SHIIPPENSBURG (PA) – Freshman Aaron Karns' pin with 27 seconds left in the second period capped Delaware Valley College's 24-20, come-from-behind victory at Division II Shippensburg University and assured the Aggies of their 41st-consecutive non-losing season.

Delaware Valley, ranked 21st in Division III, improved its record to 8-7-1 on the season (all seven losses and the one tie came against teams ranked in the Division III top 3) with one dual-meet remaining, a trip to Division II East Stroudsburg University on Saturday, February 12. The Aggies can now finish no worse than .500 and they kept alive the amazing streak of .500 or better seasons that began in 1970-71 (the 1969-70 squad went 5-7). Shippensburg fell to 4-12-1 with the loss.

Thursday's match marked the second time this week that Delaware Valley had to rally for a win. On Monday, the Aggies trailed 16-12 with two weight classes remaining before a pin and decision gave them a 21-16 victory over 14th-ranked The College of New Jersey. This one was more improbable as they trailed 14-0 after the first four bouts, and 20-12 with just three weight classes remaining.

Down 20-12, returning national qualifier Dan Daddino kept Delaware Valley alive in the match as the senior 174-pounder registered a 6-2 decision over Zachary Hogentogler. Jake Phillips, who picked up a key win at 184 pounds on Monday, made it two in a row thanks to some overtime dramatics. Tied at 1-1 heading into the extra session, Phillips earned a takedown against Tyler Zittle 33 seconds in for the 3-1 decision and a 20-18 match score.

That left it up to Karns, who just re-entered the 197-pounds Division III national rankings at the number eight spot. He got a takedown eight seconds into his match with Keith Dahlheimer, but Dalheimer answered with two points of his own. Karns then earned a reversal with 1:11 left in the first period and he took a 4-2 lead into the second. Choosing the down position to start the period, Karns got another reversal just 12 seconds in for a 6-2 lead. Over a minute later, he had Dahlheimer pinned to the mat for his 25th win of the year (25-2) and the team victory.

The Red Raiders opened the match with two decisions, a technical fall and another decision for the 14-0 lead. Delaware Valley's Zak Andrews and Jesse Harrington got their team back into it with pins at 149 and 157 pounds respectively to make it 14-12. Andrews downed Devan Jones in 5:54 while Harrington, ranked second in his weight class in Division III, needed just 57 seconds to drop John Linquist.

Shippensburg's Nathan Reese stopped the Aggie run and gave his team a 20-12 advantage as he pinned Mike Chiappetta in 1:50 of their 165-pound bout. The pin appeared to put the Red Raiders comfortable ahead, but Daddino and Phillips kept Delaware Valley alive and Karns finished the comeback with his pin.


DELAWARE VALLEY 24, SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY 20
285 – Dan Estricher (SHIP) by decision over Zeke Pyle, 7-3 (3-0 SHIP)
125 – Chris Kochinsky (SHIP) by decision over Charlie Frankel, 7-2 (6-0 SHIP)
133 – Wesley Heavener (SHIP) by technical fall over Jim DeLillo, 19-1; 6:08 (11-0 SHIP)
141 – Simon Rice (SHIP) by decision over Matt Ulrich, 9-5 (14-0 SHIP)
149 – Zak Andrews (DVC) by fall over Devan Jones, 5:54 (14-6 SHIP)
157 – Jesse Harrington (DVC) by fall over John Linquist, 0:57 (14-12 SHIP)
165 – Nathan Reese (SHIP) by fall over Mike Chiappetta, 1:50 (20-12 SHIP)
174 – Dan Daddino (DVC) by decision over Zachary Hogentogler, 6-2 (20-15 SHIP)
184 – Jake Phillips (DVC) by decision over Tyler Zittle, 3-1 OT (20-18 SHIP)
197 – Aaron Karns (DVC) by fall over Keith Dahlheimer, 4:33 (24-20 DVC)