Wrestling

Delaware Valley College 43, Messiah College 3

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - On Senior Night, Josh Housekeeper became just the seventh wrestler in Delaware Valley College history to win 100 matches in a career as the Aggies notched a 43-3 victory over visiting Messiah College in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) match.

Delaware Valley, which is ranked ninth in the latest Division III poll, upped its record to 15-5 overall and 7-0 in the MAC. It is the second straight season that the Aggies have gone unbeaten in the conference during the regular season. Messiah fell to 7-6 with the loss.

Housekeeper, a two-time national qualifier and 2002 All-American (sixth place finish at the NCAA Championships) dominated Tony Valenti in the final home match of his career. He had a trio of three-point near falls en route to a 17-1 technical fall victory. Housekeeper, who is ranked fourth in Division III at 184 pounds, improved to 22-7 on the season and 100-39 during his four years.

Fellow senior Jeremy Messinger capped his home career by pinning Kevin Gin just 37 seconds into their 157-pound bout. Messinger is now 19-10 on the year and 72-40 for his career. He was the MAC runner-up at 149 pounds last season.

The Falcons won the first match of the evening as Jacob Clackett earned an 8-3 decision over Mike Weston at 125 pounds, but Delaware Valley took the remaining nine weight classes including three pins and three technical falls.

Barry Wise gave the Aggies the lead for good as he registered a 15-0, second-period technical fall over Ben Ewig at 133 pounds. Wise is now 25-6 and ranked fourth in Division III.

Freshmen Dan Hall and Rob Jiminez followed with decisions at 141 and 149 pounds. Hall upped his mark to 19-7 with a 6-0 blanking of Geoff Harner while Jiminez's 7-6 edging of Matt Gorkos improved his mark to 10-7.

Messinger's pin gave Delaware Valley a 17-3 lead and Mike Berlanda upped it to 22-3 with a 23-7 technical fall triumph over Anthony Dill at 165 pounds. Berlanda is now 13-11 on the season.

A trio of nationally-ranked wrestlers followed with two pins and a technical fall for a 39-3 advantage. Shivak continued his unbeaten season (23-0) as the two-time national qualifier and sixth-ranked wrestler in Division III dropped Tim Pentz 41 seconds into the second period (3:41) at 174 pounds. Housekeeper followed with his win and 197-pounder Andrew Helms, who is ranked fifth nationally in his weight class, won his 29th match in 30 attempts as he pinned Ethan Bucarey in 70 seconds.

Wayne Helms ended the match by improving to 15-9 at heavyweight with a 13-4 major decision over Kevin English.

DELAWARE VALLEY 43, MESSIAH COLLEGE 3
125 - Jacob Clackett (M) by decision over Mike Weston, 8-3
133 - Barry Wise (DVC) by technical fall over Ben Ewig, 15-0 (4:58)
141 - Dan Hall (DVC) by decision over Geoff Harner, 6-0
149 - Rob Jiminez (DVC) by decision over Matt Gorkos 7-6
157 - Jeremy Messinger (DVC) by fall over Kevin Gin, 0:37
165 - Mike Berlanda (DVC) by technical fall over Anthony Dill, 23-7 (6:36)
174 - Jason Shivak (DVC) by fall over Tim Pentz, 3:41
184 - Josh Housekeeper (DVC) by technical fall over Tony Valenti, 16-1(7:00)
197 - Andrew Helms (DVC) by fall over Ethan Bucarey; 1:10
Hwt - Wayne Helms (DVC) by major decision over Kevin English, 13-4