The No. 3 ranked wrestling team started off their National Championship quest with four-straight wins at its opening dual match of the season yesterday.

At the John Reese Duals held at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., the Blue and Gold defeated King’s 34–9, Mount St. Joseph College 36–9, Centenary College 29–6 and No. 24 ranked York College 22–13.

Against King’s the Bombers won seven of the 10 bouts, with three by pin fall. Senior tri-captain Jon Gregory, senior tri-captain Chad Winowich and sophomore heavyweight Matt Hahon all won by fall.

The South Hill squad won all but one bout against Mount St. Joseph. The first two bouts were won by forfeit for Gregory and 133-pound sophomore Seth Ecker.

Junior 149-pounder Blaine Woszczak won by major decision 14–4, 157-pound freshman Derek Brenon pinned his opponent, 165-pound senior John Dale won 3–1, 174-pound junior David Priest won by technical fall 20–4, 184-pound freshman Gili Bauer-Moshi won 4–2 at 184 pounds and 197-pound sophomore Tom Heckman won 8–6.

Against Centenary, Ithaca once again won all but one bout. Brenon won his bout in this match by pinfall, Heckman won his by major decision and everyone else by decision.

The toughest match of the day was against York. The strong lightweights for the Bombers helped the squad capture the first five bouts. Gregory, 141-pound junior Jeremy Stierly and 149-pound freshman Evan Connors won by decision. Senior 157-pounder Willie Horwath won by major decision, and Ecker won by pin fall.

York won the next four bouts, but luckily for the Bombers, they were all decisions except for one major decision. Mahon won the final bout of the match, winning by decision 12–5.

Gregory went 4–0 on the day, while Ecker and Mahon both went 3–0.

The Bombers next match is at 7 p.m. Thursday as they host No. 22 ranked Lycoming College in Ben Light Gymnasium.