ANNAPOLIS (MD) – The Delaware Valley University wrestling team took on a tall task as it was the lone Division III school to compete at the Navy Classic on Saturday and the Aggies finished 17^th out 17 in team scoring.

DelVal traditionally enters the Navy Classic knowing it's competitive field comprised of mostly Division I schools, but it always take on the challenge as a primer to the rest of the season ahead.

Three Aggies advanced out of the round of 32 with victories. Kordell Rush posted a 9-7 victory over Will Bardezbain of Kent State at 125 pounds. Rush trailed 5-4 entering the third period where he picked up an escape and a takedown to take the lead for good. He fell in the round of 16 to finalist Michael McGee of Old Dominion, 12-3 and was then pinned in the consolation bracket.

Senior Tim Ambacher, ranked fourth in Division III, got a first-round win at 141 pounds with a 6-0 decision over Charlie Kane of Hofstra. Ambacher scored a pair of takedowns and added a point with riding time to earn the bout. He fell in the next round, via major decision to Nicholas Gil of host school Navy, 8-0. Gil went onto the capture the weight class title at the Classic.

Ambacher was then at 4-4 in his first consolation match, before he earned a third-period reversal and turned into a pin of JP Ascolese of Columbia. However, Ambacher had to medically forfeit during his next bout.

Rob Duxbury was the next Aggie to make it through the first round as he scored a 6-0 decision over Elijah Murphy of American University at 149 pounds. Duxbury picked up takedowns in the first and third period while adding an escape in the second. He lost by a second-period fall in the second round to Davey Tunon from Indiana and dropped a consolation match as well.

Nine other Aggies competed in the tournament and two picked up triumphs in the consolation bracket. Two-time national qualifier Brenden Velez had a 4-3 triumph over Jaquan Lowey of Old Dominion at 133 and Anthony Snyder earned a 12-1 major decision over Michael Mewhorter at 165.

DelVal earned 8.5 team points on the day.