CEDAR FALLS (IA) – Delaware Valley College senior heavyweight Kyle Bilquist was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2010 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/Cliff Keen Division III National Duals as the 12th-ranked Aggies finished in fourth place for their fourth consecutive top four finish at the event.

Delaware Valley reached Sunday's semifinals thanks to 22-15 victory over No. 11 Saint John's University (MN) and top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse on Saturday. The Aggies fell into the consolation finals with a 25-12 loss to fifth-ranked and two-time defending National Duals and Division III champion Wartburg College (IA), and then dropped a 22-13 decision to third-ranked Coe College (IA) to place fourth. Nonetheless, the squad should make a significant jump in the rankings when the next Division III poll is announced later this week.

Bilquist, a two-time All-American who is ranked fourth nationally in his weight class, may move into the top spot in the rankings as he went a perfect 3-0 on the weekend including victories over the No. 1 and 3 wrestlers in his weight class, and picked up the top individual honor at the National Duals. Bilquist held the number one ranking for part of last season before placing fourth at the Division III Championships.

The match with Wartburg saw the Knights win seven of the 10 weight classes to reach the finals (where they dropped an 18-15 decision to second-ranked Augsburg College (MN)). Wartburg opened with three straight decisions for a 9-0 victory before the Aggies got on the board at 149 pounds as Emmanuel Ajagbe earned a 9-3 decision over TJ Moen. Jesse Harrington, Division III's top-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, followed with a 6-4 victory over Adam Weber to pull Delaware Valley to within three at 9-6.

However, Wartburg took the next four weight classes, including a pin and a major decision to build a commanding 25-6 lead. Bilquist put the final points on the board for the Aggies pinned third-ranked John Helgerson 36 seconds into overtime.

In the consolation finals, Coe avenged a pair of losses to Delaware Valley last season, including the same third-place match at the National Duals. It did so by winning the last five weight classes and overcoming a 13-4 deficit.

The Aggies built their advantage with four straight wins after dropping the 125-pound opener. Eric McCann took a 5-3 decision over Drew Hinschberger at 133 and Dale Fava followed with a 7-4 victory over Jordan Westfall at 141. Ajagbe continued his strong day with a 4-2 decision over Mark Carey at 149 pounds, and Harrington completed a perfect 4-0 run at the National Duals with an 11-3 major decision over ninth-ranked Dale Handley at 157.

Delaware Valley was without the services of its regular 165-pounder – Justin Barowski – due to injury for most of the tournament and it forfeited the weight class to Coe to make it 13-10. Three straight decisions, including nationally-ranked wrestlers Tyler Burkle (first at 184) and Rob Kramer (sixth at 197), gave Coe a 19-13 lead. With Bilquist sitting out, seventh-ranked Mitch Sander completed the win for Coe with a 5-1 decision over the Aggies' J.D. Zitone.

SEMIFINALS: WARTBURG COLLEGE 25, DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 12
125 – Mark Kist (W) by decision over Zac Haynes, 4-1 (3-0 W)
133 – Matt Kelly (W) by decision over Eric McCann, 6-0 (6-0 W)
141 – Chris Sandy (W) by decision over Zak Andrews, 8-6 (9-0 W)
149 – Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC) by decision over TJ Moen, 9-3 (9-3 W)
157 – Jesse Harrington (DVC) by decision over Adam Weber, 6-4 (9-6 W)
165 – Carrington Banks (W) by major decision over Matt Lindsay, 16-5 (13-6 W)
174 – Dylan Azinger (W) by decision over Dan Daddino, 5-2 (16-6 W)
184 – Todd Becker (W) by decision over Martin Porter, 2-0 (19-6 W)
197 – Byron Tate (W) by fall over Jeff Siciliano, 2:57 (25-6 W)
285 – Kyle Bilquist (DVC) by fall over John Helgerson, 7:36 OT (25-12 W)

CONSOLATION FINALS: COE COLLEGE 22, DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 13
125 – Clayton Rush (COE) by major decision over Charlie Frankel, 21-9 (4-0 COE)
133 – Eric McCann (DVC) by decision over Drew Hinschberger, 5-3 (4-3 COE)
141 – Dale Fava (DVC) by decision over Jordan Westfall, 7-4 (6-4 DVC)
149 – Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC) by decision over Mark Carey, 4-2 (9-4 DVC)
157 – Jesse Harrington (DVC) by major decision over Dale Handley, 11-3 (13-4 DVC)
165 – Chris LeClere (COE) by forfeit (13-10 DVC)
174 – Seth Rehn (COE) by decision over Dan Daddino, 6-3 (13-13)
184 – Tyler Burkle (COE) by decision over Brian Boudro, 6-4 (16-13 COE)
197 – Rob Kramer (COE) by decision over Jeff Siciliano, 8-4 (19-13 COE)
285 – Mitch Sander (COE) by decision over J.D. Zitone, 5-1 (22-13 COE)