ITHACA (NY) – Less than 24 hours after dropping a match on criteria to fifth-ranked SUNY-Cortland, Delaware Valley College turned the tables and won a 19-18 contest on criteria at 12th-ranked Ithaca College.

With their strong showing on their trip to upstate New York, the Aggies improved their dual meet record to 8-5 and assured themselves of a non-losing season for the 43rd time in the last 44 seasons. Ithaca fell to 8-4 on the year with three of its losses coming on tiebreak criteria.

Ties in dual meets are now broken based on the results in the weight classes. The first criteria – victories – was not a factor as both squads won five weight classes apiece. It moved to the second criteria – six-point victories (pins, forfeits, disqualifications, defaults) and Delaware Valley had a pin in the 125-pound bout while the Bombers had none. That gave the Aggies the win.

Delaware Valley was down 18-12 going into the final three weight classes when it picked up decisions in all three to even the score and send it to the scorebook. Connor Gabriel (7-11) began the spurt at 184 pounds as he built a 5-2, third-period advantage and held on for a 6-5 triumph over Liam Korbul. Returning All-American and seventh-ranked Aaron Karns hit the mat next for the Aggies at 197. He went up 7-2 in the third period against Zach Conner, but a takedown and near-fall points by Conner got the match tied. Karns then picked up a late reversal and had riding time for a 10-7 decision and his 20th win of the year (20-4).

That set the stage for the heavyweights and Delaware Valley's Zach Roseberry (17-5) taking on Shane Bartrum (20-7). Roseberry, who knocked off a ranked wrestler from Cortland to force the criteria on Friday night, earned a takedown in the first before escapes in the first and the start of the second by Bartrum tied things up. Roseberry opted to begin the third period in the down position and Bartum allowed the free escape to start neutral and give Roseberry the 3-2 lead. Neither wrestler scored the rest of the way and the dual was decided on the tiebreak criteria.

Zac Haynes (13-7) opened the match with what proved to be the deciding result as he pinned Anthony Cabrera with 44 seconds left in the first (2:16) for a 6-0 lead. Ithaca won the next three weights, including two major decisions for an 11-6 advantage. Top-ranked Alex Gomex began with a 17-5 major over Connor Kirkegard (10-7) at 133 and Nick Wahba followed with a 14-2 major decision over David Davidson (20-9) at 141. Eamon Gaffney then added a 6-1 triumph over Sekou Harris (8-8) at 149 pounds.

Returning All-American Emmanuel ended the Bombers' run as the senior picked up a 5-2 decision over Kevin Collins at 157 pounds. The win was the 11th in 16 matches for Ajagbe and it pulled the Aggies to within two at 11-9.

Ithaca upped the lead to 18-9 as second-ranked Kristopher Schimek registered a 9-0 major over Alec Horan (16-7) at 165 and Carolos Toribio edged Ben Schweiger (8-12), 6-4, at 174 pounds. However, that set the stage for Gabriel, Karns and Roseberry and the come-from-behind win for Delaware Valley.

DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 19, (NO. 12) ITHACA COLLEGE 18
125: Zac Haynes (DelVal) by fall over Anthony Cabrera, 2:16 (6-0 DelVal)
133: Alex Gomez (Ithaca) by major decision over Connor Kirkegard, 17-5 (6-4 DelVal)
141: Nick Wahba (Ithaca) by major decision over David Davidson, 14-2 (8-6 Ithaca)
149: Eamonn Gaffney (Ithaca) by decision over Sekou Harris, 6-1 (11-6 Ithaca)
157: Emmanuel Ajagbe (DelVal) by decision over Kevin Collins, 5-2 (11-9 Ithaca)
165: Kristopher Schimek (Ithaca) by major decision over Alec Horan, 9-0 (15-9 Ithaca)
174: Carlos Toribio (Ithaca) by decision over Ben Schweiger, 6-4 (18-9 Ithaca)
184: Connor Gabriel (DelVal) by decision over Liam Korbul, 6-5 (18-12 Ithaca)
197: Aaron Karns (DelVal) by decision over Zach Conner, 10-7 (18-15 Ithaca)
285: Zach Roseberry (DelVal) by decision over Shane Bartrum, 3-2 (18-18)
DelVal awarded a team criteria point to win 19-18
1st criteria – number of victories – even (five apiece)
2nd criteria – number of six-point victories – DelVal 1, Ithaca 0 (pin at 125)