Ithaca Wrestling Dominates Wilkes, Eyes Regional Success | IC Sports Update

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men’s wrestling team closed its home schedule with a decisive February 13 victory, overpowering Wilkes University 29-9 in Ben Light Gymnasium. The win not only honored the program’s graduating seniors but also solidified the Bombers’ postseason trajectory as they prepare to host the NCAA Mideast Regionals later this month.

Ithaca secured wins in seven of the ten bouts, extending their winning streak to seven consecutive dual meets. This stretch of success includes earlier victories over SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oneonta, both of whom the Bombers will face again when they host the NCAA Mideast Regionals on February 27 and February 28.

Before the competition began, head coach Marty Nichols took a moment to recognize the team’s graduating class, describing their contribution to the program with a single word: “Consistency.” Nichols elaborated, “They always show up, they work hard, always have a good attitude and you know they always bring it. So it’s fun to coach those guys.”

The dual meet quickly established Ithaca’s dominance. Senior Cosmo Damiani started strong at 125 pounds with an 8-6 victory, setting the tone for the evening. Sophomore Jay McDonnell at 133 pounds then electrified the crowd with a dramatic come-from-behind pin, securing a six-point swing with just eight seconds remaining in the third period while trailing 12-8. The momentum generated by the lightweights proved pivotal.

“Whenever a lightweight gets going like that, it fires everyone up,” said senior Konrad Parker, wrestling at 174 pounds. “It takes pressure off everyone. That’s exactly what Jay’s match did.”

Wilkes managed to respond with three narrow decisions at 141, 149, and 157 pounds, briefly halting Ithaca’s momentum. However, the Bombers’ veteran core quickly regained control, shifting their focus to a more aggressive, high-scoring approach.

Nichols challenged his wrestlers to move beyond static hand-fighting and prioritize takedowns. “We were just trying to focus on our setups pretty much today, trying to get a lot of takedowns,” Nichols explained. “Instead of just laying on the guy, let’s get out there and get some takedowns and have some fun. We wanted to entertain the crowd.”

The shift in strategy proved effective, with Ithaca wrestlers recording ten more takedowns than their Wilkes counterparts. This aggressive approach marked a departure from the more defensive battles seen in earlier matches against Stevens Institute of Technology and The College of New Jersey on January 30 and January 31.

Parker exemplified this new offensive mindset at 174 pounds. He abandoned the static hand-fighting that had sometimes hampered the team’s performance, instead employing a rapid series of takedowns to keep his opponent off balance, ultimately securing a 19-3 technical fall in just 3:47. “Once I can get that first takedown, maybe string together a second, it seems to be a lot easier,” Parker said. “It’s kind of like a weight off my chest.”

The momentum continued with graduate student Xavier Pommells at 184 pounds. Pommells dominated his opponent, scoring consistently to earn a 16-3 major decision. Nichols was impressed by Pommells’ performance, even calling out moves in real-time as they unfolded. “Xavier is really starting to tune in,” Nichols said. “I was just calling out the move and he was hitting them. He’s really locked in.”

Senior Ryan Galka followed with a 17-8 major decision at 197 pounds, utilizing superior conditioning to wear down his Wilkes opponent. Galka’s win mathematically secured the dual meet victory for Ithaca, putting the Bombers ahead 25-9 before the heavyweight bout.

For Parker, the night was about establishing a standard for the departing seniors. “They’re in our region, so we just really wanted to kind of put a beating on them,” Parker said. “Just let them know before the regional tournament.”

First-year heavyweight Kamdyn Dorchester capped off the victory with a 12-3 major decision, bringing the final score to 29-9. The result sent a clear message to the rest of the Mideast region, as Ithaca remained undefeated against regional opponents during its seven-meet winning streak.

Ithaca will now travel to face St. John Fisher University on February 18 for its final regular season dual. Hosting the regional tournament February 27 and February 28 provides a significant home-mat advantage as the Bombers aim to qualify for the national stage.

“Being home, it’s going to be helpful,” Nichols said. “We should be able to sleep in our own beds, and hopefully we can put on a show there as well and win the thing.”