Reading, Pa- Delaware Valley men's wrestling took part in the inaugural 2023 Tonee Ellis Memorial Tournament on Saturday, November 4th. The Aggies competed against nine other teams from all across the East Coast in the individual tournament. The Aggies went on to take second place in the team standings and were only one point behind first place #6 Alvernia, A total of seven DelVal wrestlers finished in the top three of their weight class, including sophomore Luke Moore and senior Isaiah Johnson who took home first place finishes.

Luke Moore started off the day with a technical fall victory over Ryan Gildersleeve of Penn State Behrend in the first round. In the quarterfinals, Moore picked up the pinfall over Cole Lang of Shippensburg. Luke Moore would then continue racking up the bonus points as he would pin Gavin Hollingsworth of Alvernia in the semifinals to punch his ticket to the finals. Luke Moore would go on to win his finals match by a score of 7-2 over James Circle of Alvernia and be crowned the 2023 Tonee Ellis Memorial Invite 174 lb champion. Second career tournament win for Moore as he took home first place at 174 lb in the 2022 Baldwin Wallace Invite last season for the Aggies. 

Isaiah Johnson went 4-0 on the day and won all his matches by pinfall. He scored a first period pin over Bobby Meister of Rowan South Jersey Community College in the first round. He then followed that performance with a second round pin over Eric Morales of Penn State Behrend. In the semi finals, Johnson would capture the victory by fall over Brian Czaus of Alvernia. Isaiah Johnson would go on to win  his finals match by fall over Spencer Dickinson of Western New England to capture the 2023 Tonee Ellis Memorial Invite HWT championship. First tournament win for Johnson as he now improves to 5-0 on the season at his new weight class after wrestling the past three seasons at 197 lb.

#13 Jacob Blair started off the day with a 10-4 win over Colby Reilly of Western New England and a pinfall victory over Blake Tarnowski of Alvernia. The semi final bout would match up Blair against Anthony Portillo of Alvernia. However, an injury to Portillo would cause him to injury default out of the match, advancing Blair to the finals. Jacob Blair would go on to drop a high level bout to Andrew Wert of Shippensburg in overtime, earning him second place at 133 lb.

Sophomore Taylor Weaver was one of many wrestlers entered in the 141 lb bracket today for Delaware Valley. Weaver won his first three matches by pin against Hunter Ballantine of Shenandoah, Jack Elpi of Western New England, and Garret Gehr of Alvernia. In the semi finals, Weaver defeated Austin Montiero of Western New England by a score of 13-3. In the finals, Weaver would lose to #9 Avery Leonard by major decision.

#15 Ryan Arndt also competed in the 133 lb weight class today for Delaware Valley and started off the day with two tech fall victories over Geddiel Lopez of Western New England and James King of Alvernia. In the semi finals, Arndt would go on to drop a decision to Andrew Wert of Shippensburg. Arndt responded with two tech fall victories in the consolations over Ricky Caamano of Muhlenburg and Sean Rinebolt of Shenandoah to take 3rd. 

First years Nick Delorenzo and Nick Hall both had great showings today for Delaware Valley as the two freshmen went on to take home third place finishes. Hall went 5-1 on the day at 197 lb with four bonus point victories and Delorenzo went 4-1 with three bonus point victories at 157 lb.

Delaware Valley Men's Wrestling will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Allentown, Pennsylvania to take on the Mules of Muhlenburg.For those who wont wrestle in the dual meet will compete at the Racic Rumble hosted by Ursinus.

FINAL TEAM SCORE
Alvernia 117.5
DelVal 116.5
Muhlenburg 83 
Western New England 81
Penn State Behrend 57 
Shenandoah 55
Shippensburg 54
Camden Community College 33
Rowan Of South Jersey Community College 11
UMBC 8