Wrestling

No. 4 Delaware Valley College 43, Messiah College 3

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - The Delaware Valley College wrestling team ended its dual meet season in grand style as the fourth-ranked Aggies racked up five pins, en route to a 43-3 victory over visiting Messiah College.

Delaware Valley improved its record to 17-2 and, in the process, tied the 2002-03 squad (17-3) for the second-highest, single-season victory total in school history. Only the 18-0, 1988-89 team that finished second at the NCAA Division III Championships notched more wins than the current group.

The Aggies will now have two weeks of practice before they head to Manchester College (North Manchester, IN) for the NCAA Midwest Regionals on Saturday, February 17. A total of 16 berths (10 weight-class champions and six wild-cards) for the NCAA Division III Championships in March will be up for bids among 15 teams at the tournament.

Friday's match began at 125 pounds where Josh Proctor (24-12) held a 13-0 lead before pinning Messiah's Mark Eilersten with 55 seconds left in the first period (2:05). Mike Handleman, who was one of three Aggie seniors wrestling the final home match of their careers, followed with an 11-5 decision over Matt Bradshaw at 133 pounds. It was Handleman's fourth win of the season and it gave the Aggies a 9-0 lead.

Fellow senior Ricki LaForge, the second-ranked wrestler in Division III at 141 pounds, improved to 25-2 on the season as he cruised to an 11-4 victory over Matt Gorkos. Jaryd Steinbacher (27-9) then made it 16-0 in favor of Delaware Valley as he blanked Kevin Gin, 8-0, for a major decision at 149.

Ryan Herwig picked up a takedown just 10 seconds into his 157-pound match with Craig Gin and earned the pin 15 ticks later. The win upper Herwig's mark to 28-12 and it came against Gin, who entered the match with a 27-10 record.

The Falcons (3-11) picked up their lone points of the evening at 165 points and 2006 national qualifier Derek Ricker improved to 29-6 on the year with a tough, 5-3 decision over senior Ryan Pope (22-16).

However, Delaware Valley swept the final four weight classes, including pins in the last three. Paul Donnell (23-11) officially put the match out of 174 with a 7-3 decision over Anthony Dill. Martin Porter (24-12) then needed just 85 seconds to drop Dando Speers at 184.

Joe West (13-7) followed with a pin in 4:04 over Kees Slot at 197 pounds, and Kyle Bilquist ended the evening with a 70-second pin of Ethan Bucarey. For Bilquist, ranked third in the country at heavyweight, it was his 35th win of the year (35-4), including 16 pins.

DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 43, MESSIAH COLLEGE 3
125 - Josh Proctor (DVC) by fall over Mark Eilersten, 2:05
133 - Mike Handleman (DVC) by decision over Matt Bradshaw, 11-5
141 - Ricky LaForge (DVC) by decision over Matt Gorkos, 11-4
149 - Jaryd Steinbacher (DVC) by major decision over Kevin Gin, 8-0
157 - Ryan Herwig (DVC) by fall over Craig Gin, 0:35
165 - Derek Ricker (M) by decision over Ryan Pope, 5-3
174 - Paul Donnell (DVC) by decision over Anthony Dill, 7-3
184 - Martin Porter (DVC) by fall over Dando Speers, 1:25
197 - Joe West (DVC) by fall over Kees Slot, 4:04
285 - Kyle Bilquist (DVC) by fall over Ethan Bucarey, 1:10