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Zachary
D'Apolito |
Nicholas
DePierro |
Keegan
Connelly |
T.J.
Conlon |
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Kevin
Merle |
Andrew
Gombas |
Daniel
D'Agostini |
John
Sheedy |
Results
The University of Scranton wrestling team had little trouble against King's on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Monarchs, 39-6, on Senior Day in the Long Center on the second day of the Cross-County Duals.
The Royals (10-4) won eight of the 10 bouts, including the final seven in a row. Juniors Andrew Gombas (Warren, N.J./Bound Brook), Kevin Merle (Stroudsburg, Pa./Belvidere) and Daniel D'Agostini (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), and sophomore T.J. Conlon (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) each had pins in the victory.
The win gave Scranton its second straight 10-win season and the 11th in school history. It also sent seniors Zachary D'Apolito (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley Senior) and Nicholas DePierro (Manalapan, N.J./Freehold) out with a victory after they were honored prior to the start of the match. D'Apolito was an 8-5 winner at 184 pounds while DePierro picked up a win by forfeit at 133.
Watch the postmatch interview with seniors Zachary D'Apolito and Nicholas DePierro
Scranton gained momentum when Conlon sent a jolt of electricity through the Long Center with his pin at 149 pounds. With the bout scoreless, Conlon started the second period on top where he remained midway through the period. When his opponent tried to stand, Conlon caught him with a body slam onto his back and pinned him to end the match in 3:08 and give the Royals a 12-6 lead.
Sophomore John Sheedy (Somerset, N.J./Bishop George Ahr) followed with a 10-6 win at 157 pounds before Merle posted a second-period pin at 165. Gombas followed that with a pin in just 53 seconds at 174 pounds, leading into D'Apolito's decision at 184.
D'Agostini followed with a first-period pin of his own at 194, clamping his opponent in 2:41. Sophomore Keegan Connelly (Schnecksville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) ended the match by outlasting nationally ranked Ralph Bernardo of King's at 285 for a 3-2 decision in the second sudden victory period.
In Saturday's first match, Wilkes defeated Keystone, 46-6. Scranton finished the two day event at 2-0, King's and Wilkes were both 1-1 while Keystone went 0-2.
The Royals will now prepare for next weekend's NCAA East Regionals at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. Action starts on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m.
--ROYALS--
