Wrestling

No. 2 Wartburg College 44, No. 27 Delaware Valley College 0

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - Wartburg College showed why it's the second-ranked team in Division III as the Knights used three pins and two technical falls to post a 44-0 shutout over 27th-ranked Delaware Valley College in a non-conference match.

Wartburg (Waverly, Iowa), who has finished first or second in Division III in 11 of the last 13 years, improved its dual meet record to 10-0.

The Aggies fell to 2-3 and were shutout for the first time since a 42-0 loss to then Division I Wilkes University in 1978. Their three losses have come against a Division II squad and two teams ranked higher than them in the Division III poll (Wartburg and No. 23 McDaniel).

The match began at 125 pounds where Delaware Valley's Josh Proctor for the first time this season. He trailed by just one, 3-2, to returning All-American Tyler Hubbard, before Hubbard recorded a takedown with 40 seconds remaining. Proctor picked up one point when Hubbard was called for stalling, but Hubbard finished with the 5-3 victory and a 3-0 Knight lead.

Wartburg then notched a major decision, technical fall and fall over the next three weights for an 18-0 advantage. Zack McCray, ranked sixth in Division III, improved to 20-1 with a 21-7 major decision over Justin Shorts (5-7) at 133. At 141, two-time national champion Dustin Hinschberger (19-5) followed with a 17-0, technical-fall triumph over two-time national qualifier Dan Hall (5-4). Jacob Naig, a returning All-American that's ranked second in Division III, improved to 14-5 as he dropped Ryan Herwig (9-5) with two seconds left in the second period (4:58).

The Knights made it 21-0 as Justin Hanson, wrestling his first match, posted a 9-3 decision over the Aggies' Jaryd Steinbacher (3-7) at 157 pounds. Dustin Bliven (7-2) and Scott Kauffman (5-0) followed with back-to-back pins at 165 and 174 pounds respectively for a 33-0 score. Bliven downed John Powell (7-7) in 1:36 while Kauffman, a returning All-American, pinned Ryan Pope (2-4) with just one second left in the first period (2:59).

At 184 pounds, Delaware Valley's Paul Donnell (4-5) took a 3-2, first-period lead over two-time national champion Akeem Carter. However, Carter scored the final seven points and improved to 8-2 with a 9-3 decision.

The match of the evening took place at 197 pounds as 2005 national runner-up Jamall Johnson battled Wartburg's T.J. Miller, who is ranked fourth in the country. Johnson (4-1) scored a takedown midway through the first period, but Miller (14-2) registered the next seven points, en route to an 8-4 victory and a 39-0 score.

Two-time national runner-up and current top heavyweight wrestler Blake Gillis (14-2) ended the night as he posted a 16-0, technical-fall victory (4:39) over Delaware Valley's Kevin Orr (12-4).

WARTBURG COLLEGE 44, DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 0
125 - Tyler Hubbard (W) by decision over Josh Proctor, 5-3 (W 3-0)
133 - Zach McKray (W) by major decision over Justin Shorts, 21-7 (W 7-0)
141 - Dustin Hinschberger (W) by technical fall over Dan Hall, 17-0; 4:58 (W 12-0)
149 - Jacob Naig (W) by fall over Ryan Herwig, 5:58 (W 18-0)
157 - Justin Hanson (W) by decision over Jaryd Steinbacher, 9-3 (W 21-0)
165 - Dustin Bliven (W) by fall over John Powell, 1:36 (W 27-0)
174 - Scott Kauffman (W) by fall over Ryan Pope, 2:59 (W 33-0)
184 - Akeem Carter (W) by decision over Paul Donnell, 9-3 (W 36-0)
197 - T.J. Miller (W) by decision over Jamall Johnson, 8-4 (W 39-0)
Hwt - Blake Gillis (W) by technical fall over Kevin Orr, 16-0; 4:39 (W 44-0)