YORK (Pa.) -- Delaware Valley traveled up to York, Pennsylvania to compete in the 2024 MAC Championships, hosted by York College. This prestigious individual tournament consists of the six wrestling programs in the Middle Atlantic Conference, including nationally ranked #6 Alvernia and #20 Stevens. Delaware Valley came into the tournament voted in the preseason poll behind Alvernia and Stevens, and ahead of York, Kings, and Messiah. Delaware Valley entered fourteen wrestlers into the tournament and finished the night with eleven wrestlers earning a podium finish (top six). Delaware Valley finished third place in the team scoring as sophomore Jacob Blair won the 133-pound MAC Champion title.

Blair entered the tournament as the number two seed in the 133-pound bracket, and dominated his way to the semi-finals. Blair started off the afternoon with a first period pin fall over Arjun Khatri of Stevens in the quarter finals. Marquee match up in the semi finals, as Blair matched up against Anthony Portillo of Alvernia. Portillo took fourth place in the Southeast Region last season for Alvernia came into today's tournament currently ranked fourth in the region. Blair would go on to win a 12-3 major decision win as he notched three take downs and a nearfall. In the finals, Blair would match up against a familiar face, teammate and nationally ranked #15 Ryan Arndt.

Arndt was 2-0 on the day outscoring his two opponents on the day 29-0. Arndt notched a 15-0 technical fall over Joel Defreytas of York and a 14-0 major decision over Caiden Heller of Messiah. This would mark the second time these two teammates matched up against each other in the past two weeks as Arndt defeated Blair by a late pin fall victory in the Penn Tech Invite. this time, Blair would get his revenge as earned a major decision win. This marks the second time in the past two years Delaware Valley had a 133lb champion. Arndt took home the championship for Delaware Valley in the 133lb weight class at the 2023 MAC Championships.
 
First year Nick Delorenzo took home second place at in the 157lb weight class. Delorenzo started off with a come from behind victory over of Stevens. In the semi finals, Delorenzo would match up against returning NCAA national qualifier and nationally ranked #12 Jason Rezac of Alvernia. In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, Delorenzo would earn an impressive 15-2 major decision victory over Rezac, punching his ticket to the finals. First finals appearance for Delorenzo in his collegiate career, but he would have a tough task ahead of him in the finals as he would face off against returning NCAA All-American and nationally ranked #3 Ryan Smith of Stevens. Smith would go on to win the match and defeat Delorenzo by a 7-3 decision. Along with Delorenzo, his teammate first year Hayden Mann earned a podium finish as well for the Aggies as he finished in fifth place at 157lbs 

At 165lbs, junior Adam Coleman earned second place at 165lbs. Coleman started off with an 8-2 decision win over Alan Devries of York. In the semi finals, Coleman would wrestle Harrison Hinojosa of Stevens. Hinajosa entered the tournament nationally ranked #13 and is the number two ranked wrestler in the Southeast Region. After trailing early, Coleman would throw his opponent to his back and secure the upset pin fall win. Second finals appearance for Coleman in the past two weeks, but another tough task ahead for DelVal as the junior would face off against Matt Lackman of Alvernia. Lackman is the number one ranked wrestler in the country at 165lbs and took second place at the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championships. Lackman would win a 15-0 technical fall and notch his third consecutive MAC Championship. 

Two first year Aggies Malik Asfour (125lbs) and Nick Hall (184lbs) earned third place in the 2024 MAC championships. Asfour went 3-1 on the day with all three wins earning bonus points. Hall went 3-1 on the day as well, with one pin fall and two decision victories. Halls only loss on the day came in the semifinals to returning NCAA national qualifier and nationally ranked #3 Issac Kassis of Alvernia.

Two sophomore Aggies, Taylor Weaver (141lb) and Luke Moore (174lb) earned fourth place in the 2024 MAC championships. Weaver went 2-2 with both his losses coming to nationally ranked wrestlers. Weavers two wins came by technical fall and fall. Moore went 2-2 with both wins coming by technical fall. 

DelVal seniors Mike Rubino (149lb) and Dan Eckley (197lb) finished in sixth place in their respective weight classes for the Aggies.

Delaware Valley will be back in action on Saturday, January 27th against in a quad meet hosted by Alvernia. The Aggies will face off against three nationally ranked opponents Alvernia, Castleton, and Springfield.