George Advances to Nationals, Scots Place 9th in Region

February 25, 2017

Mercyhurst,Pa. – Dalton George (Williamstown, W.Va.) won the 174 lb. in the division II East Super Regional with a 5-2 win against Justan Rivera from Notre Dame College OH.  The tournament win would be the fourth in a row for the redshirt sophomore.

George reacted to the win by giving credit to his coaches, "Beat the kid in the semis who was the #1 seed in overtime 6-4, he was a previous all American.  Also, the kid in the finals was nationally ranked and I beat him 5-2.  Pinned my first two kids, I was the #5 seed going into the tournament, I have to give credit to my coaches. They've been with me every step of the way."

Dalton booked his ticket to the nationals as he won his semifinal match against the top wrestler in the region John Blankenship from Pitt Johnstown by 6-4 score.  George quickly got out to 2-0 lead with a takedown within the first minute and Blankenship answered with an escape to make the score at the end of the first 2-1. 

The score would eventually become 3 all in the third where George would be called for a stalling call that would give Blankenship a 4-3 lead, however Dalton would own the riding time advantage that would lead to a tie score and overtime.

George would go after his opponent early in the first overtime and would take Blankenship down for the win.  It would only be the second time that an OVU wrestler would qualify for the nationals, the first being Chase Long in 2013 and 2015.

Anthony Tripke (North Port, Fla.) won his 133 lb.third round consolation battle with a hard fought 9-7 win over Austin Camacci of Millersville.  Tripke used a take down early in the first to take a lead that he would not relinquish.  He would take Camacci and get a near fall late in the first to take an 8-2 lead. 

The only scoring in the second came on an escape from the Scots wrestler in the second.  Camacci would get closer in the match late as he turned Tripke late in the third to take the score to the eventual 9-7 decision.

In Tripke's second match of the day he fell to Willie Bohince of host Mercyhurst in a technical fall decision 16-0 in the second period.  Tripke was not able to generate any offense and was always fighting from underneath in the match.  The loss moved Tripke into the fourth place wrestle off.

In the fourth place wrestle off Tripke was leading 2-1 after a strong first period that saw him have a take down and then let his opponent Adam Guerriello from Gannon have an escape.  To start the second, Tripke was taken down and was unable to escape out from bottom when Guerriello took advantage and turned it into a pin for the Gannon wrestler.  Tripke ended his tournament in sixth place for his sophomore year. 

With the George's win and Tripke placing it was a milestone for the Fighting Scots program.  Head Coach Pat Sole commented, "We ended up as a team 9th. Out of 15 regional teams, which is better than I expected. The rest of the guys wrestled well just lost a lot of close matches.  First time we've had two guys place in regions."

The only other wrestler for the Scots to make it to the final day was Nicholoz Varazashvlvilli (Columbus,Ohio) at 157 lb.,  however he would be defeated in his first match of the day in the consolation round by an 8-2 decision. Nik finished 2-2 on the weekend.

The rest of the Scots lineup and their records for the weekend: 133 Colten Nangle-0-2, 141 Maverick Meeks 0-2, 149 Sam Phillips 0-2, 157, 165 Zach Willard 1-2, 184 Austin Antill 0-2, 197 Tyler Koreski and 1-2, 285 Ben Willard 0-2.

Dalton and the coaching staff will have a couple of weeks to get ready for the national tournament.  It will be held starting March 10th in Birmingham Al.

NCAA DII Super Regional - East
February 24-25, 2017
Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA

Team Scores

1. Notre Dame College (Ohio) 155.0
2. Gannon University 116.5
3. University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown 104.5
4. Mercyhurst University 93.5
5. Seton Hill University 83.5
6. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania 78.0
7. Wheeling Jesuit University 76.5
8. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania 47.0
9. Ohio Valley University 31.5
10. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania 30.5
11. West Liberty University 24.0
12. Alderson Broaddus University 20.0
13. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania 19.0
14. Long Island University/LIU Post 17.0
15. American International College 6.5

NCAA DII Super Regional -East Results for Ohio Valley University
125 - Anthony Tripke (20-15) placed 6th and scored 5.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst University) 35-2 won by tech fall over Anthony Tripke (Ohio Valley University) 20-15 (TF-1.5 6:32 (23-8))
    Cons. Round 1 - Anthony Tripke (Ohio Valley University) 20-15 received a bye () (Bye)
    Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Tripke (Ohio Valley University) 20-15 won in sudden victory - 2 over Dustin Steffenino (Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania) 14-10 (SV-2 5-3)
    Cons. Round 3 - Anthony Tripke (Ohio Valley University) 20-15 won by decision over Austin Camacci (Millersville University Of Pennsylvania) 6-6 (Dec 9-7)
    Cons. Semi - Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst University) 35-2 won by tech fall over Anthony Tripke (Ohio Valley University) 20-15 (TF-1.5 4:35 (16-0))
    5th Place Match - Abraham Guarriello (Gannon University) 11-9 won by fall over Anthony Tripke (Ohio Valley University) 20-15 (Fall 4:47)

133 - Colton Nangle (5-9) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - David Bavery (Notre Dame College (Ohio)) 4-1 won by tech fall over Colton Nangle (Ohio Valley University) 5-9 (TF-1.5 5:16 (16-1))
    Cons. Round 1 - Colton Nangle (Ohio Valley University) 5-9 received a bye () (Bye)
    Cons. Round 2 - Bryce Humphreys (West Liberty University) 4-2 won by major decision over Colton Nangle (Ohio Valley University) 5-9 (MD 15-3)

141 - Maverick Meeks (9-10) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 won by tech fall over Maverick Meeks (Ohio Valley University) 9-10 (TF-1.5 2:43 (18-2))
    Cons. Round 1 - Micah Powell (Alderson Broaddus University) 18-9 won by fall over Maverick Meeks (Ohio Valley University) 9-10 (Fall 2:09)

149 - Sam Phillips (5-10) place is unknown and scored 0.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - George Mcguire (Gannon University) 5-4 won by fall over Sam Phillips (Ohio Valley University) 5-10 (Fall 5:18)
    Cons. Round 1 - Sam Phillips (Ohio Valley University) 5-10 won by decision over Josh Cornell (West Liberty University) 0-2 (Dec 5-2)
    Cons. Round 2 - David Charles (Millersville University Of Pennsylvania) 8-4 won by fall over Sam Phillips (Ohio Valley University) 5-10 (Fall 2:33)

157 - Nikoloz Varazshvili (25-12) place is unknown and scored 3.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Adam Martz (Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania) 17-13 won by decision over Nikoloz Varazshvili (Ohio Valley University) 25-12 (Dec 8-3)
    Cons. Round 1 - Nikoloz Varazshvili (Ohio Valley University) 25-12 received a bye () (Bye)
    Cons. Round 2 - Nikoloz Varazshvili (Ohio Valley University) 25-12 won by fall over Jackson Mordente (Long Island University/LIU Post) 13-16 (Fall 1:15)
    Cons. Round 3 - Fernie Silva (Notre Dame College (Ohio)) 4-2 won by decision over Nikoloz Varazshvili (Ohio Valley University) 25-12 (Dec 8-2)

165 - Zach Willard (2-8) place is unknown and scored 2.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst University) 35-2 won by fall over Zach Willard (Ohio Valley University) 2-8 (Fall 1:52)
    Cons. Round 1 - Zach Willard (Ohio Valley University) 2-8 won by fall over Ian Frament (American International College) 0-2 (Fall 1:50)
    Cons. Round 2 - Keith Stednitz (Alderson Broaddus University) 22-7 won by fall over Zach Willard (Ohio Valley University) 2-8 (Fall 1:25)

174 - Dalton George (33-4) placed 1st and scored 19.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Dalton George (Ohio Valley University) 33-4 won by fall over Carlos Kusic (West Liberty University) 1-2 (Fall 1:18)
    Quarterfinal - Dalton George (Ohio Valley University) 33-4 won by fall over Joseph Balboni (Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania) 18-6 (Fall 2:38)
    Semifinal - Dalton George (Ohio Valley University) 33-4 won in sudden victory - 1 over John Blankenship (University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown) 4-1 (SV-1 6-4)
    1st Place Match - Dalton George (Ohio Valley University) 33-4 won by decision over Justan Rivera (Notre Dame College (Ohio)) 3-1 (Dec 5-2)

184 - Austin Antill (7-13) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Mike Green (Mercyhurst University) 17-13 won by major decision over Austin Antill (Ohio Valley University) 7-13 (MD 14-4)
    Cons. Round 1 - Austin Antill (Ohio Valley University) 7-13 received a bye () (Bye)
    Cons. Round 2 - Cody Spinks (Alderson Broaddus University) 15-2 won by fall over Austin Antill (Ohio Valley University) 7-13 (Fall 2:35)

197 - Tyler Koreski (8-13) place is unknown and scored 1.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Tyler Koreski (Ohio Valley University) 8-13 won by decision over Logan Kemp (West Liberty University) 1-2 (Dec 7-3)
    Quarterfinal - Evan Ramos (Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania) 24-2 won by decision over Tyler Koreski (Ohio Valley University) 8-13 (Dec 7-2)
    Cons. Round 2 - Ethan Budd (Gannon University) 11-8 won by fall over Tyler Koreski (Ohio Valley University) 8-13 (Fall 4:20)

285 - Ben Willard (4-14) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Andy Welton (Mercyhurst University) 34-4 won by fall over Ben Willard (Ohio Valley University) 4-14 (Fall 1:44)
    Cons. Round 1 - Lou Maser (Seton Hill University) 5-18 won by fall over Ben Willard (Ohio Valley University) 4-14 (Fall 2:51)


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