WILKES-BARRE (PA) – Delaware Valley College's Aaron Karns (Bloomsburg, PA/Berwick) and Zach Roseberry (Nokesville, VA/Brentsville) captured NCAA East Regional titles and will head a quartet of Aggie wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Championships as the team placed third at one-day event held at King's College.

Karns, a senior 197-pounder, and Roseberry, a freshman heavyweight, will be joined by senior Emmanuel Ajagbe (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) and junior Vinny Fava (Elmwood Park, NJ/Elmwood Park) in Iowa in two weeks. Ajagbe was the 157-pound runner-up while Fava took third at 149 pounds (top three at each regional qualifies for nationals). It will be the third trip to nationals for both Karns and Ajagbe – each were All-Americans last year –and the first for Roseberry and Fava.

Senior Alec Horan (Bryn Athyn, PA/Academy of the New Church), freshman Ben Schweiger (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) and sophomore Connor Kirkegard (Gaylorsville, CT/New Milford) placed in the top six at the tournament. Horan took fourth at 165 pounds while Schweiger and Kirkegard were fifth and sixth at 174 and 133 respectively.

It was a three-team race all day and Delaware Valley finished with 102.5 points, just four points behind East Regional champion Wilkes University. Wilkes edged Ursinus College by one point in the standings.

Karns, who took sixth at the NCAAs last year and who is ranked seventh this year, was the top seed in the 197-pound bracket as he looked to defend his regional title. He cruised to an 11-0 major decision over Evan Johnson (Johns Hopkins) in the first round and was then tested before notching a 4-2 decision over eighth-seeded Dennis Melendez (Hunter) in the quarterfinals.

Karns reached the East Regional finals for the second straight year and wrapped up his third NCAA berth as he led fourth-seeded Bennett Lewis (Washington & Lee) before pinning him in 2:35. In the finals against second-seeded Christian Psomas (Ursinus), Karns used two takedowns and an escape for a 5-0, second-period lead. He added a takedown midway through the third and had more than four minutes of riding time for an 8-0 major decision. Karns will take a 27-4 record to the NCAAs.

Roseberry, ranked eighth nationally at heavyweight, was seeded first in his weight class and he pinned his first two opponents. He dropped Grant Cokeley (Washington & Lee) in 4:42 and followed with a fall over DeSandre Johnson (Ferrum) in 4:19.

In the semifinals against unseeded Anthony Chu (NYU), Roseberry got a takedown 10 seconds in and cruised to a 12-2 victory, a berth in the regional finals and his first NCAA spot. He was matched up against second-seeded Matan Peleg (Ursinus) in the finals and earned a takedown just 12 seconds in. Another takedown in the period gave him a 4-2 lead and he added five points in the second, an escape in the third and riding time for a 10-3 victory, a 25-5 season record and the East Regional crown.

Ajagbe, who placed eighth at 149 pounds at nationals last year, earned the No. 2 seed in the 157-pound bracket. He pinned Rob Leavy (Scranton) 40 seconds into the second period (3:40) of the opening bout and advanced to the semifinals with a solid, 5-3 decision over seventh-seeded Christian Salera (Johns Hopkins).

Ajagbe was dominant in the semis against third-seeded Matt DiGiovanni (NYU) as four takedowns, an escape and riding time were part of a 10-2 major decision. That guaranteed him a spot at the NCAA Championships for the third time of his standout career and put him in the regional finals against top-seeded Kristopher Krawchuk (Wilkes) in a rematch of their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship bout in January (won by Krawchuk).

Ajagbe got a takedown 33 seconds in, but Krawchuck registered the next seven points and finished with a 7-3 decision. Ajagbe will head to the NCAAs with a 17-6 this year and a 113-36 career mark.

Fava, ranked eighth in Division III at 149, was seeded fourth for the regional and the Division I transfer needed just 2:26 to register a 19-2, technical fall over Monil Shah (Hunter) in the opening round. In the quarterfinals, he edged fifth-seeded Christian Mazzocchi (King's) by a 6-5 decision.

Fava went up against top-seeded and fourth-ranked Mark Hartenstine (Wilkes) in a rematch of the MAC championship finals (won by Hartenstine). After a scoreless first, Hartenstine picked up an escape in the second. In the third, Fava got a takedown for the lead, but Hartenstine escaped and the match went to overtime. Neither scored a point in the one-minute extra session, sending the match to tiebreaker. Fava could not escape in the first 30 seconds and chose neutral again. He could not get a takedown and Hartenstine had a 3-2 win.

Fava needed two wins to reach the nationals and the first match was against second-seeded and 10th-ranked Derek Arnold of Ursinus. Fava pinned him in just 3:27 to reach the consolation finals. Fava then met second-seeded Michael Polizzi (Stevens Tech) and the match was tied at 4-4 late in the second. He picked up an escape and a critical takedown with just four seconds left in the period, en route to an 8-5 decision, his 25th win of the year (25-4) and a trip to the NCAAs.

Horan, seeded seventh at 165, opened with a 4-2 decision over Hubert Alston (Ferrum) before dropping an 8-4 decision to second-seeded Tommy Desir (King's). Horan bounced back and got a 14-6 major decision over eighth-seeded Phillip Racciato (Wilkes) and a 3-1 decision over sixth-seeded John Messinger (NYU) to reach the consolation semifinals.

Horan then trailed fifth-seeded Connor Bass (Stevens Tech), 1-0, late in his match when he notched a two-point near-fall with 12 seconds left and held on for the 2-1 decision and a berth in the consolation finals. Horan met Desire again and he tied the match at 2-2 in the third. Desir then got a takedown with 20 seconds left. In the closing second, Horan looked to get a tying takedown, but the officials ruled it was just after the buzzer for a 4-2 loss. For Horan, the fourth-place finish was his first regional placement and he ended the season with a 22-10 record

Schweiger was the surprise of the tournament in the first two rounds. He was an unseeded at 174, but pinned No. 3 Josh Miller (Merchant Marine) in just 93 seconds. Schweiger followed with a 2-0 decision over Chris Amro (NYU) to reach the semis.

Schweiger tried to keep his run going against second-seeded Joshua Sibblies (Centenary) and a takedown with 1:22 remaining gave him a 3-1 lead. However, Sibblies escaped and then had a takedown with 27 seconds left for the 4-3 win and it dropped Schweiger into the consolation semifinals. There, he was pinned in two minutes by fifth-seeded Ron Tassoni (Washington & Lee). However, Schweiger (12-16) bounced back with an 8-1 decision in a rematch with Amro in the fifth-sixth place match.

Kirkegard entered as the fourth seed at 133 pounds and he opened the regional by pinning his first two opponents in a combined four minutes and 21 seconds. He earned a fall over James Samson (Scranton) with 53 seconds left in the first period (2:07) and then dropped fifth-seeded Zachory Huxford (Centenary) in 2:14 to reach the semifinals.

Kirkegard faced top-seeded and fifth-ranked Ryan O'Boyle (McDaniel) for a berth in the regional finals and an automatic NCAA spot. O'Boyle had takedowns in the first and second periods for a 4-2 decision. Kirkegard then gave up a takedown with just 12 seconds left for a 2-0 loss to No. 6 Ray Yagloski (Johns Hopkins) in the consolation semifinals. Kirkegard then dropped a 2-1 setback to eighth-seeded Ryan Wilson (Stevens Tech) in the fifth-sixth place to end his year with a 15-10 record.

Juniors David Davidson (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) and Connor Gabriel (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) competed at the East Regionals at 141 and 184 pounds respectively for Delaware Valley and did not place.

Davidson opened his first regional as the fourth-seed at 141. He advanced to the quarterfinals with an 8-7 decision over Pankil Chandler (Wilkes), but fell into the consolation bracket with an 18-6 major decision loss to fifth-seeded Alvnonte Drummond (McDaniel). He stayed alive with a 4-0 blanking of sixth-seeded Collin Farley (Centenary), before falling 15-4 to eighth-seeded Logan Meister (Ferrum). Davidson finished the year with a 22-12 record.

Gabriel was unseeded at 184 and he fell into the consolation bracket after a 2-1 loss to sixth-seeded Shane Stark (King's). He bounced back with a 6-3 decision over Zac Richey (Washington & Lee), but was eliminated from the tournament with a 6-2 setback to Daniel Manganaro (Ursinus).

2014 NCAA EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - TEAM STANDINGS
1. Wilkes University – 106.5 points
2. Ursinus College – 105.5 points
3. Delaware Valley College – 102.5 points
4. The College of New Jersey – 75 points
5. Centenary College – 71.5 points
6. New York University – 58.5 points
7. Stevens Institute of Technology – 55 points
8. Johns Hopkins University – 53 points
9. Hunter College – 49 points
10. Ferrum College – 37.5 points
11. King's College – 37 points
12. McDaniel College – 36 points
13. US Merchant Marine Academy – 29.5 points
14. Washington & Lee University – 22.5 points
15. University of Scranton – 19.5 points
16. Gettysburg College – 5 points
17. Muhlenberg College – 2 points

HOW DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE WRESTLERS FARED
133 pounds – Connor Kirkegard (Gaylorsville, CT/New Milford) – Seeded 4th out of 13 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by fall over James Samson (Scranton), 2:07
Championship Quarterfinals: Won by fall over #5 Zachory Huxford (Centenary), 2:14
Championship Semifinals: Lost by decision to #1 Ryan O'Boyle (McDaniel), 4-2
Consolation Semifinals: Lost by decision to #6 Ray Yagloski (Johns Hopkins), 2-0
Fifth-Sixth Place Match: Lost by decision to #8 Ryan Wilson (Stevens Tech), 2-1
- Kirkegard, a sophomore, places sixth at his first regional and finishes the year with a 15-10 record -

141 pounds – David Davidson (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) – Seeded 4th out of 16 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by decision over Pankil Chandler (Wilkes), 8-7
Championship Quarterfinals: Lost by major decision to #5 Alvontae Drummond (McDaniel), 18-6
Consolation Second Round: Won by decision over #6 Collin Farley (Centenary), 4-0
Consolation Third Round: Lost by major decision to #8 Logan Meister (Ferrum), 15-4
- Davidson, a junior, ends his season with a 22-12 record

149 pounds – Vinny Fava (Elmwood Park, NJ/Elmwood Park) – Seeded 4th out of 16 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by technical fall over Monil Shah (Hunter), 19-2; 2:26
Championship Quarterfinals: Won by decision over #5 Christian Mazzocchi (King's), 6-5
Championship Semifinals: Lost by decision to #1 Mark Hartenstine (Wilkes), 3-2 TB2
Consolation Semifinals: Won by fall over #2 Derek Arnold (Ursinus), 3:27
Consolation Finals: Won by decision over #3 Michael Polizzi (Stevens Tech), 8-5
- Fava, a junior, places third and earn his first trip to the NCAA Division III Championships. He is 25-4 on the season.-

157 pounds – Emmanuel Ajagbe (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) – Seeded 2nd out of 16 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by fall over Rob Leavy (Scranton), 3:40
Championship Quarterfinals: Won by decision over #7 Christian Salera (Johns Hopkins), 5-3
Championship Semifinals: Won by major decision over #3 Matt DiGiovanni (NYU), 10-2
Championship Finals: Lost by decision to #1Kristopher Krawchuk (Wilkes), 7-3
- Ajagbe, a senior, places second and earns a third trip to the NCAA Division III Championships (he was an All-American with an eighth-place finish last year). He is 17-6 on the season.-

165 pounds – Alec Horan (Bryn Athyn, PA/Acad. of the New Church) – Seeded 7th out of 16 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by decision over Hubert Alston (Ferrum), 4-2
Championship Quarterfinals: Lost by decision to #2 Tommy Desir (King's), 8-4
Consolation Second Round: Won by major decision over #8 Philip Raccialo (Wilkes), 14-6
Consolation Third Round: Won by decision over #6 John Messinger (NYU), 3-1
Consolation Semifinals: Won by decision over #5 Connor Bass (Stevens Tech), 2-1
Consolation Finals: Lost by decision to #2 Tommy Desir (King's), 4-2
- Horan, a senior, finishes fourth for his first regional placement. He ends his season with a 22-10 record-

174 pounds – Ben Schweiger (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) – Unseeded out of 16 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by fall over #3 Josh Miller (Merchant Marine), 1:33
Championship Quarterfinals: Won by decision over Chris Amro (NYU), 2-0
Championship Semifinals: Lost by decision to #2 Joshua Sibblies (Centenary), 4-3
Consolation Semifinals: Lost by fall to #5 Ron Tassoni (Washington & Lee), 2:00
Fifth-Sixth Place Match: Won by decision over Chris Amro (NYU), 8-1
- Schweiger, a freshman, finishes fifth at his regional tournament. He ends the season with a 12-16 record.-

184 pounds – Connor Gabriel (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) – Unseeded out of 14 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Lost by decision to #6 Shane Stark (King's), 2-1
Consolation First Round: Won by decision over Zac Richey (Washington & Lee), 6-3
Consolation Second Round: Lost by decision to #7 Daniel Manganaro (Ursinus), 8-2
- Gabriel, a junior, ends his season with a 9-15 record -

197 pounds – Aaron Karns (Bloomsburg, PA/Berwick) – Seeded 1st out of 16 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by major decision over Evan Johnson (Johns Hopkins), 11-0
Championship Quarterfinals: Won by decision over #8 Dennis Melendez (Hunter), 4-2
Championship Semifinals: Won by fall over #4 Bennett Lewis (Washington & Lee), 2:35
Championship Finals: Won by major decision over #2 Christian Psomas (Ursinus), 8-0
- Karns, a junior, wins his second straight East Regional title and will make his third trip to the NCAAs (he was an All-American with a sixth-place finish last year). He is 27-4 on the year.-

285 pounds – Zach Roseberry (Nokesville, VA/Brentsville) – Seeded 1st out of 16 wrestlers
Championship First Round: Won by fall over Grant Cokeley (Washington & Lee), 4:42
Championship Quarterfinals: Won by fall over DeAndre Johnson (Ferrum), 4:19
Championship Semifinals: Won by major decision over Anthony Chu (NYU), 12-2
Championship Finals: Won by decision over #2 Matan Peleg (Ursinus), 10-3
- Roseberry, a freshman, wins his first regional title and will make his first trip to the NCAAs. He is 25-5 on the season.-