Wrestling

AGGIE WRESTLERS CAPTURE THIRD STRAIGHT MIDDLE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Five Wrestlers Win Crowns, Advance To NCAA Championships
Shivak Named Wrestler of the Year, Totten Coach of the Year

SCRANTON (PA) - In a dominating performance, five Delaware Valley College wrestlers were crowned individual champions as the Aggies captured their third consecutive and 12th overall Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship at The University of Scranton.

Delaware Valley, which is ranked eighth in Division III, registered 150.5 points to outdistance Lycoming College (137 points). King's College finished third with 107.5 points followed by Messiah College (94), Wilkes University (68), The University of Scranton (50.5), Albright College (45) and Elizabethtown College (23.5).

Barry Wise (133 pounds/Spring City, PA/Benton), Dan Hall (141 pounds/Waretown, NJ/Southern Regional), Jason Shivak (174 pounds/Mont Clare, PA/Spring-Ford), Josh Housekeeper (184 pounds/ Nottingham, PA/Solanco) and Andrew Helms (197 pounds/Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) each won their individual weight classes and earned automatic berths to the NCAA Division III Championship, which will take place at Loras College (Iowa) on March 5 and 6.

In addition, Shivak reeived the John Reese awards as the conference's Wrestler of the Year and Housekeeper received the Ken Ober award for the most pins in the least amount of time (three pins in 4:12). Brandon Totten was named the Budd Whitehill MAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season.

Shivak, a junior, earned the Most Outstanding Wrestler award by picking up a pair of major decisions victories en route to his third straight conference crown. The fifth-ranked wrestler in Division III at 174 pounds and top seed at the championships opened with a bye and then recorded a 15-2 victory over fourth-seeded Grant Brindle of Lycoming in the semifinals. In the finals, Shivak dominated second-seeded Tim Pentz of Messiah, 14-2, to remain undefeated at 27-0 and earn his third trip to nationals.

Housekeeper, a senior, pinned all of three of his opponents for his second MAC title (2002) and third straight trip to nationals. The 2002 All-American and fourth-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds began the MACs by downing Ty Edwards of Albright in 86 seconds and followed with a 37-second pin of fifth-seeded Trevor Needham of Scranton. Housekeeper then needed just 2:09 to drop No. 2 Andy Hull of Lycoming to improve his mark to 27-7 on the season.

Wise, who is ranked fourth in Division III at 133 pounds, captured his first MAC title and a second trip to the NCAAs. The returning All-American and junior was the top seed and pinned Tom Elicker of Elizabethtown in 2:39. He followed with a 12-6 decision over fourth-seeded Kyle Hopkins of Lycoming and dropped Wade Ginter of Albright just 22 seconds in the second period (3:22) in the finals. Wise will take a 29-7 record to the NCAA Championships.

Helms, a junior, won his second consecutive MAC crown and trip to nationals with two pins at 197 pounds. The fifth-ranked wrestler in his weight class and top seed at the tournament had a bye in the quarterfinals and then pinned fourth-seeded Kyle Good of Albright in 1:59 to reach the finals. Helms then dropped No. 2 Jason Reilly in 4:34 for his 33rd win in 34 matches this season.

Hall, a freshman, was the second seed at 141 pounds and, following a bye, reached the finals with an 8-2 decision over No. 3 John Ambs of Lycoming. He then capped his first trip to the conference tournament with a 13-7 decision over fourth-seeded Geoff Harner of Messiah. Hall is now 21-7 on the season.

Three other Aggie wrestlers reached the championship round and finished as conference runner-ups: Jeremy Messinger (157 pounds/Nazareth, PA/Nazareth), Mike Berlanda (165 pounds/Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen) and Wayne Helms (Heavyweight/Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby).

Messinger finished second at the MACs for the second year in a row. The senior was seeded third at 157 pounds and pinned Vinny Camacho of Elizabethtown 70 seconds into their quarterfinal match-up. He then beat No. 2 Dan Logee of Messiah, 10-3, before being pinned by top-seeded Jason Smith of Lycoming in 1:26. Messinger finished the season with a 25-12 record and ended his career with a 75-42 mark.

Berlanda, a junior who placed fifth a year ago, reached the 165-pound finals by pinning Derrick Ricker of Messiah in 2:15 and by earning a 6-2 decision over second-seeded Clint Swartz of Lycoming. The third seed the met No. 1 Joe Arnone of King's College and fell in 2:15. Berlanda ended the year with a 16-11 record.

Wayne Helms, a sophomore, improved his conference finish by one spot from a year ago. He was seeded third and earned decisions over Mike Kelly of Scranton (3-1) and second-seeded Erik Murphy of Albright (3-2) to reach the finals. He was then pinned by top-seeded Tommy Snyder of Lycoming in 2:46 to finish 20-11 on the year.

Junior Mike Weston (West Hazleton, PA/Hazleton) and freshman Rob Jiminez (Toms River, NJ/Brick Memorial) placed third and fourth at 125 and 149 pounds respectively. For Weston, it was the second straight year that he took third as the fourth seed opened with a 7-6 loss to fifth-seeded Jeremy Mayer of Wilkes. He came back to pin third-seeded Sean Cullen of Lycoming in 31 seconds then avenged his loss in the consolation finals by dropping Mayer in 82 seconds. Weston ended his year with an 18-11 record.

Jiminez was seeded fourth for his first MAC tournament and opened with a technical fall victory (6:58) over fifth-seeded Donell Young of Scranton in the quarterfinals. He was then defeated by top-seeded Jim Morgan of King's, 10-1, but bounced back with a 14-3 major decision over Brandon Cuffee of Albright to reach the consolation finals. Jiminez was then edged 4-3 by third-seeded Mike Ferrara of Wilkes to finish 19-10 on the season.

2004 MIDDLE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Delaware Valley College 150.50 points
2. Lycoming College 137.00 points
3. King's College 107.50 points
4. Messiah College 94.00 points
5. Wilkes University 68.00 points
6. University of Scranton 50.50 points
7. Albright College 45.00 points
8. Elizabethtown College 23.50 points

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
125 - Jacob Clackett (Messiah) by decision over Mitch Marcks (King's), 3-2
133 - Barry Wise (DVC) by fall over Wade Ginter (Albright), 3:22
141 - Dan Hall (DVC) by decision over Geoff Harner (Messiah), 13-7
149 - Jim Morgan (King's) by decision over Sean Reese (Lycoming), 3-2
157 - Jason Smith (Lycoming) by fall over Jeremy Messinger (DVC), 1:26
165 - Joe Arnone (King's) by fall over Mike Berlanda (DVC), 2:15
174 - Jason Shivak (DVC) by major decision over Tim Pentz (Messiah), 14-2
184 - Josh Housekeeper (DVC) by fall over Andy Hull (Lycoming), 2:09
197 - Andrew Helms (DVC) by fall over Jason Reilly (King's), 4:34
Hwt - Tommy Snyder (Lycoming) by fall over Wayne Helms (DVC), 2:46

Wrestler of the Year: Jason Shivak, Delaware Valley
Coach of the Year: Brandon Totten, Delaware Valley
Most Falls/Least Time: Josh Housekeeper, Delaware Valley (3 pins in 4:12)
Rookie of the Year: Jason Reilly, King's

The 10 individual champions along with wild-card selection Mitch Marcks (King's) will compete at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at Loras College (Iowa) on March 5 and 6.

HOW DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE WRESTLERS FARED

Mike Weston - 125 pounds - Seeded 4th
Quarterfinals: Lost by decision to #5 Jeremy Mayer (Wilkes), 7-6
Consolation First Round: Bye
Consolation Semifinals: Won by fall over #3 Sean Cullen (Lycoming), 0:31
Consolation Finals: Won by fall over #5 Jeremy Mayer (Wilkes), 1:22
- Weston places 3rd for the second consecutive year and finished the season with a 18-11 record -

Barry Wise - 133 pounds - Seeded 1st (Ranked 4th Nationally)
Quarterfinals: Won by fall over Tom Elicker (Elizabethtown), 2:39
Semifinals: Won by decision over #4 Kyle Hopkins (Lycoming), 12-6
Finals: Won by fall over #2 Wade Ginter (Albright), 3:22
-Wise, a returning All-American, wins his first MAC title and now is 29-7 on the season-

Dan Hall - 141 pounds - Seeded 2nd
Quarterfinals: Bye
Semifinals: Won by decision over #3 John Ambs (Lycoming), 8-2
Finals: Won by decision over #4 Geoff Harner (Messiah), 13-7
- Hall, a freshman, captures his first MAC title and is now 21-7 on the season -

Rob Jiminez - 149 pounds - Seeded 4th
Quarterfinals: Won by technical fall over #5 Donell Young (Scranton), 6:58
Semifinals: Lost by major decision to #1 Jim Morgan (King's), 10-1
Consolation Semifinals: Won by major decision over Brandon Cuffee (Albright), 14-3
Consolation Finals: Lost by decision to #3 Mike Ferrara (Wilkes), 4-3
- Jiminez places 4th and finishes the season with a 19-10 record -

Jeremy Messinger - 157 pounds - Seeded 3rd
Quarterfinals: Won by fall over Vinny Camacho (Elizabethtown), 1:10
Semifinals: Won by decision over #2 Dan Logee (Messiah), 10-3
Finals: Lost by fall to #1 Jason Smith (Lycoming), 1:26
- Messinger, a senior, finishes his career as a two-time conference runner-up. He was 22-12 on the season and 75-42 for his career -

Mike Berlanda - 165 pounds - Seeded 3rd
Quarterfinals: Won by fall over #6 Derrick Ricker (Messiah), 2:15
Semifinals: Won by decision over #2 Clint Swartz (Lycoming), 6-2
Finals: Lost by fall to #1 Joe Arnone (King's), 2:15
- Berlanda places 2nd and finishes the season with a 16-11 record -

Jason Shivak - 174 pounds - Seeded 1st (Ranked 5th Nationally)
Quarterfinals: Bye
Semifinals: Won by major decision over #4 Grant Brindle (Lycoming), 15-2
Finals: Won by major decision to #2 Tim Pentz (Messiah), 14-2
- Shivak wins his third consecutive MAC crown and trip to nationals. He is now a perfect 27-0 on the season -

Josh Housekeeper - 184 pounds - Seeded 1st (Ranked 4th Nationally)
Quarterfinals: Won by fall over Ty Edwards (Albright), 1:26
Semifinals: Won by fall over #5 Trevor Needham (Scranton), 0:37
Finals: Won by fall over #2 Andy Hull (Lycoming), 2:09
- Housekeeper, a 2002 All-American, wins his second MAC title and will make a third trip to nationals. He is now 27-7 on the season -

Andrew Helms - 197 pounds - Seeded 1st (Ranked 5th Nationally)
Quarterfinals: Bye
Semifinals: Won by fall over #4 Kyle Good (Albright), 1:59
Finals: Won by fall over #2 Jason Reilly (King's), 4:34
- Helms wins his second consecutive MAC title and second trip to nationals. He is 33-1 on the year.

Wayne Helms - Heavyweight - Seeded 3rd
Quarterfinals: Won by decision over Mike Kelly (Scranton), 3-1
Semifinals: Won by decision over #2 Erik Murphy (Albright), 3-2
Finals: Lost by fall to #1 Tommy Snyder (Lycoming), 2:46
- Helms places second and finishes his season with a 20-11 record -