Wrestling

Delaware Valley College 33, Elizabethtown College 13

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - 2006 NCAA qualifiers Jaryd Steinbacher and Ryan Herwig notched pins at 149 and 157 pounds respectively to help lead nationally-ranked Delaware Valley College to a 33-13 victory over Elizabethtown College. The win improved the Aggies, ranked sixth in Division III, to 2-0 in dual meets. The Blue Jays fell to 1-1.

Elizabethtown jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the first two weight classes. Peter Achilles (7-4) began the match with a 9-1 major decision over Jake Sawyer (6-7) at 125, and Terry Bartholomew (6-6) erased a 4-3 deficit and pinned the Aggies' Justin Shorts (4-7) at 4:12 of their 133-pound match.

However, Delaware Valley won five straight weight classes after that to build a 23-10 lead. Ricky LaForge, ranked eighth in Division III at 141 pounds, had five near-falls in the first period and upped his record to 9-1 with a 16-0 technical fall victory over Drew Winegar (2-6).

Steinbacher then gave the Aggies the lead for good as the 149-pounder needed just 67 seconds to pin Christopher McCooey (0-5) and improve his record to 13-3. Herwig (11-3) followed at 157 and the junior dropped Mike Lussier (4-8) in 1:41 for a 17-10 Delaware Valley advantage.

Ryan Pope and Paul Donnell then recorded decisions at 165 and 174 pounds respectively for a 23-10 score. Pope improved to a 12-5 with a 3-2 triumph over Paul Connor (2-5) while Donnell's 10-5 victory over Brett Epps (5-6) was his 10th in 13 matches.

Elizabethtown's Josh Herbert (6-6) ended the Aggie run with a 9-3 decision over Martin Porter (14-5) at 184 pounds. However, Kevin Orr clinched the match for Delaware Valley and improved to 9-4 with an 11-3 major decision over Deron Sharp (10-5) at 197 pounds.

Kyle Bilquist then ended the match in style as he pinned Michael Daub (0-1) in just 1:49 of their heavyweight match. It was the sophomore transfer's team-best 17th win in 19 matches, including eight by fall.


DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 33, ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE 13
125 - Peter Achilles (E) by major decision over Jake Sawyer, 9-1
133 - Terry Bartholomew (E) by fall over Justin Shorts, 4:12
141 - Ricky LaForge (DVC) by technical fall over Drew Winegar, 16-0 (3:30)
149 - Jaryd Steinbacher (DVC) by fall over Christopher McCooey, 1:07
157 - Ryan Herwig (DVC) by fall over Mike Lussier, 1:41
165 - Ryan Pope (DVC) by decision over Paul Connor, 3-2
174 - Paul Donnell (DVC) by decision over Brett Epps, 10-5
184 - Josh Herbert (E) by decision over Martin Porter, 9-3
197 - Kevin Orr (DVC) by major decision over Deron Sharp, 11-3
285 - Kyle Bilquist (DVC) by fall over Michael Daub, 1:49