FIRST DAY OF WHITEHILL DUALS IN THE BOOKS
TCNJ, Wisc.-LaCrosse, Ithaca, and Norwich in the Semis

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa,. – Four teams remain undefeated at the 2004 Budd Whitehill Division III Duals, hosted by Lycoming College, after the first day of competition. Number-one seed College of New Jersey and number-two seed Wisconsin-LaCrosse are joined in the semifinals by fifth-seed Ithaca and sixth-seed Norwich. The host Warriors went 1-1 during the opening day and will compete in the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket when competition resumes on Saturday.

Lycoming, seeded seventh in the tournament, started the day with a 21-14 victory over the University of Chicago. Freshman Lance Wilt (Lamar, Pa.; Central Mountain) sparked the Warriors with a second-round pin at 184 pounds. The host team then fell to Wisc.-LaCrosse in the quarterfinals, 35-7. Sean Cullen (Fr./Cinnaminson, N.J.; Cinnaminson) and Kyle Hopkins (Fr./Milton, Del.; Cape Henlopen) opened the match with decision at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively, but Lycoming would be shut out the rest of the way.

The College of New Jersey advanced to the semifinals with relative ease. The Lions shutout Thiel College 44-0 in their first match. They then topped Muskingum College 28-9 and Loras College 27-6 in the quarterfinals. The College of New Jersey was led by 197-pounder Nick Vincigueara who went 3-0 with three major decisions on the day.

Wisconsin-LaCrosse qualified for the semifinals with victories over RIT, 43-9 in the first round; Olivet, 33-9 in the second round; and Lycoming, 35-7 in the quarterfinals. The Eagles had seven wrestlers go undefeated in three matches. Jim Swanson, 197 pounds, and Ryan Allen, heavy weight, each recorded two pins. Adam Kuchnia, 141 pounds, and Jason Lulloff, 184 pounds, each tallied a pin and a technical fall.

Ithaca opened the tournament with a 28-9 victory over Baldwin-Wallace College. The Bombers then advanced to the semifinals by upsetting number-four seed Springfield College 23-12. Robert Stubbs led the way for Ithaca with a technical fall and a decision at 184 pounds. Lance Dolson added two major decisions at 133 pounds.

Norwich University makes their first appearance in the semifinals of the Budd Whitehill Duals after defeating SUNY-Oswego 24-18 and Messiah College 35-10. Mike Conklin and Jake Rivers led the Cadets with a pair of pins each at 141 pounds and 157 pounds, respectively.

Action will resume on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket. The semifinals will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the finals will be at 3 p.m.