UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's wrestling team returns to competition this weekend, traveling to Collegeville, Pennsylvania for the Will Abele Invitational, hosted by Ursinus College. The event will be held at the Floy Lewis Bakes Center and marks Utica's first competition since mid-December. Action is set to begin at 10:00 am.
Last Time Out: Utica last competed on December 12th, hosting Keystone College in a home dual meet that resulted in a dominant 55-0 victory. The Pioneers earned bonus points in eight of the ten bouts, highlighted by falls from
Rian Kirker (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) (0:53),
Sean Aldrich (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) (1:51), and
Nuallan King (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl Area High School) (1:15).
Matt Bonato (Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) and
Seth Richardson (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) each delivered technical falls, with Bonato closing his bout in 1:28 and Richardson following with a 16-1 result after 4:17, while
Hunter Morton (Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Hills) added a 13-8 decision at 165. The sweep capped Utica's fall semester on a high note and set the stage for the team's return to tournament action.
Where the Season Stands: Through the opening portion of the 2025-26 season, Utica has compiled a 50-70 overall team record, with the majority of scoring coming via bonus points. The Pioneers have recorded 22 falls, along with four technical falls and two major decisions, reinforcing a lineup built around finishing ability. Richardson and Bonato lead the team with seven wins apiece, with Richardson contributing four falls, a tech fall, and a major decision, while Bonato has produced five bonus-point wins across his seven victories. King leads the team in pins with four, while Kirker has added four falls of his own, and Aldrich has secured three pins at 149. Collectively, Utica has seen 11 different wrestlers record at least one fall this season.
Up Next: The Pioneers return to action next Saturday, January 24th, when they take on the SUNYAC Championships. The event will be hosted by SUNY Brockport in its Special Events Recreation Center. Competition is set to begin at 10:00 am.
