KINGS POINT (NY) – Delaware Valley College freshmen Connor Kirkegard and Dallas Winston captured individual titles at 125 and 174 pounds respectively while five others placed in the top four as the Aggies ended the first semester on a strong note at the 2012 Long Island Open.

It was the first collegiate crowns for both Kirkegard and Winston as they each ran their victory total to 12 on the season. They also each knocked off a wrestler from Division I Hofstra University in the finals.

Kirkegard (12-5) went a perfect 4-0 at the Open. He defeated a Division I wrestler earlier in the bracket and then pinned his opponent in the finals. It was the second time Kirkegard placed at a tournament as he finished fourth at the Ursinus College Fall Brawl.

Winston (12-3) picked up three wins to reach the finals. He then downed Hofstra's Frank Affronti for the title. Earlier in the year, Winston had taken third at the York Invitational and fourth at the East Stroudsburg University Open. 

Sophomore David Davidson reached the 133-pound finals by winning four straight matches. He fell in the finals to a Division I wrestler from Hofstra.

Four other freshmen reached the consolation finals. Trenton Clifford and James Dugan each went 4-1 as they took third at 133 and 165 pounds respectively. Shaun Phillips and Nick Della Fera notched 3-2 records to place fourth at 141 and 174 pounds respectively.

Aaron Karns, an unattached wrestler and student at Delaware Valley, claimed a title on the day as he took first place in the 197-pound bracket,

The Aggies will return to action in three weeks when they travel to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to compete in the Citrus Invitational.