ELIZABETHTOWN (PA) – The Delaware Valley College wrestling team, ranked third in the latest Division III poll, opened its dual meet season by going 1-0-1 in a pair of matches at Elizabethtown College. The Aggies rallied for a 19-19 tie against Division II Kutztown University and followed with a 29-16 triumph over the host Blue Jays.

The tie is just the fourth in 771 matches in the 46-year history of the Delaware Valley wrestling program and the first since a 19-19 standstill with Lebanon Valley College during the 1970-71 season. To earn the tie, the Aggies had to notch 13 points over the last three weight classes after falling behind 19-6.

Delaware Valley's Charlie Frankel opened the Kutztown match with an 11-7 decision over Clayton Youtz at 125 pounds and a 3-0 Aggie advantage. The Golden Bears (2-1-1) followed with wins five of the next six matches, including a pin and a major decision, for the 13-point advantage. The lone Delaware Valley victory in that mix was a 6-5 decision by nationally-ranked Eric McCann (seventh at 141) over Bret Martinez.

Needing bonus points to get back in the match, Mike Wilcox and Jeff Siciliano did just that as they combined to earn 10 points at 184 and 197 pounds respectively. Wilcox, a senior and the 2008 Division III runner-up in his weight class, notched a 22-8 major decision over Bobby Mort to make it 19-10. Sicilano followed with six points as the sophomore transfer pinned Victory Montanez in just 73 seconds.

That put the match into the hands of the Aggies' Charlie Pendlebury and Kutztown's Cory Rutt at heavyweight. Each picked up one point for an escape and regulation ended at 1-1. Pendlebury then notched a takedown early into the extra stanza to earn three points and the team tie.

In the Elizabethtown match, Delaware Valley registered three pins and one technical fall, en route to the 29-16 match.

The day's featured match-up took place at 125 pounds as fourth-ranked and returning Aggie All-American Chris Sheetz battled No. 10 Tyler Erdman. Erdman handed Sheetz just his second loss in 11 matches this year as the freshman earned a 7-3 decision.

Delaware Valley followed with wins in the next four weight classes for an 18-3 advantage. Nationally-ranked Brandon Clemmer (fifth at 133) began the spurt by pinning Marty Harnish in just 41 seconds. McCann and Don Smith followed with decisions at 141 and 149 pounds respectively and Zach Marlatt dropped Mike Lusier in 4:50 of their 157-pound match.

The Blue Jays (1-4) cut the Aggie advantage to 18-10 with a major decision at 165 and a decision at 174. However, Wilcox and Siciliano put the match away with bonus points once again. Wilcox earned a 19-3, technical-fall victory over Bill Meaney and Siciliano needed just 2:39 to pin Deron Sharp. Delaware Valley forfeited the heavyweight match for the 29-16 final.


Delaware Valley College 19, Kutztown University 19
125: Charlie Frankel (DVC) by decision over Clayton Youtz, 11-7 (3-0 DVC)
133: Joe Kemmerer (K) by fall over Chris Sheetz, 6:17 (6-3 K)
141: John Paukovits (K) by major decision over Brandon Clemmer, 11-0 (10-3 K)
149: Eric McCann (DVC) by decision over Bret Martinez, 6-5 (10-6 K)
157: Chris Chambers (K) by decision over Zach Marlatt, 5-3 (13-6 K)
165: Sonny Flood (K) by decision over Jake Phillips, 3-0 (16-6 K)
174: David Zeek (K) by decision over Cody Reeves, 5-1 (19-6 K)
184: Mike Wilcox (DVC) by major decision over Bobby Mort, 22-8 (19-10 K)
197: Jeff Siciliano (DVC) by fall over Victor Montanez, 1:13 (19-16 K)
285: Charlie Pendlebury (DVC) by decision over Cory Rutt, 3-1 SV1 (19-19)

Delaware Valley College 29, Elizabethtown College 16
125: Tyler Erdman (E) by decision over Chris Sheetz, 7-3 (3-0 E)
133: Brandon Clemmer (DVC) by fall over Marty Harnish, :41 (6-3 DVC)
141: Eric McCann (DVC) by decision over Eric Rhoads, 3-2 (9-3 DVC)
149: Don Smith (DVC) by decision over Ronnie Cuff, 9-5 (12-3 DVC)
157: Zach Marlatt (DVC) by fall over Mike Lussier, 4:50 (18-3 DVC)
165: Jereme Heisey (E) by major decision over Jake Phillips, 11-1 (18-7 DVC)
174: Paul Connor (E) by decision over Cody Reeves, 5-3 (18-10 DVC)
184: Mike Wilcox (DVC) by technical fall over Bill Meaney, 19-3 in 6:44 (23-10 DVC)
197: Jeff Siciliano (DVC) by fall over Deron Sharp, 2:39 (29-10 DVC)
285: Tim Katzaman (E) by forfeit (29-16 DVC)