BALTIMORE – The Gettysburg College wrestling team split a pair of matches in its Centennial Conference debut at Johns Hopkins University on Saturday. The Bullets fell to the United States Merchant Marine Academy 30-9 before notching a 40-9 decision over Washington & Lee University.
 
Gettysburg (8-2, 1-1 CC) has already posted its best win total since racking up nine victories in 2004-05. Merchant Marine (7-8, 5-0 CC) remained unbeaten in conference competition with wins over both Gettysburg and host Johns Hopkins. The Mariners won eight of the first nine contests with the Bullets, including close decisions at 141 (4-1), 165 (4-1), and 197 (2-0).
 
Freshman Quinn Merrigan (Canton, Mass./Canton) accounted for Gettysburg's first win against Merchant Marine with a 13-8 win over Nathan Twito at 149 pounds. Merrigan added a forfeit victory against Washington & Lee (2-12, 0-4 CC) to improve his season record to 16-7.
 
Sophomore Joey Bragg (Bird in Hand, Pa./Conestoga Valley) earned a forfeit win at heavyweight against the Mariners.
 
Gettysburg picked up five forfeits and won two of the five matches contested against Washington & Lee. Freshman Jake Bracken (Chatsworth, Calif./Harvard-Westlake School) doused Alex Pollera with a 13-4 major decision at 141 pounds. Junior Tyler Cunningham (East Berlin, Conn./Xavier) tossed Sal Diaz on his back for a second-round pin (4:15) at 174. Bracken improved to 14-11 on the year, while Cunningham moved to 11-7.  
 
Each of the final three bouts against the Generals was decided by two points or less.
 
Gettysburg will take on Johns Hopkins inside Bream Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.
 
USMMA-30, Gettysburg-9
125 – Michael Mui (MM) def. Lenny Ogozalek (G), 10-4
133 – Tom Healy (MM) pin Barrett Connor (G), 3:58
141 – Trent Dolby (MM) def. Jake Bracken (G), 4-1
149 – Quinn Merrigan (G) def. Nathan Twito (MM), 13-8
157 – Nic Watson (MM) def. Brandon Carcuffe (G), 7-1
165 – Michael Maye (MM) def. Pat Thomas (G), 4-1
174 – James Malone (MM) def. Tyler Cunningham (G), 9-5
184 – Patrick Rooney (MM) pin Camden Stoops (G), 1:57
197 – Ricky Fisher (MM) def. Anthony Puca (G), 2-0
285 – Joey Bragg (G) win by forfeit

Gettysburg-40, Washington & Lee-9
125 – Lenny Ogozalek (G) win by forfeit
133 – Barrett Connor (G) win by forfeit
141 – Jake Bracken (G) def. Alex Pollera (W), 13-4
149 – Quinn Merrigan (G) win by forfeit
157 – Brandon Carcuffe (G) win by forfeit
165 – Pat Thomas (G) win by forfeit
174 – Tyler Cunningham (G) pin Sal Diaz (W), 4:15
184 – Ron Tassoni (W) def. Camden Stoops (G), 7-6
197-  Evan Kueffner (W) def. Anthony Puca (G), 3-1
285 – Matt Kaminer (W) def. Joey Bragg (G), 3-1