Wrestling

Delaware Valley 38, King's College 11

WILKES-BARRE (PA) – Visiting Delaware Valley College, the four-time defending Middle Atlantic Conference champions, won eight of 10 matches en route to posting a 38-11 victory over hosting King’s College.

With the win, Delaware Valley, ranked 25th nationally in Division III, improved to 1-1 in dual meets while King’s fell to 0-1.

In the first match at 125-pounds, Zach Holt of Delaware Valley took a 2-0 lead on King’s Jeff Mazurek on a first period takedown, and then added a second period reversal for a 4-0 advantage. An escape by Mazurek would cut the lead to 4-1 entering the final period. Holt would add a late takedown and riding time point for a 7-1 decision.

At 133, King’s Dave Morgan, a transfer from Division I University of Pittsburgh, took an 8-2 first period lead over Mike Handleman on three takedowns and two near fall points. After a Handleman escape, Morgan (7-0) scored a takedown to build a 10-3 lead. After another Handleman escape, Morgan would score a takedown and three back points for a 15-4 advantage heading into the third period. Morgan scored an escape and takedown for an 18-4 lead before another Handleman escape. Morgan then added a takedown for 20-5 technical fall at 5:54 to give the Monarchs a 5-3 lead.

Delaware Valley’s Brandon Earlston took a 6-2 first period lead over Dave Prutzman at 141-pounds on the strength of three takedowns. Earlston would then build an 8-3 lead on a takedown with 0:19 left in the second stanza. Earlston followed with a third period reversal a five near fall point and a riding time point to post a 16-4 major decision to give the Aggies a 7-5 lead. Ryan Herwig then gave Delaware Valley a 13-5 lead by pinning King’s Ryan Trees in 0:19 at 149-pounds.

After a scoreless first period at 157-pounds Delaware Valley freshman Greg Miele took a 2-0 lead over King’s 2005 MAC runner-up Drew Dehaut on an early second period reversal. Miele would add three takedowns to take an 8-3 lead into the final period. A riding time point would give Miele a 9-3 decision as the Aggie lead grew to 16-5.

At 165, Aggie senior John Powell used a pair of takedowns to take a 4-1 first period lead over King’s freshman Chris Murtha. Powell added a second period escape and takedown to extend the advantage to 7-2 heading into the third period. Two more Powell takedowns and a riding time point would result in a 12-3 major decision and a 20-5 led in the team scoring.

Delaware Valley’s Ryan Pope would register a takedown and six near fall points to take an 8-0 first period lead over King’s Zach Dietrick at 174-pounds. Pope would add five more takedowns before registering a pin at 6:38 to give the Aggies a 26-5 advantage.

At 184, Mike Berlanda posted a first period takedown to take a 2-0 first period lead over King’s Mike O’Hara. Berlanda would escape to start the second period but O’Hara would score a takedown to cut the lead to 3-2. Berlanda would then reverse O’Hara to his back to register a pin at 3:30 and give the Aggies a 32-5 lead.

King’s would halt a six-match Aggie win streak at 197-pounds when Jason Reilly, ranked eighth nationally in Division III, took Martin Porter down to his back to post a pin in 0:19 of the first period to cut the lead to 32-11. With the win, Reilly improved to 8-0 on the year.

In the final match at 285-pounds Delaware Valley’s Kevin Orr took a 2-0 lead over King’s Justin Bender on a second-period reversal, and then used a cradle to post a pin at 2:50 as the Aggies would register a 38-11 victory.

Delaware Valley 38, King’s 11
125: Zach Holt (D) by decision over Jeff Mazurek, 7-1 (3-0 DVC)
133: Dave Morgan (K) by technical fall over Mike Handleman, 20-5, 5:54 (5-3 K)
141: Brandon Earlston (D) by major decision over Dave Prutzman, 16-4 (7-5 DVC)
149: Ryan Herwig (D) by fall over Ryan Trees, 0:19 (13-5 DVC)
157: Greg Miele (D) by decision over Drew Dehaut, 9-3 (16-5 DVC)
165: John Powell (D) by major decision over Chris Murtha, 12-3 (20-5 DVC)
174: Ryan Pope (D) by fall over Zach Dietrick, 6:38 (26-5 DVC)
184: Mike Berlanda (D) by fall over Mike O’Hara, 3:30 (32-5 DVC)
197: Jason Reilly (K) by fall over Martin Porter (D), 0:19 (32-11 DVC)
285: Kevin Orr (D) by fall over Justin Bender, 2:50 (38-11 DVC)