Wrestling

NWCA/CLIFF KEEN DIVISION III NATIONAL DUALS - DAY TWO
Semifinals: Wartburg College 36, Delaware Valley College 6
Consolation Finals: Delaware Valley College 21, Johnson & Wales University 17

CEDAR FALLS (IA) - The Delaware Valley College wrestling team capped a memorable weekend by finishing in third place - three spots higher than its seeding - at the 2007 NWCA/Cliff Keen Division III National Duals hosted by The University of Northern Iowa.

The Aggies, ranked eighth in last week's Division III poll, opened Sunday's action with a 36-6 loss to second-ranked and defending national champion Wartburg College (IA) in the semifinals. That put them in the consolation finals where they came from behind to defeat fifth-seeded and sixth-ranked Johnson & Wales University (RI), 21-17. The victory avenged a 25-12 loss to Johnson & Wales back in December and improved the squad to 9-2 in dual meets.

Delaware Valley reached the semifinals with a pair of come-from-behind wins on Saturday. The Aggies opened the tournament with a 26-18 victory over No. 21 North Central College (IL) and they followed with a thrilling, 25-17 upset of third-seeded and fourth-ranked Luther College (IA).

Delaware Valley trailed Johnson & Wales, 17-9, heading into the final three weight classes of the match. However, the Aggies swept the three beginning with Martin Porter's pin of Bryan Lenhardt just 1:48 into their 184-pound match. Kevin Orr than gave Delaware Valley an 18-17 advantage by edging Diego Crespo, 6-5 at 197 pounds.

That left it all up to sophomore heavyweight Kyle Bilquist, a situation that he faced and came through in during both of Saturday's matches. And Bilquist, ranked eighth in his weight class in Divison III, came through again, this time with a takedown in overtime for a 4-2 triumph over Marquise Johnson.

Bilquist went 3-1 in the tournament including a pin over fourth-ranked John Miller of Luther, to improve his record to 27-4. His lone loss at the duals was a 7-3 setback to top-ranked and three-time NCAA runner-up Blake Gillis of Wartburg.

Ricky LaForge (141), Jaryd Steinbacher (149) and Ryan Herwigs (157) also won their matches against Johnson & Wales, all by decision. LaForge was also the lone victor against Wartburg as he dropped Tyler Everson with 44 seconds in the first period (2:16). LaForge, ranked fourth nationally in her weight class, went a perfect 4-0 at the National Duals with two pins, a decision and a forfeit as he improved his record to 18-1.

SEMIFINALS: WARTBURG COLLEGE 36, DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 6
125 - Robert Struthers (W) by decision over Josh Proctor, 8-2
133 - Jacob Helver (W) by major decision over Mike Handleman, 12-4
141 - Ricky LaForge (DVC) by fall over Tyler Eversaon, 2:16 W 7-6
149 - Adam Weber (W) by major decision over Jaryd Steinbacher, 13-3
157 - Aaron Wernimont (W) by decision over Ryan Herwig, 7-4
165 - Jason Knipp (W) by major decision over Ryan Pope, 13-3
174 - Jason Zastrow (W) by fall over Paul Donnell, 3:52
184 - Romeo Djoumessi (W) by fall over Martin Porter, 4:17
197 - Tyler Miller (W) by decision over Kevin Orr, 2-0
285 - Blake Gillis (W) by decision over Kyle Bilquist, 7-3

CONSOLATION FINALS: DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 21, JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY. 17
125 - Brandon McDonough (J&W) by decision over Josh Proctor, 7-3
133 - Michael Bastante (J&W) by decision over Justin Shorts, 11-8
141 - Ricky LaForge (DVC) by decision over Stephen Eberle, 6-2
149 - Jaryd Steinbacher (DVC) by decision over Chris Wells, 10-9
157 - Ryan Herwig (DVC) by decision over Pete Reilly, 6-2
165 - Steve Martell (J&W) by fall over Ryan Pope, 4:30
174 - Jerome Owens (J&W) by technical fall over Paul Donnell, 22-7 (7:00)
184 - Martin Porter (DVC) by fall over Bryan Lenhardt, 1:48
197 - Kevin Orr (DVC) by decision over Diego Crespo, 6-5
285 - Kyle Bilquist (DVC) by decision over Marquise Johnson, 4-2 TB