College roundup: Aggies impressive in last two wins

by Don Seeley, Pottstown Mercury Sports Editor

Posted on December 23, 2008

DOYLESTOWN — If there were any questions about Delaware Valley being No. 3 in the NCAA Division III rankings, the Aggies sure provided a couple of convincing answers last week.

The Aggies took care of a pair of Division I-A guests, destroying both Davidson (27-12) and Delaware State (40-7) to close out the 2008 portion of its schedule on a high note ... and with a 3-0-1 overall mark.

Teammates Chris Sheetz and Brandon Clemmer, both graduates of Upper Perkiomen, won both of their matches, while Rocky Mantella (Council Rock) added another win.

Sheetz, ranked fifth at 125, pinned both of his opponents to improve to 15-2. Clemmer, ranked fourth at 133, had a decision and a pin to improve to 9-3. And Mantella, a former PIAA state champion back in 2001, posted an 8-0 major to remain unbeaten at 4-0.

Delaware Valley's Eric McCann (Pennridge) lost a narrow decision at 141 against Davidson, dropping his record to 7-4.

EAGLES TAKE TWO: Lock Haven used a couple of wins from Nick Hyatt (Boyertown) to sweep a double-dual at Millersville. The Eagles had no trouble with Princeton in a 40-6 romp, then took care of the host Marauders, 31-15. Hyatt, a 125-pound sophomore, had a pin and 10-1 major on the day to improve to 13-7 on the season.

Millersville managed a split, defeating Princeton by a 40-6 margin. The Marauders got two wins from Shane Smith (Upper Perkiomen) at 174, while Sean Reed (Springfield-Delco) and John Lester (Central Bucks South) split their two bouts at 133 and 149, respectively.

BULLETS ON TARGET: Bucknell hosted a quadrangular last week and swept Drexel (23-16), Cleveland State (32-13), and Wagner (46-6), as Jay Hahn (Great Valley) split two bouts at 197 and won another when he moved up to heavyweight. ... Drexel's Brian Stouffer (Perkiomen Valley) split his two bouts on the day at 174 pounds.

OVERMATCHED: No. 9 Lehigh had no trouble with Rider, rolling to a 25-9 victory this past weekend. Rider's Fred Rodgers (Boyertown) dropped a 3-2 decision at 141 pounds.

A MEDAL IN RENO: North Carolina's Mike Rappo (Council Rock South) won five of seven matches to finish fourth at 133 pounds in last week's college bracket of the Reno Tournament of Champions. Both of Rappo's losses were against Oklahoma State's Chris Notte, who eked out a 3-2 decision in the quarterfinals and a 9-5 decision in the third-place final. ... Liberty's Tim Harner (Norristown) and Brad Clark (Methacton) were both 1-2 at 149 and 165, respectively. ... No. 12 Oklahoma State won the team title, while No. 17 Edinboro was second.

HONORABLE: New York University's Matt Magill (Great Valley) was named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Wrestler of the Week last Monday. Magill is 17-3 on the season.

BACK ON THE MATS: Ursinus College, with head coach Bill Racich (Plymouth-Whitemarsh) in his 29th season with the Bears, returns from a three-week layoff next Monday in the Citrus Duals down in Florida. Among Racich's regulars this season are freshman Connor McCormick (Owen J. Roberts) and junior Mike Schwager (Boyertown) at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively.

MOVING ON UP: West Chester University's return to wrestling has been noticed by more than a few voters on the National College Wrestling Association's ranking panel. The Golden Rams are at No. 12, thanks in part to 10 District 1 graduates. They are Mike Flynn (Marple-Newtown), 4-0 at 133; Anthony Coyle (Upper Darby), 0-1 at 141; Paul Girafalco (Downingtown East), 3-1 at 141; John Girafalco (Downingtown East), 2-1 at 149; Perry Dortone (Marple-Newtown), 1-2 at 157; Dillon Evans (Council Rock South), 5-0 at 157; Ryan Colley (Downingtown West), 2-2 at 174; Sean Fitzgerald (Downingtown West), 7-2 at 184; Brandon Banks (Wissahickon), 4-2 at 197; and P.J. Steininger (Sun Valley), 4-2 at 285. ... No. 13 ranked Williamson Trade, a NWCA power in recent years and wrestling under head coach Andrew Helms (Upper Darby) this season, features a number of District 1 graduates in its lineup as well. Among the team leaders are Paul Capriolo (Conestoga), 7-2 at 125; Chuckie Nickle (Garnet Valley), 5-4 at 133; Justin Adamek (Chichester), 6-4 at 141; George Tascone (Springfield-Delco), 5-4 at 149; Eric Powell (Plymouth-Whitemarsh), 10-4 at 157; and Phillip Rayor (Ridley), 8-4 at 184.

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