HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – The #20 University of Pennsylvania wrestling team had a stellar showing on the first day of the Midlands Championships, leading the field with 72 points. 
 
#8 Michael Colaiocco (133), #13 CJ Composto (141), #11 Nick Incontrera (174), and #29 Maximus Hale (184) all advanced to the semifinal round of their weight classes after strong performances in today's two sessions.
 
Colaiocco opened his day with a statement win, recording ten points in the first period and an additional six points from takedowns in the second to secure a win by major decision over West Virginia's Davin Rhoades, 19-3. The senior's second bout against Ohio State's Andre Gonzales was more of a challenge for the #2 seed, as he tallied a narrow 7-4 lead after the first. The Buckeye tacked on a takedown in the second, but Colaiocco prevailed, earning four points to take the contest by decision, 10-7, and advance to the second session of the day. The New Jersey native's last match against Franklin & Marshall's Mason Leiphart went down to the wire, with the Diplomat tallying four late points. Two takedowns from Colaiocco were enough to squeeze out a win by decision, 6-5, and grab his spot in the semifinals. 
 
#1 seed Composto proved why he earned that ranking in his first match of the tournament, winning by major decision, 16-0, over #24 Wisconsin's Felix Lettini, thanks to ten quick first-period points off a takedown and two nearfalls. The junior kept his momentum going in his second contest against William Baysinger (Illinois), as he opened the battle with a takedown in the first and second periods. Baysinger tried to come back in the third with four points, but Composto's lead was too much to overcome, securing a quarterfinal match by decision, 8-6. Composto landed a spot in the semifinals by holding Virginia Tech's Mac Church to only two points in a 5-2 win by decision. 
 
#11 Incontrera made it to the semifinal round for the second straight year after picking up three wins today. The junior started his journey with a triumph by decision over UNC Pembroke's Scott Joll, 8-7, with four first-period points leading him to the victory. Incontrera dominated his second bout, recording four takedowns and a nearfall in the first two periods before eventually winning by major decision over Jared Stricker (UW-Eau), 18-2. Incontrera's quarterfinal match was a battle he ultimately won by decision, 9-7, over Central Michigan's Alex Cramer. Incontrera grabbed six points from takedowns in the second to edge out his opponent and move on to the semifinal round.
 
Hale was on a mission today, starting with a 4-2 win over West Virginia's Ian Bush, with a takedown solidifying his win by decision. Northwestern's Troy Fisher tested the junior in his second contest, trying to overcome Hale's early 8-2 lead, but was ultimately unsuccessful as Hale grabbed the win by decision, 10-9. The West Chester, Pa., native rolled through his quarterfinal matchup against Purdue's Hayden Filipovich, scoring seven points from two takedowns and an escape to take the bout by decision, 8-1, and advance to the semifinal of the 184 bracket. 
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Alex Almeyda, Martin Cosgrove, Zach Delsanter, Kelly Dunnigan, Max Gallagher, Jude Swisher, and Andy Troczynski made their Midlands debut during the first session today.
 
*#21 Max Gallagher (125), #29 Jude Swisher (157), Lucas Revano (157), Cole Urbas (197), and John Stout (285) will continue their quest through the consolation during Saturday's session of Midlands.
 
Up Next
Penn wraps up the Midlands Championships and the 2023 portion of its schedule on Saturday, with the first mat scheduled for noon (EST).
 
Day 1 Results
125
#21 Max Gallagher
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Gallagher (Penn) DEC Vinny Kilkeary (Ohio State), 5-4
Champ. Round 3: Gallagher (Penn) TF Christian Guzman (North Central), 20-5
Champ. Round 4: Miller (Penn) DEC Tyler Klinsky (Rider), 4-1
QF: Elijah Griffin (California Baptist) TF Gallagher (Penn), 15-0
 
Ryan Miller
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2 - Nick Corday (Michigan State) F Miller (Penn), 2:57
Cons. Round 2: bye
Cons. Round 3: Miller (Penn) DEC Dedrick Navarro (Northwestern), 9-4
Cons. Round 4: Miller (Penn) DEC Tyler Klinsky (Rider), 4-1
Cons. Round 5: Jacob Moran (Indiana) DEC Miller (Penn), 8-7
 
133
#8 Michael Colaiocco
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Colaiocco (Penn) TF Davin Rhoads (West Virginia), 19-3
Champ. Round 3: Colaiocco (Penn) DEC Andre Gonzales (Ohio State), 12-7
QF: Colaiocco (Penn) DEC Mason Leiphart (Franklin & Marshall), 6-5
 
Alex Almeyda
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Almeyda (Penn) MD Tommy Maddox (Buffalo), 16-3
Champ. Round 3: Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) DEC Almeyda (Penn), 8-1
Cons. Round 4: Almeyda (Penn) DEC Sean Pierson (Princeton), 8-4
Cons. Round 5: Coleman Nogle (Harvard) DEC Almeyda (Penn), 4-1
 
141
#13 CJ Composto
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Composto (Penn) TF Felix Lettini (Wisconsin), 16-0
Champ. Round 3: Composto (Penn) DEC William Baysingar (Illinois), Dec 8-6
QF: Composto (Penn) DEC Mac Church (Virginia Tech), 5-2
 
Nico Nardone
Champ. Round 1: Nardone (Penn) DEC Danny Martinez (SIU Edwardsville), 7-2
Champ. Round 2: Nardone (Penn) MD Caleb Brooks (Buffalo), 13-5
Champ. Round 3: Jordan Titus (West Virginia) DEC Nardone (Penn), 9-7
Cons. Round 4: Hunter Mason (Virginia Tech) F Nardone (Penn), 3:37
 
149
Andy Troczynski
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2:  Corbyn Munson (Central Michigan) DEC Troczynski (Penn), 4-0
Cons. Round 2: Troczynski (Penn) MFF over Michael Cetta (Rutgers)
Cons. Round 3: Troczynski (Penn) MD Danny Sheen (Wisconsin), 9-1
Cons. Round 4: Troczynski (Penn) DEC Caine Tyus (SIU Edwardsville), 4-0
Cons. Round 5: Kyle Parco (Arizona State) DEC Troczynski (Penn), 4-2
 
#29 Kelly Dunnigan
Champ. Round 1: Dunnigan (Penn) MD Trenton Wachter (Central Michigan), 16-4
Champ. Round 2: Eligh Rivera (Princeton) MD Dunnigan (Penn), 10-2
Cons. Round 2: Dunnigan (Penn) DEC Dylan Gilcher (Michigan), 11-4
Cons. Round 3: Dunnigan (Penn) MD Polo (Penn), 13-3
Cons. Round 4: Jaivon Jones (Northern Illinois) DEC Dunnigan (Penn), 6-3
 
Jackson Polo
Champ. Round 1: Mykey Ramos (Arizona State) DEC Polo (Penn), 4-2
Cons. Round 1: bye
Cons. Round 2:  Polo (Penn) DEC Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State), 7-3
Cons. Round 3: Dunnigan (Penn) MD Polo (Penn),13-3
 
157
#29 Jude Swisher
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Swisher (Penn) TF Ty Raines (Buffalo), 18-1
Champ. Round 3: Swisher (Penn) SV #26 Joseph Roberts (Illinois), 4-1
QF: Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) MD Swisher (Penn), 10-2
 
Lucas Revano
Champ. Round 1: Revano (Penn) TF Nick Sanko (Virginia), 17-2
Champ. Round 2: Revano (Penn) DEC Royce Nilo (Wisconsin), 10-5
Champ. Round 3: Andy Clark (Rutgers) DEC Revano (Penn), 4-2
Cons. Round 4: Revano (Penn) F Logan Swaw (Illinois), 6:26
Cons. Round 5: Revano (Penn) DEC Anthony Artalona (PRTC), 4-1, SV
 
165
Kaya Sement
Champ. Round 1: Sement (Penn) F Ty Finn (Virginia Tech), 2:37
Champ. Round 2: Josh Kim (Harvard) DEC Sement (Penn), 9-3
Cons. Round 2: Sement (Penn) DEC Holden Garcia (Princeton), 5-3
Cons. Round 3: Tate Geiser (Cleveland State) DEC Sement (Penn), 6-2
 
174
# 11 Nick Incontrera
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Incontrera (Penn) DEC Scott Joll (UNC-Pembroke), 8-7
Champ. Round 3: Incontrera (Penn) TF Jared Stricker (UW-Eau Claire), 18-2
QF: Incontrera (Penn) DEC Alex Cramer (Central Michigan), 9-7
 
184
#29 Maximus Hale
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Hale (Penn) DEC (West Virginia), 4-2
Champ. Round 3: Hale (Penn) DEC Troy Fisher (Northwestern),10-9
QF: Hale (Penn) DEC Hayden Filipovich (Purdue), 8-1
 
197
Cole Urbas
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Urbas (Penn) MD Isiah Pettigrew (Illinois), 11-0
Champ. Round 3: Urbas (Penn) TF #25 Evan Bates (Northwestern), 19-3
QF: Luke Stout (Princeton) MD Urbas (Penn), 19-7
 
#27 Martin Cosgrove
Champ. Round 1: bye
Champ. Round 2: Cosgrove (Penn) DEC Jarad Priest (Cal Poly), 6-4
Champ. Round 3: John Crawford (Franklin & Marshall) MD Cosgrove (Penn),12-4
Cons. Round 4: Cosgrove (Penn) TF Damion Schunke (Arizona State), 18-2
Cons. Round 5: Isiah Pettigrew (Illinois) DEC Cosgrove (Penn), 11-9

285
John Stout
Champ. Round 1: Stout (Penn) DEC Ryan Catka (Virginia), 6-5
Champ. Round 2: Jacob Bullock (Indiana) DEC Stout (Penn), 13-6
Cons. Round 2: Stout (Penn) MD Bryson Buhk (SIU Edwardsville), 15-2
Cons. Round 3: Stout (Penn) DEC #11 Michael Wolfgram (West Virginia), 11-10
 
Zach Delsanter
Champ. Round 1: Luke Luffman (Illinois) TF Delsanter (Penn), 21-5
Cons. Round 1: Delsanter (Penn) DEC Magnus Bibla (Buffalo), 6-3
Cons. Round 2: Ira Jenkins (Michigan) F Delsanter (Penn), 0:34