By Pat Zazzarino

On Saturday Nov. 16, 16 Golden Bears traveled to East Stroudsburg to take part in the annual East Stroudsburg Open. The event is among the oldest wresting tournaments in the nation and has been known to attract the top talent across the country.

Among the Golden Bears’ senior wrestlers, game-seeking freshmen got their chance to take the mat and win some matchups. These freshmen include; Ryan Appleby, Andrew Moslowitz, Stanley Proctor, John Balboni, Gregory Warner Brandon Wolf and Nicholas DeMarco.

According to an article written on the KU Bears website by Graduate Assistant Alex Slocum, junior Matt Martoccio, senior and top-ranked heavy-weight in the nation Ziad Haddad and Appleby all made runs for the tournament’s championship bracket. Martoccio had a pin himself as well as winning the decision before falling 6-0 by decision to Brown’s Justin Staudenmeyer who eventually earned the silver medal at 175 pounds.

In one of his first tournaments, Appleby competed with Haddad in the heavyweight division, but unfortunately both would drop out due to medical forfeits.

Before their forfeits, Appleby had a pin and won the decision in his first two matches, than losing 5-2 against Zachery Roseberry of Delaware Valley.

Haddad defeated his opponent Pete Andrich in 34 seconds as well as a 9-5 victory by decision against Joseph Goodhart before forfeiting his final two matches.

Nationally ranked senior Bo Candelaria, earned a major decision with a 7-1 win in the 165 pound consolation bracket. Wolfe won three-straight victories in the 174 consultation bracket including a 17-7 major decision.

DeMarco and sophomore Joe Esposito won two hard-fought victories of the day. Both of Esposito’s victories came from pins.

Overall, KU had a hard day with more losses than wins due to the untimely medical forfeits and the superior efforts of the other wrestlers.

KU will return home for their home opener against conference-rival in the University of Pitt-Johnstown this coming Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Keystone Arena.