WARRIOR WRESTLING PLACES SECOND AT MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Qualifies Three Student-Athletes for National Championships

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Lycoming College wrestling team competed in the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, Saturday afternoon, at Wilkes University. The Warriors placed second as a team and qualified three student-athletes for the NCAA Division III National Championships.

Tommy Snyder (Jr./New Columbia, Pa.; Milton) led Lycoming by defending his conference title at heavyweight. After receiving a bye in the quarterfinals as the number-one seed, Snyder defeated Jim Bishop of King’s College by major decision, 12-3. He then topped Mike Moore of Delaware Valley College, 3-1 in overtime of the championship bout to earn his second trip to the national tournament.

Grant Brindle (Jr./Pine Grove, Pa.; Pine Grove) will join Snyder at the national championships after winning the 165-pound MAC title. Brindle marched through his weight class, pinning Tom Leggio of Wilkes University in 2:25 during the quarterfinals, and Derek Ricker of Messiah College in 5:44 during the semifinals. In the title bout, Brindle defeated defending conference champ Joe Arnone of King’s College 7-2.

The Warriors will also send Sean Cullen (So./Cinnaminson, N.J.; Cinnaminson) to the national tournament after he placed second at 133 pounds and received one of the MACs two wild-card berths. Cullen opened the competition with a pin of Billy McEvoy of Wilkes University at 1:08 of their quarterfinal bout. He then topped Wade Ginter of Albright College, 10-5, in the semis to advance to the championship. In the finals, Cullen fell to two-time defending champion Barry Wise of Delaware Valley College, 8-2.

Lycoming’s Sean Reese (Sr./Milton, Pa.; Milton) will be the first-alternate from the MAC after going 3-1 and placing third at 149 pounds.

“I’m extremely proud of our entire team,” said Warrior head coach Roger Crebs. “We started the season just 4-4 in dual matches, but battled back to finish 20-5. Then today we put forth a solid effort and came away with a runner-up finish. It was a great way to send our seniors out. We’re excited that at least three of our wrestlers will be making the trip to the NCAA tournament and we look forward to having some more success on the national stage.”

The NCAA Division III Championships will be held at St. Olaf College in Minnesota the weekend of March 4-5.

Final Team Scores
1. Delaware Valley                175
2. Lycoming                          131.5
3. Messiah                             117
4. King’s                                95
5. Wilkes                                87.5
6. Elizabethtown                   46.5
7. Scranton                            40.5
8. Albright                             23.5 

Individual results for Lycoming wrestlers
125 pounds – Nick Mascellino (So./Hopatcong, N.J.; Hopatcong) – 6^th place
                W, 5-2 vs. Rich Russell, Scranton
                LBF, 4:01 vs. Jeremy Mayer, Wilkes
                LBF, 3:33 vs. Josh Cragg, Messiah
                LBH, 3:49 vs. Rich Russell, Scranton

133 pounds – Sean Cullen (So./Cinnaminson, N.J.; Cinnaminson) – 2^nd place
                WBF, 1:08 vs. Billy McEvoy, Wilkes
                W, 10-5 vs. Wade Ginter, Albright
                L, 8-2 vs. Barry Wise, Delaware Valley
 
141 pounds – Eric Snyder (Sr./Milton, Pa.; Milton) – 5^th place
                L, 7-5 vs. Matt Gorkos, Messiah
                WBTF, 6:22 vs. Tom Elicker, Elizabethtown
                L, 7-1 vs. Scott Prutzman, King’s
                WBF 1:16 vs. Joe Yutko, Wilkes

149 pounds – Sean Reese (Sr./Milton, Pa.; Milton) – 3^rd place
                W, Dflt. vs. Pat Murray, Albright
                L, 13-7 vs. Rick Frondorf, Delaware Valley
                W, 6-0 vs. Chris Sullivan, King’s
                W, 7-0 vs. Tim McGann, Messiah

157 pounds – Jason Smith (Jr./Hughesville, Pa.; Hughesville) – 3^rd place
                L, 8-4 vs. Drew Dehaut, King’s
                W, 11-0 vs. Brandon Cuffee, Albright
                W, 5-1 vs. Nick Barber, Scranton
                W, 3-2 vs. Anthony Dill, Messiah

165 pounds – Grant Brindle (Jr./Pine Grove, Pa.; Pine Grove) – 1^st place
                WBF, 2:25 vs. Tom Leggio, Wilkes
                WBF, 5:44 vs. Derek Ricker, Messiah
                W, 7-2 vs. Joe Arnone, King’s 

174 pounds – Derek Crane (Sr./Elizabethtown, Pa.; Elizabethtown) – 2^nd place
                W, 6-2 vs. Zach Dietrick, King’s
                W, 5-2 vs. Kyle Lenio, Wilkes
                L, 4-1 vs. Jason Shivak, Delaware Valley

184 pounds – Matt Miller (Fr./Montgomery, Pa.; Muncy) – 4^th place
                W, 15-4 vs. Trevor Needham, Scranton
                L, 9-2 vs. Andrew Helms, Delaware Valley
                WBF, 2:06 vs. Paul LaPlaca, Albright
                L, 5-2 vs. Jon Neyerlin, Wilkes

197 pounds – Kevin Colton Craig (Sr./Flanders, N.J.; W. Morris Mendham) – 4^th place
                WBF, 0:57 vs. Chad Bartholomew, Elizabethtown
                L, 11-3 vs. Brandon Kelly, Wilkes
                WBF, 1:27 vs. Mike Orfanos, Messiah
                L, 6-3 vs. Jason Reilly, King’s

285 pounds – Tommy Snyder (Jr./New Columbia, Pa.; Milton) – 1^st place
                BYE
                W, 12-3 vs. Jim Bishop, King’s
                W, 3-1 ot vs. Mike Moore, Delaware Valley