CEDAR FALLS (IA) – Delaware Valley College, ranked 12th in Division III, reached the semifinals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/Cliff Keen National Duals for the fourth consecutive year, this time thanks to a 22-15 upset over the number one team in the country, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, in the quarterfinals.

Delaware Valley also posted the same score in the opening round over 11th-ranked Saint John's University (MN) in a matchup of eighth and ninth seeds at the duals (DVC was the ninth seed). As a result, the 6-0 Aggies will take on two-time defending National Duals and Division III champion Wartburg College of Iowa (seeded fourth, ranked fifth) in Sunday's semifinals at 11:00 a.m. (CST). They will then take on either Augsburg College of Minnesota (seeded second, ranked second) or Coe College of Iowa (seeded third, ranked third) in the National Duals finals or consolation finals at 3:00 p.m.

It is the first time since the 1989 National Duals that Delaware Valley has upended top-ranked team in Division III. The Aggies won the National Duals title and moved into the number one ranking for the rest of that regular season before finishing as the national runner-up at the Division III Championships.

Delaware Valley trailed 15-13 with three weight classes remaining, and earned decisions in all three. Martin Porter gave his team the lead for good as the 10th-ranked wrestler a 184 pounds posted a 6-4 win over Mitch Artist. Jeff Siciliano followed with an 11-7 victory over John Poppie at 197 pounds for a 19-15 Aggie advantage.

So it came down to heavyweight and, as he has done numerous times over his career, senior Kyle Bilquist came through for Delaware Valley. The two-time All-American and fourth-ranked big man in Division III took on top-ranked Dan Laurent and posted a 7-4 victory to put the Aggies in the semifinals.

Zac Haynes got Delaware Valley off to a quick start with an 11-2 major decision at 125 pounds. Following a loss at 133, Zak Andrews pinned Alex Dahl in 1:52 of their 141-pound match for a 10-3 Aggie lead.

Wisconsin-LaCrosse won three of the next four weight classes, including a fall at 165 pounds, to take its only lead of the match. The lone Aggie victory in that run was an 8-3 decision by top-ranked 157 pounder Jesse Harrington. However, Porter, Siciliano and Bilquist came through at the end to assure the Aggies of a top four finish.

It was the second straight year that Delaware Valley met Saint John's University at the National Duals. It was much closer than last year's 41-4 Aggie triumph, but Delaware Valley won six of the 10 weight classes for the seven-point victory.

The match was tied at 6-6 after the first three weight classes, but wins by Emmanuel Ajagbe and Harrington at 149 and 157 pounds gave the Aggies the lead for good. Ajagbe earned a 2-1 decision over Drew Larson while Harrington followed with an 8-5 decision over John Vaith.

Saint John's notched a victory at 165 pounds, but the Aggies' Dan Daddino answered with a 7-4 decision over fifth-ranked Matt Pfarr at 174 pounds. Porter followed with a major decision, but Siciliano was pinned at 197 and Delaware Valley held a 19-15 decision. Bilquist sealed the win with a 3-2 decision over Cody Socher.

FIRST ROUND: NO, 12 DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 22, NO. 11 SAINT JOHN'S UNIVERSITY 15 
125 - Charlie Frankel (DVC) by fall over Chad Henle, 2:55 (6-0 DVC)
133 - Munkhbaatar Baatar (SJU) by decision over Eric McCann, 3-1 (6-3 DVC)
141 - Myanganbayar Batsukh (SJU) by decision over Dale Fava, 9-2 (6-6)
149 - Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC) by decision over Drew Larson, 2-1 (9-6 DVC)
157 - Jesse Harrington (DVC) by decision over John Vaith, 8-5 (12-6 DVC)
165 - Matt Baarson (SJU) by decision over Justin Barowski, 8-6 (12-9 DVC)
174 - Dan Daddino (DVC) by decision over Matt Pfarr, 7-4 (15-9 DVC)
184 - Martin Porter (DVC) by major decision over Mitch Hagen, 14-6 (19-9 DVC)
197 - Tony Willaert (SJU) by fall over Jeff Siciliano, 3:58 (19-15 DVC)
285 - Kyle Bilquist (DVC) by decision over Cody Socher, 3-2 (22-15)
 
QUARTERFINALS: NO. 12 DELAWARE VALLEY 22, NO, 1 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LACROSSE 15
125 – Zac Haynes (DVC) by major decision over Lloyd McKinney, 11-2 (4-0 DVC)
133 – Bebeto Yewah (LAX) by decision over Eric McCann, 7-4 (4-3 DVC)
141 – Zak Andrews (DVC) by fall over Alex Dahl, 1:52 (10-3 DVC)
149 – Matt Mauseth (LAX) by decision over Emmanuel Ajagbe, 2-1 (10-6 DVC)
157 – Jesse Harrington (DVC) by decision over Ryan Farwell, 8-3 (13-6 DVC)
165 – Cory Ferguson (LAX) by fall over Matt Lindsay, 1:00 (13-12 DVC)
174 – Michael Schmitz (LAX) by decision over Dan Daddino, 6-1 (15-13 LAX)
184 – Martin Porter (DVC) by decision over Mitch Artist, 6-4 (16-15 DVC)
197 – Jeff Siciliano (DVC) by decision over John Poppie, 11-7 (19-15 DVC)
285 – Kyle Bilquist (DVC) by decision over Dan Laurent, 7-4 (22-15 DVC)