Maryland
Wilkes Open
Terps Perform Well at Wilkes Open
12/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Midseason transfer Mark Colabucci won the title at 197 pounds and freshmen Alfred Bannister (141) and Garrett Wesneski finished third to highlight the Maryland wrestling team's showing at the Wilkes Open Sunday.
Colabucci, who previously competed for West Virginia, won four matches en route to the title. Bannister, wrestling at 149 pounds for the first time in his career, dropped his second round match before ripping off four straight wins to place third. Wesneski pulled off the same feat at 197 pounds.
Matched up with Brandon Litten of Drexel in the opening round, Colabucci notched a 5-4 decision victory. His second round match proved easier. A 13-0 major decision over Bloomsburg's Jacob Dabashinsky put the Maryland native into the finals.
Colabucci edged Brown's Sebastien Levin to take the title. Maryland's Daniel Sanchez (141) and Lou Mascola (157) won championships at Wilkes last season.
Wesneski nabbed an opening round win over Lehigh's Tom Murray before falling to Dabashinsky in the second round. The freshman reeled off three wins to advance to the third-place match where he defeated Brandon Litten 7-4.
Bannister opened up his tournament in dominant fashion with a fall over Danny Graham of Buffalo. After a 16-9 win in the second round, the freshman dropped to the consolation bracket with a tight loss to Ursinus' Derek Arnold. Two of Bannister's four consolation wins were against teammates Shane Arechiga and Matt Pente. He defeated Buffalo's Trevor Hoffmeier to take third place.
-Maryland-
