gosch, 10-5
149: Eddie Carroll (GC) dec. Greg Kabakjian, 8-3
157: Kalann Washington (MC) dec. Tyler Cunningham, 7-4
165: Kyle Dayhoff (MC) major dec. Joe Fiore, 13-2
174: Stephen Cannon (MC) won by forfeit.
184: Josh Thomson (MC) won by forfeit.
197: Jason Wright (MC) pinned Mike Sheehan, 3:38
285: Evan Canady (MC) pinned Nick Diunizio, 2:48
 
Exhibition
125: Stephen Antonek (MC) pinned Holt Johnson (GC), 0:31
141: Dan Traficanti (GC) pinned Stephen Antonek (MC), 1:21
 
Stevens 37, Washington & Lee 6
125: No Contest
133: Ryan Wilson (SIT) major dec. Adam Davis, 16-7
141: Cody Curtiss (SIT) dec. Tyler Kaelin, 6-2
149: Michael Polizzi (SIT) pinned Connor Duffey, 4:24
157: Connor Bass (SIT) dec. Matt Howell, 6-2
165: Joey Favia (SIT) pinned Zac Richey, 3:00
174: Ron Tassoni (WL) pinned Zachary Bass, 5:56
184: Will Sharkey (SIT) pinned Morgan Moskal, 2:58
197: Mark Garrity (SIT) pinned Connor Smithson, 3:33
285: Brian Schmalz (SIT) dec. Grant Cokeley, 3-2
 
Stevens 30, Gettysburg 18
125: Holt Johnson (GC) won by forfeit
133: Ryan Wilson (SIT) won by forfeit
141: Matt Spano (GC) dec. Mike Kalimtzis, 5-0
149: Michael Polizzi (SIT) pinned Eddie Carroll, 1:17
157: Tyler Cunningham (GC) dec. Connor Bass, 7-5
165: Joey Favia (SIT) pinned Joe Fiore, 2:34
174: Zachary Bass (SIT) won by forfeit
184: Will Sharkey (SIT) won by forfeit
197: Jared Schlett (GC) dec. Mark Garrity, 6-3
285: Nick Diunizio (GC) dec. Brian Schmalz, 4-2
 
Exhibition
149: Jonathan Faul (GC) pinned Ryan Owens (SIT), 4:56
157: Keith Cayes (SIT) major dec. Will Cauffman (SIT), 10-2
 
No. 16 Messiah 48, Washington & Lee 6
125: Stephen Antonek (MC) won by forfeit
133: Jared Furry (MC) pinned Adam Davis, 3:31
141: Alex Gosch (MC) major dec. Tyler Kaelin, 17-7
149: Connor Duffey (WL) pinned Greg Kabakjian, 4:57
157: Josh Bressler (MC) pinned Matt Howell (WL), 3:21
165: Kyle Dayhoff (MC) tech. fall Zac Richey, 17-2 (6:25)
174: Stephen Cannon (MC) pinned Ron Tassoni, 0:23
184: Josh Thomson (MC) pinned Morgan Moskal, 1:58
197: Travis Ebersole (MC) pinned Connor Smithson, 1:30
285: Luke Weaver (MC) dec. Grant Cokely, 4-2
 
Washington & Lee 24, Gettysburg 22
125: Holt Johnson (GC) won by forfeit
133: Adam Davis (WL) won by forfeit
141: Matt Spano (GC) dec. Tyler Kaelin, 8-2
149: Connor Duffy (WL) dec. Jonathan Faul, 7-0
157: Eddie Carroll (GC) dec. Matt Howell, 6-5
165: Tyler Cunningham (GC) pinned Zac Richey, 1:54
174: Ron Tassoni (WL) pinned Joe Fiore, 6:57
184: Connor Smithson (WL) won by forfeit
197: Jared Schlett (GC) major dec. Morgan Moskal, 15-2
285: Grant Cokeley (WL) dec. Nick Diunizio, 2-1
 
Exhibition
157: Will Cauffman (GC) dec. Josh Weldon (WL), 9-4