Wrestling

WRESTLING: Aggies Compete At Empire State Open

CORTLAND (NY) - The Delaware Valley College wrestling team, ranked fourth in Division III, kicked off its 2004-05 season by competing at the Empire State Open hosted by Cortland State on Sunday. Team scoring was not kept at the event.

Division I transfer Rocky Mantella (184), junior college transfer Jamall Johnson (heavyweight) and returning All-American Andrew Helms (197) were the top finishers for the Aggies as they placed third, fourth and fifth respectively in their weight classes.

Mantella, who wrestled at Indiana University last season, went 4-1 as the fourth seed at the Open and wrapped up third-place honors with an 11-7 triumph over second-seeded Carl Schmidt of Drexel.

Johnson, a transfer from Gloucester County Community College, won his first three matches to reach the semifinals where he fell by a 4-1 decision to eventual champion Payam Zarainpour of Sacred Heart. He then reached the consolation finals but was edged, 8-7, by Courtney Howard of Boston University.

Helms, who placed third at last year's NCAA Division III Championship and is ranked second in the 197-pound weight class this season, won five matches including a 9-6 triumph over Jason Manross (unattached) in the fifth-sixth place match.