WILKES-BARRE (PA) –
Kordell Rush and
Brenden Velez reached the quarterfinals at 125 and 133 pounds respectively to highlight Delaware Valley University's showing at the 85
th annual Wilkes University Open on Friday.
As a team, the Aggies placed 24
th out of 51 squads from all divisions (plus unattached teams) with 14 points. Division I American University ran away with the championship with 145 points followed by a pair of unattached groups from Rutgers University (95.5 points) and Lehigh University (94.5 points).
Rush and Velez, both listed in the
D3wrestle.com individual rankings, each won a pair of matches to reach the quarterfinals. Rush was dominant in the first two rounds as he picked up a 12-2 major decision over Aaron Cashman (unattached) and a 17-0 technical fall over Patrick Miko (Wilkes). Rush then dropped a 15-5 major decision to eventual runner-up Zurich Storm (unattached – North Carolina State) to fall into the consolation bracket where he was edged 3-2 by another unattached North Carolina State competitor.
Velez, a two-time Division III national qualifier, rallied from an 8-6 deficit to defeat Jason Javier (unattached – Binghamton), 9-8, in the opening bout. He registered a reversal with 47 seconds left and had riding time for the decisive points. Riding time was then the different in a 4-3 win over Brendan Hasson (unattached – Drexel) to advance to the quarterfinals. Velez was then edged 3-2 by Garrett Clifford (American) and lost by fall in the consolation bracket.
Anthony Snyder picked up DelVal's lone remaining win in the championship bracket as he notched a 10-5 decision over Chris Zaccaria (Sacred Heart) at 165 pounds. Snyder then dropped a 7-1 decision in the second round and lost his first consolation match as well.
Brandon Rudy (165) won two matches in consolations while
Chris Richardson (157) and
David Furmato had a victory apiece at 157 and 184 pounds respectively. Furmato's triumph was by fall.
The Aggies will return to action on Saturday, January 6 when they part at the North-South Duals at Ursinus College.
