LYCOMING WRESTLING FINISHES SECOND AT MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Smith and Snyder Qualify for National Championships

SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lycoming College wrestling team finished in second place at the 2004 Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, completed Saturday afternoon. The Warriors had a wrestler place in every weight class to accumulate 137 team points. Delaware Valley College won their third consecutive title with 150.5 points.

Lycoming also claimed two weight class champions in Jason Smith (So./Hughesville, Pa,; Hughesville) at 157 pounds and Tommy Snyder (So./New Columbia, Pa.; Milton) at heavyweight. Both student-athletes advance to the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships to be held at Loras College in Iowa on March 5-6.

Smith recorded a major decision and two pins en route to his conference title. After defeating Joe Yenchak of Wilkes, 10-0, in the quarterfinals, he pinned Drew Dehault of King’s in the second round to advance to the championship bout. In the finals, Smith needed just 1:26 to turn Jeremy Messenger of Delaware Valley to his back for the fall.

Snyder was even more dominant in his three matches. He opened the competition by pinning Paul Mazzei of Elizabethtown just 17 seconds into their quarterfinal bout. In the semifinals, Snyder tallied his second pin at the 2:38 mark of the first period versus James Bishop of King’s. Snyder capped his championship run with another first-period pin – this time of Wayne Helms of Delaware Valley.

Sean Reese (Jr./Milton, Pa.; Milton) and Andy Hull (Sr./Mill Hall, Pa.; Bald Eagle Nittany) each finished as runners-up in their respective weight classes. Reese advanced to the finals with a 4-1 decision over Mike Ferrara of Wilkes. He then dropped a tight 2-3 decision to Jim Morgan of King’s in the finals. Reese was selected by the MAC coaches as the first-alternate for the national tournament. Hull defeated Mike O’Hara of King’s, 5-2, in the semifinals. In the finals, Josh Housekeeper of Delaware Valley caught him for a fall in the first period.

Other Warriors placewinners included: John Ambs (Jr./Mt. Joy, Pa.; Donegal) – 3^rd at 141; Grant Brindle (Jr./Pine Grove, Pa.; Pine Grove) – 3^rd at 174 and the second-alternate; John Battaglia (Sr./Beaver Falls, Pa.; Blackhawk) – 3^rd at 197; Kyle Hopkins (Fr./Milton, Del.; Cape Henlopen) – 4^th at 133; Clint Swartz (Sr./Milton, Pa.; Warrior Run) – 4^th at 165; and Sean Cullen (Fr./Cinnaminson, N.J.; Cinnaminson) – 5^th at 125.

Final Team Results  
1. Delaware Valley                150.5
2. Lycoming                         137
3. King’s                              107.5
4. Messiah                           94
5. Wilkes                             68
6. Scranton                          50.5
7. Albright                            45
8. Elizabethtown                   23.5

Complete Lycoming Results