WILKES-BARRE (PA) – Delaware Valley College senior Jesse Harrington captured the 157-pound weight class at the 2011 Metropolitan Conference Championships and earned his third trip to the NCAA Division III Championships while freshman 197-pounder Aaron Karns and junior 149-pounder Zak Andrews earned wild-card berths to nationals. As a team, the Aggies placed fourth at the tournament.
It was Delaware Valley's inaugural year in the Metropolitan Conference after four consecutive seasons of competing and winning the team title at Midwest Regionals. They moved to the more local NCAA qualifying tournament and were part of a loaded field as six of the 11 teams were in the latest top 30 Division III poll, including the No. 21 Aggies. Delaware Valley registered 66.5 points at the event.
Centenary College (10th) won its first Metropolitan championship with 104 points while The College of New Jersey (12th) was the runner-up with 92 points. York College (15th) was third with 70 points followed by the Aggies, No. 24 Elizabethtown College (50 points) and No. 13 Wilkes University (46.5 points).
The 10 individual champions and eight wild-card selections from the Metros will head to the NCAA Division III Championships at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse on March 11 and 12.
Harrington was one of the champs. The returning All-American entered the tournament as Division III second-ranked wrestler in his weight class. He was the top seed for the Metros and opened with a 16-7 major decision over Daniel Miller (York) in the quarterfinals. Harrington then followed with a 2-1 triumph over fourth-seeded David Kiley (TCNJ) to reach the finals.
Harrington battled No. 3 Chris Burdge of Centenary in the championship match and notched three takedowns in the opening 90 seconds of the first period and added another with 11 seconds left in the stanza for an 8-3 advantage. Burdge pulled to within two with a second-period takedown and a third-period escape. Harrington recovered with a takedown with 1:45 to go to make it 10-6. Burdge recorded two late points, but Harrington also had riding time in his favor for an 11-8 decision and the crown.
Harrington was a Midwest Regional wild-card pick as a freshman and then missed the following season with an injury. He rebounded last year with a regional title and then went on to place fifth at the NCAAs for All-American honors. Harrington will take a 22-5 record to nationals, which will take place at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse on March 11 and 12.
Ranked eighth nationally in his weight class, Karns was seeded second for the tournament. He had little trouble in his first two matches as he pinned Stephen Massey (NYU) in just 1:43, and needed four minutes and 17 seconds to drop sixth-seeded Matthew Transue of Wilkes in the semifinals.
Karns was pitted again the top-seed and seventh-ranked Tim Lutke of Centenary College in the finals. Karns and Lutke, a second-semester transfer from Division I Edinboro, went scoreless in the first period and Lutke earned an early escape in the second for a 1-0 lead. It appeared that was how the period was going to end, but Lutke registered a takedown with just five seconds to go to up by three. Karns got an escape of his own in the third, but Lutke made it 5-1 with another takedown and he went on to a 5-2 decision. It was the just the sixth loss of the season for Karns in 31 matches, but the performance was good enough for a wild-card berth.
Andrews was seeded fourth at 149 and he dropped a 10-8 decision to No. 5 John Darling (TCNJ) in the quarterfinals. However, he won four consecutive matches in the consolation bracket to finish third. He dropped Ron Simichi (Yeshiva) in 6:09 and followed with 5-1 and 5-3 decisions over Christian Mazzochi (King's) and No. 2 Tye Boyer (Elizabethtown). Andrews then needed just 43 seconds to pin No. 3 Chris Gugliotti (Wilkes) in the consolation finals for his 30th win of the year (30-6).
Andrews was then able to have had a true second-place match with John Sillo of Centenary since the two did not meet earlier in the tournament. Andrews was victorious to help his wild-card bid and the Metro coaches awarded him the final spot.
Charlie Frankel and Matt Ulrich each had third-place finishes at 125 and 141 respectively. Frankel, a junior, was the second seed in his weight class and he needed just 55 seconds to drop Oliver Lopez (Hunter) to reach the semifinals. Frankel's run at a title ended with a 7-2 loss to No. 3 William Bentley (Elizabethtown), but he recovered with two wins in the consolations. First, he had a 13-6 victory over No. 5 Jerdi Hartman, and then pinned top-seeded Jose Vega (Centenary) in 5:43 of the consolation finals. Frankel finished the 2010-11 campaign with a 17-12 record.
Ulrich, who was an All-American at the University of Southern Maine last year, transferred closer to home for his senior campaign. The number three seed reached the semifinals with a 4-2 decision over sixth-seeded Sean Messina (Hunter), but was edged, 4-3, by second-seeded David Alsieux (Centenary). Ulrich bounced back with a 3-2 decision over No. 5 Colin Sheridan (Elizabethtown) in the consolation semifinals and a 6-4 decision over No. 4 Ryan Wilson (Wilkes) in the consolation finals. Ulrich (19-8) still has a shot at the NCAAs as he is the second alternate coming out of the Metro.
Zac Haynes, Juan Vega, Dan Daddino and Zeke Pyle each bowed out in the consolation semifinals. Haynes, a sophomore and the sixth seed at 133 pounds, was pinned in his opening bout, but came back to win a pair of matches in consolations. He registered an 11-3 major over fifth-seeded Martin Harnish (Elizabethtown) and followed with a 9-5 triumph over Richard Biesadesky (King's). However, Haynes' run came to an end when No. 3 Steve Contino (NYU) pinned him in 61 seconds. Haynes posted a 13-10 record on the season.
Vega, a junior, was unseeded at 165 pounds and dropped into the consolation bracket after a loss in the preliminaries. However, he rebounded with a 21-2 technical fall victory over Eli Fuld (Yeshiva) and a 77-second pin over Jesse Capello-Colon (Hunter). In the consolation semifinals, Vega was pinned by No. 4 Benjamin Marich (Wilkes) in 20 seconds to end his season with a 6-12 record.
Daddino, a senior and returning national qualifier, was seeded fifth at 174 pounds. He opened with a 6-3 decision over fourth-seeded Charles Cannella (Centenary) in the quarterfinals, but was pinned by No. 1 and eventual Metropolitan champion Mike Reilly (King's) with 41 seconds left in their semifinal bout. Daddino was then eliminated from the tournament with an 8-4 setback to No. 3 Brian Boderick (TCNJ). Daddino went 4-4 this season and posted a 34-17 victory in his two years with Delaware Valley.
Pyle was seeded fifth at heavyweight and the junior began the tournament with a 5-2 decision over No. 4 Tim Katzaman (Elizabethtown) in the quarterfinals. He then took on top-seeded James Laughlin (York) in the semifinals and was edged by a 4-3 score. That dropped Pyle into the consolation bracket and his season ended with a 13-15 record with a 6-4, overtime decision to Ken Amponsa (TCNJ).
Senior Jake Phillips was eliminated in the second round of consolations in the 184-pound bracket. Phillips (4-12) was pinned by the top seed, Mike Denver (TCNJ) in the quarterfinals, but advanced in the consolation bracket with an injury default win. Phillips' run ended with a 6-2 loss to fourth-seeded J.J. Mitchell (Centenary).
2011 METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Centenary College... 104 points
2. The College of New Jersey… 92 points
3. York College… 70 points
4. Delaware Valley… 66.5 points
5. Elizabethtown College… 50 points
6. Wilkes University… 46.5 points
7. New York University… 46 points
8. King's College… 28.5 points
9. Hunter College… 22.5 points
10. University of Scranton… 12.5 points
11. Yeshiva College… 0 points
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
125 - #4 Steve Godine (TCNJ) by decision over #3 William Bentley (ELI), 3-1 OT
133 - #1 Will Livingston (CENT) by decision over #2 Dan Herr (TCNJ), 10-3
141 - #1 Chris Albright (YORK) by decision over #2 David Alsieux (CENT), 5-2
149 - #1 Anthony Dattolo (WIL) by decision over #6 John Stillo (CENT), 1-0
157 - #1 Jesse Harrington (DVC) by decision over #3 Chris Burdge (CENT), 11-8
165 - #1 Justin Bonitatis (TCNJ) by decision over #2 Matt Magill (NYU), 11-9
174 - #1 Mike Reilly (KIN) by injury default over #2 Julian Meaney (ELI)
184 - #2 Alex Martocello (YORK) by decision over #1 Mike Denver (TCNJ), 11-8
197 - #1 Tim Lutke (CENT) by decision over #2 Aaron Karns (DVC), 5-2
285 - #3 Joseph Zitone (CENT) by decision over #1 James Laughlin (YORK), 12-6
HOW THE AGGIE WRESTLERS FARED
125 pounds – Charlie Frankel – Seeded 2nd
Quarterfinals: Won by fall over Oliver Lopez (Hunter), 0:55
Semifinals: Lost by decision to #3 William Bentley (Elizabethtown), 7-2
Consolation Semifinals: Won by decision over #5 Jerrid Hartman (York), 13-6
Consolation Finals: Won by fall over #1 Jose Vega (Centenary), 5:43
Frankel, a junior, finishes in third place. He posted a 17-12 record on the season.
133 pounds – Zac Haynes – Seeded 6th
Preliminaries: Lost by fall to Griffin Panicucci (Wilkes), 4:53
First Round Consolations: Won by major decision over #5 Martin Harnish (Elizabethtown), 11-3
Second Round Consolations: Won by decision over Richard Biesadesky (King's), 9-5
Consolation Semifinals: Lost by fall to #3 Steve Contino (NYU), 1:01
Haynes, a sophomore, ends his season with a 13-10 record.
141 pounds – Matt Ulrich – Seeded 3rd
Quarterfinals: Won by decision over #6 Sean Messina (Hunter), 4-2
Semifinals: Lost by decision to #2 David Alsieux (Centenary), 4-3
Consolation Semifinals: Won by decision over #5 Colin Sheridan (Elizabethtown), 3-2
Consolation Finals: Won by decision over #4 Ryan Wilson (Wilkes), 6-4
Ulrich, a senior, finishes in third place and is 19-8 on the season. He is a second alternate for the conference.
149 pounds – Zak Andrews – Seeded 4th
Quarterfinals: Lost by decision to #5 John Darling (TCNJ), 10-8
First Round Consolations: Won by fall over Rom Simichi (Yeshiva), 6:09
Second Round Consolations: Won by decision over Christian Mazzochi (King's), 5-1
Consolation Semifinals: Won by decision over #2 Tye Boyer (Elizabethtown), 5-3
Consolation Finals: Won by fall over #3 Chris Gugliotti (Wilkes), 0:43
True-Second Place: Won over #6 John Stillo (Centenary)
Andrews, a junior, is now 31-6 on the season and earned his first trip to the NCAA Championships as a wild-card selection.
157 pounds – Jesse Harrington – Seeded 1st
Quarterfinals: Won by major decision over Daniel Miller (York), 16-7
Semifinals: Won by decision over #4 David Kiley (TCNJ), 2-1
Finals: Won by decision over #3 Chris Burdge (Centenary), 11-8
Harrington, a senior and the second-ranked wrestler in Division III, wins the Metro championship and his third trip to the NCAA Championships. His record is now 22-5 on the season.
165 pounds – Juan Vega – Unseeded
Preliminaries: Lost by decision to Frank Marinucci (King's), 11-7
First Round Consolations: Won by technical fall over Eli Fuld (Yeshiva), 21-2
Second Round Consolations: Won by fall over Jesse Capello-Colon (Hunter), 1:17
Consolation Semifinals: Lost by fall to #4 Benjamin Marich (Wilkes); 0:20
Vega, a junior, ends his season with a 6-12 record.
174 pounds – Dan Daddino – Seeded 5th
Quarterfinals: Won by decision over #4 Charles Cannella (Centenary), 6-3
Semifinals: Lost by fall to #1 Mike Reilly (King's), 6:19
Consolation Semifinals: Lost by decision to #3 Brian Boderick (TCNJ), 8-4
Daddino, a senior, ends his season with a 4-4 record. He was a 2010 Midwest Regional champion and national qualifier and posted a 34-17 mark in his two years with Delaware Valley.
184 pounds – Jake Phillips – Unseeded
Quarterfinals: Lost by fall to #1 Mike Denver (TCNJ), 4:17
First Round Consolations: Won by injury default over Gordon Custer (King's)
Second Round Consolations: Lost by decision to #4 J.J. Mitchell (Centenary), 6-2
Phillips, a senior, ends his season with a 4-12 record (27-38 career).
197 pounds – Aaron Karns – Seeded 2nd
Quarterfinals: Won by fall over Stephen Massey (NYU), 1:43
Semifinals: Won by fall over Matthew Transue (Wilkes), 4:17
Finals: Lost by decision to #1 Tim Lutke (Centenary), 5-2
Karns, a freshman, finishes as the runner-up and is 25-6 on the season. He is up for a wild-card bid.
285 pounds – Zeke Pyle – Seeded 5th
Quarterfinals: Won by decision over #4 Tim Katzaman (Elizabethtown), 5-2
Semifinals: Lost by decision to #1 James Laughlin (York), 4-3
Consolation Semifinals: Lost by decision to Ken Amponsa (TCNJ), 6-4 OT
Pyle, a junior, ends his season with a 13-15 record.
