WILLIAMSPORT (Pa.) – Freshman Russell Benson placed third at 133 pounds at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship to qualify for the 2019 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. As a team, the Aggies finished with 36 points and 14^th out of 20 schools.

After a pair of wins yesterday, Benson was matched up against top-seeded Ricky Cavallo (John's Hopkins) in the semi-finals this morning. Cavallo got a first period take down and near fall four points to take an early 6-0 lead and held on for a 10-4 decision, sending Benson to the consolation semi-finals.

Benson used a 10-4 decision over Paul Bauberger (Greensboro) to advance to the consolation finals for third place and a trip to nationals. He was matched up against fellow freshman Josh Kuslock of Waynesburg in a thriller.

Benson took down Kuslock in the first period and got him to his back for four more points and a 6-0 lead after one period. Benson extended the lead to 9-2 with an escape and a takedown in the second, but Kuslock answered with a reversal and two near fall points to make it 9-6 going into the third.

In the final period, Kuslock quickly escaped and took down Benson to tie the score at 9-9. Shortly later, Benson escaped from Kuslock and held on through the final minute for the 10-9 victory and a ticket to nationals.

The top three place winners in each bracket advanced to the 2019 NCAA Division III Championships in two weeks in Roanoke, Va.

Rob Duxbury was the other Aggie in action on Saturday, but had a tough hill to climb in the 141-pound consolation bracket. He faced top-seed Brandon Woody (Averett) in the first match of the day and suffered a 14-8 defeat. He had one more match to determine seventh and eighth place, but fell to Eric Hunt of Lycoming in an 8-0 major decision.