KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The 24th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team rallied from a 15-10 deficit midway through Thursday night's PSAC dual opener against Seton Hill, winning the last five matches to capture a 34-15 victory at Keystone Arena.

A pair of forfeits by the Griffins at 174 and 184 pounds swung the match in Kutztown's (1-0, 1-0 PSAC) favor, and Liam Akers (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) (197) and Dustin Swanson (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) (285) made sure the Maroon and Gold remained in front.

Seton Hill (3-4, 0-1 PSAC) got a second-period pin from 125-pounder William Burgess and a third-period pin by Braxton Miller at 157 to take a five-point lead midway through the match. KU countered with a 12-2 major decision from Javien DeLeon (Allentown, Pa./Liberty) against Kyle Burkholder at 133 and a 4:34 pin by Aliazer Alicea (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) over Nikolas Ferra at 141.

Nationally ranked No. 11 Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) helped start the Golden Bears on the comeback trail. Gimbor collected a takedown, three-point nearfall, reversal and riding time point in a 9-3 win over Kane Kettering at 165 that drew KU within 15-13.

The SHU forfeits resulted in wins for Alex Ward (Manassas, Va./Battlefield) (174) and No. 3 Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (184), while putting the hosts in control, 25-15.

Akers blanked Finnerty 5-0 at 197, before Swanson pinned Ethan Cain at 2:06 in the heavyweight matchup to close the match.

Thursday night's match was the first of three at home for Kutztown this year, but the Bears won't return to Keystone Arena until Feb. 2, when they take on Pitt-Johnstown. Next up for KU is a trip to Shippensburg next Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.

Results:
125 William Burgess (SHU) pinned Trent Thompson (KUTZ), 4:12 0 6
133 Javien DeLeon (KUTZ) major dec. Kyle Burkholder (SHU), 12-2 4 6
141 Aliazer Alicea (KUTZ) pinned Nikolas Ferra (SHU), 4:34 10 6
149 Nolan Daerr (SHU) dec. Andreo Ferraina (KUTZ), 4-1 (SV-1) 10 9
157 Braxton Miller (SHU) pinned Sean Smith (KUTZ), 6:34 10 15
165 #11 Dalton Gimbor (KUTZ) dec. Kane Kettering (SHU), 9-3 13 15
174 Alex Ward (KUTZ) won by forfeit 19 15
184 #3 Matthew Weinberg (KUTZ) won by forfeit 25 15
197 Liam Akers (KUTZ) dec. Brendan Finnerty (SHU), 5-0 28 15
285 Dustin Swanson (KUTZ) pinned Ethan Cain (SHU), 2:06 34 15