GRANTHAM, Pa. – For the second consecutive season the Ithaca College wrestling team competed in the Chocolate Duals that was hosted by Messiah University. As it was last year, the wrestling was ultra-competitive as on the day, the Bombers went 1-2. Ithaca who came in at No. 23 in the most recent NWCA dual rankings that were released on Friday and came away with an exciting, 47-4 victory over Ohio Wesleyan. After that, the Bombers went toe-to-toe with Messiah dropping dual score of 24-19 as they also fell to No. 10 ranked Johnson & Wales 34-7 but saw impressive wins from Jackson Gray and Konrad Parker.

It was a quality showing for the Bombers, who will now head into the Christmas Break before picking things back up on Sunday, January 7 against the Oswego State Lakers on the road for a dual at 12 p.m.

#23 Ithaca 47, Ohio Wesleyan 4
125 LBS: Cosmo Damiani (Ithaca) defeated Robert Ross (Ohio Wesleyan) TF 18-2
133 LBS: Isaias Torres (Ithaca) defeated Emmitt Holland (Ohio Wesleyan) Fall 0:32
141 LBS: Brandon Ribeiro (Ithaca) defeated Gabe Bulugaris (Ohio Wesleyan) Dec 4-0
149 LBS: Matthew Beyer (Ithaca) received a forfeit (20-0)
157 LBS: Wenchard Pierre-Louis (Ithaca) defeated Alex Boukheir (Ohio Wesleyan) Fall 0:53
165 LBS: Tyler Bodovetz (Ohio Wesleyan) defeated Pedro Cruz (Ithaca) Maj 18-10 (31-4)
174 LBS: Jackson Gray (Ithaca) defeated Christian Tesnow (Ohio Wesleyan) Fall 1:35
184 LBS: Jake Jones (Ithaca) defeated Desmon Perry (Ohio Wesleyan) Fall 0:52
197 LBS: Trey Darmody-Latham (Ithaca) defeated Geoffry Kaminsky (Ohio Wesleyan) Fall 1:27
285 LBS: Jeremy Mazzella (Ithaca) defeated Joe Shoup (Ohio Wesleyan) Dec 5-3 (47-4)

The Bombers came out firing on all cylinders in their first official dual meet of the 2023-24 season against Ohio Wesleyan defeating the Battling Bishops by a score of 47-4. Overall, Ithaca saw five pins, including three within a minute of competition, which included Isaias Torres (0:32), Wenchard Pierre-Louis (0:53) and Jake Jones (0:52).

Cosmo Damiani scored one of his most impressive victories of the season besting Robert Ross via a tech fall at 18-2. The Bombers capped off the dual win with Jeremy Mazzella securing a decisive 5-3 victory in the heavyweight division.

#10 Johnson & Wales 34, #23 Ithaca 7
125 LBS: Harrison Gordon (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Kendricks Pellicci (Ithaca) TF 20-3
133 LBS: Joziah Fry (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Isaias Torres (Ithaca) Maj 13-2
141 LBS: Noah Krakower (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Matt Haycook (Ithaca) Dec 4-0
149 LBS: Jordan Suarez (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Matthew Beyer (Ithaca) Fall 4:47
157 LBS: Jack Richardson (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Wenchard Pierre-Louis (Ithaca) SV-1 10-7
165 LBS: Konrad Parker (Ithaca) defeated Patrick Wisniewski (Johnson & Wales (RI) Dec 12-7
174 LBS: Jackson Gray (Ithaca) defeated Christian Murphy (Johnson & Wales (RI) Maj 11-3 (34-7)
184 LBS: Ryan DeVivo (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Jake Jones (Ithaca) TF 17-2
197 LBS: Dylan Harr (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Ryan Galka (Ithaca) TF 17-1
285 LBS: Adolfo Betancur (Johnson & Wales (RI) defeated Jeremy Mazzella (Ithaca) Dec 4-0

Ithaca squared off against a much more formidable opponent in its dual against No. 10 Johnson & Wales as the Bombers were bested 34-7. The only wins for IC came at 165 lbs. and 174 lbs., respectively. It was a back-and-forth affair between Konrad Parker and Patrick Wisniewski as each traded their respective shots and earned points. Parker would come out on top with a hard earned 12-7 decision.

At 133, Isaias Torres had a big test against No. 1 ranked Joziah Fry with Fry picking up a major decision with Torres earning a pair of points from two escapes.

Jackson Gray was once again impressive as he picked up the Bombers an extra team point with his 11-3 major decision over Christian Murphy. J&W guaranteed themselves a first-place result within the Chocolate Duals with their 34-7 win over the Bombers.

Messiah 24, #23 Ithaca 19
125 LBS: Tyler Ratledge (Messiah) defeated Kendricks Pellicci (Ithaca) TF 18-3
133 LBS: Isaias Torres (Ithaca) defeated Caiden Heller (Messiah) Maj 14-0
141 LBS: Josiah Gehr (Messiah) defeated Matt Haycook (Ithaca) TF 15-0
149 LBS: Matthew Beyer (Ithaca) defeated Noah Rice (Messiah) Dec 4-0
157 LBS: Wenchard Pierre-Louis (Ithaca) defeated Garret Cornell (Messiah) Dec 3-1
165 LBS: Zach Needles (Messiah) defeated Konrad Parker (Ithaca) Fall 4:00
174 LBS: Jackson Gray (Ithaca) defeated Austin Brass (Messiah) Fall 1:26
184 LBS: Ryder Slayton (Messiah) defeated Jake Jones (Ithaca) Dec 5-2
197 LBS: Sawyer Dereszynski (Messiah) defeated Ryan Galka (Ithaca) TF 17-2
285 LBS: Jeremy Mazzella (Ithaca) defeated Hayden Benner (Messiah) Dec 8-3

This proved to be the most exciting dual of the afternoon as the teams traded points going through the respective weight classes. Messiah ended up gaining an edge with a pin and three tech falls.

Torres bounced back in a big way dismantling Caiden Heller with a 14-0 major victory. Matthew Beyer would earn the Bombers three points as both him and Wenchard Pierre-Louis went the distance against their respective opponents winning, 4-0 and 3-1, respectively.

Jackson Gray would make it a 3-0 day for himself earning his second pin of the afternoon. This time against Messiah's Austin Brass he picked up the fall in 1:26. Jeremy Mazzella picked up a 8-3 victory at 285 lbs. as he ended his day going 2-1.