WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Castleton University wrestling team opened up strong at the Budd Whitehill National Duals hosted by Lycoming College on Friday, earning a spot in the semifinals by going 2-0 and winning Pool A.
 
The Spartans, now 5-0 in dual matches this season, defeated Wilkes University 22-14 before besting Ohio Northern University's JV squad 35-9. The Spartans also entered a JV team into the event, with the secondary lineup going 1-1—besting Messiah before losing to Washington & Lee. The Castleton JV team's wins and losses do not count towards Castleton's overall dual match record.
 
Castleton's varsity group will battle Ohio Northern's varsity squad in the semifinals Saturday, with the winner advancing to the title match and the loser wrestling for third place. The Castleton JV team wrestles Southern Virginia University Saturday in the 9th-12th-place bracket.
 
Castleton 22, Wilkes 14
The Spartans fell behind early, as Austin Fashouer defeated Owen Kretschmer at 125 pounds by a 3-2 decision. Michael Gonyea leveled the team score at 3-3 with a 4-0 shutout decision over Jack Bauer, before James Rodriguez won a 7-2 decision over Collin Rolak to give Castleton a 6-3 edge in team scoring. Another decision victory for the Spartans, this time Nicholas Roeger at 149 pounds, gave the Spartans a 9-3 lead. The lead evaporated at 157 pounds when Logan Dubuque was on the wrong side of a pin against Wilkes' Liam Flaherty as the fall knotted the score at 9-9.
 
Castleton once again moved out in front at 165 pounds when Michael Angers won an 8-2 decision over Charles Everdale, and pushed the lead to 15-9 after Cooper Fleming won a 7-2 decision of his own against John DeVito. Wilkes again battled back, as Colton Babcock's 184-pound victory over Sampson Wilkins via technical fall brought Wilkes within one point: 15-14. Chance LaPier gave Castleton yet another lead, 19-14, when he won a major decision, 12-3, over Cameron Butka. Shea Garand sealed the Spartans' victory with a 4-2 win in the first tiebreaker period over Sean McCurdy.
 
Castleton 35, Ohio Northern (JV) 9
The Spartans began with a 12-0 lead thanks to forfeits by Ohio Northern at both 125 and 133 pounds, but a win by Cael Vanderhorst over Rodriguez at 141 made it 12-3 Spartans through three weight classes. Roeger got Castleton back in the scoring column with a 6-4 win via decision, but Shaun Wagner toppled Dubuque via decision at 157 to make it 15-6 Castleton through five bouts.
 
The Spartans won each of the next four matchups, beginning with an Angers win via fall at 165 pounds. He pinned Noah Williamson in 6:11 to put Castleton ahead 21-6. Syrus Colon earned a win via decision in the first sudden-victory period, 10-8, downing Adam Dillon for a 24-6 lead to officially seal the win for the Spartans in the match. Wilkins bounced back with a win via fall in 4:57 over Zac Dabney, and LaPier piled on with an 18-3 tech fall win over Jimmy Paletta for a 35-6 lead. Jadon Brownlee spoiled the string of individual winners for Castleton, however, ending the match with a 4-2 decision win over Garand.
 
Castleton (JV) 29, Messiah 17
The Spartan JV squad got out to a quick start against Messiah, winning the first two matches behind a pin from Evan Kinney and a major decision by Frank Darwak at 125 and 133, respectively. Messiah stormed back over the next three matches, claiming wins by tech fall, decision and fall to take a 14-10 lead over Castleton. Ethan Palanca tied the match with a major decision victory at 165, and Castleton regained the lead at 174 pounds behind a win via fall from Jakai Townsend. Haven Tatarek pushed the lead to 23-14 with a 5-4 win via decision, but a win at 197 by Messiah made it just a six-point match heading to the final weight class—23-17. Oliver Donahue took care of business, pinning the opposition in 2:16 to seal the 29-17 victory.
 
Washington & Lee 40, Castleton (JV) 8
Washington & Lee opened with a six-point lead after a pin at 125, but Darwak brought Castleton back within one with a tech fall win at 133, 18-2. Washington & Lee rebounded with wins at four consecutive weight classes to take a 27-5 lead before Townsend won an 8-2 decision at 174. Washington & Lee claimed the final three bouts to finish off the 40-8 final.