Wrestling News

AGGIES MOVE UP TWO SPOTS TO FOURTH IN DIVISION III POLL
Five Wrestlers Ranked Individually

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - The Delaware Valley College wrestling team moved up two spots to fourth in the latest Brute-Adidas/National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III poll while five Aggies are ranked individually, including three that are second, in their respective weight classes.

Delaware Valley, which is 4-2 in dual meets and has a first-place showing at the York Invitational to its credit, is behind only Wartburg College (IA), defending national champion Augsburg College (MN) and University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. The Aggies lone losses are to Wartburg, which was ranked second at the time, and Wisconsin-LaCrosse at last Saturday's North/South Duals at Ursinus College.

Individually, senior Dan Hall (Waretown, NJ/Southern Regional) and Kyle Bilquist (Toms River, NJ/Tom River South) moved up to second at 141 pounds and heavyweight respectively. Junior Mike Wilcox (Buena, NJ/Buena) entered the poll for the first time this season and shot all the way up to second at 184 pounds. Freshman Jesse Harrington (New Providence, NJ/Bound Brook) is ranked seventh at 149 pounds while sophomore Joe West (Washington, PA/Trinity) is ninth at 197 pounds.

Hall, a three-time national qualifier who missed all of last season with an injury, is 14-4 with four pins this year. He was ranked third in the last poll, but is coming off a 4-0 showing at the North/South Duals, including a 5-2 decision over then second-ranked Zach McKray of Wartburg. Hall also has a second-place finish at the York Invitational to his credit.

Bilquist, a 2007 national qualifier, jumped from fourth to second after taking top honors at the Sunshine Open and knocking off the fifth and eighth-ranked wrestlers at the North/South Duals. He has won 14 of 15 matches (four pins) on the season and also placed first at the York Invitational.

Wilcox, a transfer from Gloucester Community College, makes his first appearance in the national rankings thanks to an 11-1 record (three pins) and first-place showings at both the York Invitational and the Sunshine Open.

Harrington is 15-2 (one pin) with a pair of first-place finishes (Central Jersey Open and York Invitational) and a second-place effort (Sunshine Open) to his credit.

West has also taken first at Central Jersey and York and second at the Sunshine Open in his weight class. He has won 14 of 18 matches with five pins on the year.

Delaware Valley heads to Iowa for the prestigious NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals that starts on Saturday, January 12. The Aggies are seeded fourth in the 16-team tournament that includes nine teams ranked in the top 20. They will take on St. Olaf College in the opening round with a potential match-up with fifth-ranked Luther College in the quarterfinals.