PA Grabs 3 NCAA Division III National Championships in Hershey

The GIANT Center in Hershey, PA held a weekend full of wrestling but it wasn’t the usual PIAA wrestling. In fact, it was a homecoming for many of the top NCAA Division III wrestlers who competed in the GIANT Center during their high school careers.

Three Pennsylvania wrestlers earned the highest honor by claiming a NCAA Division III National Championship.

At 133 lbs. Wilkes University true freshman Matt Grossman (Manheim Township) entered as the fifth seed but advanced into the semifinals where he faced fellow Keystone State wrestler and #1 seed Nathaniel Giorgio (Coast Guard/Schuylkill Valley). In that match true frosh Grossman won (3-1) to advance into the NCAA Finals at 133 lbs. In the finals Grossman faced an unseeded wrestler Chad Bartschenfeld of Augsburg. Grossman, a former PIAA State Runner-up and 2014 PIAA State Medalist for Manheim Township, reached new heights winning a (4-3) decision to capture his first career NCAA Division III Championship.

Following up at 141 lbs. was former Delaware Valley wrestler Carey “CJ” Palmer of Hunter College in New York City. Palmer is a 2012 graduate of Delaware Valley where he was a 2x PIAA State Third Place Medalist. The redshirt sophomore entered as the #5 seed at 141 lbs. and after defeating the #4 seed Palmer advanced into the semifinals where he met returning NCAA Division III Champion Kaleb Loht (Messiah College/Indian Valley). In that match Palmer escaped to earn a (3-2) victory and advance into the NCAA Division III National Finals. In order to claim the National Championship Palmer had to get through #2 seed Drew Van Anrooy of Luther. After a a tied score in regulation Palmer secured the National Championship with a takedown (4-2 OT). Returning National Champion Kaleb Loht bounced back and finished in third place for Messiah.

At 157 lbs. former South Fayette wrestler and PIAA State Champion Nick Carr returned to the NCAA Division III Tournament with a vengeance. Last season Carr was a NCAA National runner-up at 165 lbs. in his first season at Washington & Jefferson College. This season Carr dropped to 157 lbs. and entered the Tournament undefeated at (23-0). Carr nearly missed a chance for a National Championship in the first round when he needed overtime to get by Reed Van Anrooy of Luther (6-4 OT). Carr followed up the narrow victory with two convincing wins to advance into his second straight National finals. In the finals Carr faced #2 seed Reece Lefever of Wabash who was an All-American last season at 157 lbs. In the finals Carr became W&J’s first ever National Champion in wrestling with a (6-2) decision capping his undefeated season (27-0). The 2x PIAA State Finalist and 1x Champion matched his high school accomplishments becoming a 2x NCAA Finalist and 1x Champion with another year of eligibility remaining.

In total 14 Pennsylvania Natives earned All-American honors in Hershey, PA.

 

125 Results

1st Place – Mike Fuenffinger of Augsburg
2nd Place – Lucas Malmberg of Messiah
3rd Place – Paul Bewak of Johns Hopkins (Hempfield Area)
4th Place – Jesse Gunter of Baldwin Wallace
5th Place – Jake Agnitsch of Wartburg
6th Place – Guesseppe Rea of Wilkes (Stroudsburg)
7th Place – Daniel Page of Central (IA)
8th Place – Brian Amato of Worcester Polytechnic Institute

 
1st Place Match
Mike Fuenffinger (Augsburg) 34-1, Sr. over Lucas Malmberg (Messiah) 40-3, So. (MD 15-2).

 
3rd Place Match
Paul Bewak (Johns Hopkins) 38-4, Sr. over Jesse Gunter (Baldwin Wallace) 6-3, RS So. (Dec 6-3).

 
5th Place Match
Jake Agnitsch (Wartburg) 28-7, Sr. over Guesseppe Rea (Wilkes) 35-5, RS Jr. (Dec 3-2).

 
7th Place Match
Daniel Page (Central (IA)) 27-8, Sr. over Brian Amato (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) 14-7, So. (MD 13-0).

 

133 Results

1st Place – Matthew Grossmann of Wilkes (Manheim Township)
2nd Place – Chad Bartschenfeld of Augsburg
3rd Place – Evan Obert of Luther
4th Place – Alex Gomez of Ithaca
5th Place – Nathaniel Giorgio of U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Schuykill Valley)
6th Place – Nathan Pike of New York University
7th Place – Zac Haynes of Delaware Valley (Council Rock North)
8th Place – Connor Campo of Wartburg

 
1st Place Match
Matthew Grossmann (Wilkes) 35-6, Fr. over Chad Bartschenfeld (Augsburg) 30-12, Sr. (Dec 4-3).

 
3rd Place Match
Evan Obert (Luther) 27-7, Sr. over Alex Gomez (Ithaca) 20-5, Sr. (Dec 9-4).

 
5th Place Match
Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Coast Guard Academy) 41-2, Sr. over Nathan Pike (New York University) 25-9, So. (Dec 8-5).

 
7th Place Match
Zac Haynes (Delaware Valley) 29-9, Sr. over Connor Campo (Wartburg) 27-7, So. (Dec 5-4).

 

141 Results

1st Place – Cary Palmer of Hunter (Delaware Valley)
2nd Place – Drew Van Anrooy of Luther
3rd Place – Kaleb Loht of Messiah (Indian Valley)
4th Place – Brandon Jones of New York University
5th Place – Nick Steger of Loras
6th Place – Layten Binion of North Central (IL)
7th Place – Matt Adcock of Wisconsin-Whitewater
8th Place – Michael Ferinde of Johnson & Wales (RI)

 
1st Place Match
Cary Palmer (Hunter) 35-1, Jr. over Drew Van Anrooy (Luther) 25-3, RS Jr. (SV-2 4-2).

 
3rd Place Match
Kaleb Loht (Messiah) 39-1, Sr. over Brandon Jones (New York University) 25-5, RS Sr. (Fall 1:41).

 
5th Place Match
Nick Steger (Loras) 28-3, So. over Layten Binion (North Central (IL)) 16-6, RS So. (Dec 4-1).

 
7th Place Match
Matt Adcock (Wisconsin-Whitewater) 6-2, RS So. over Michael Ferinde (Johnson & Wales (RI)) 35-11, Sr. (Dec 3-2).

 

149 Results

1st Place – Kenneth Martin of Wartburg
2nd Place – Vincent Fava of Delaware Valley
3rd Place – Brad Mayville of Rochester Institute Of Technology
4th Place – Derek Arnold of Ursinus
5th Place – Elroy Perkin of Wisconsin-Whitewater
6th Place – Dan Mirman of John Carroll
7th Place – Will Keeter of Augsburg
8th Place – Luke Lohr of Waynesburg (Somerset)

 
1st Place Match
Kenneth Martin (Wartburg) 30-3, So. over Vincent Fava (Delaware Valley) 26-4, RS Sr. (Dec 8-3).

 
3rd Place Match
Brad Mayville (Rochester Institute Of Technology) 33-5, Sr. over Derek Arnold (Ursinus) 38-3, So. (Fall 5:58).

 
5th Place Match
Elroy Perkin (Wisconsin-Whitewater) 10-3, RS Jr. over Dan Mirman (John Carroll) 27-4, Jr. (Fall 2:48).

 
7th Place Match
Will Keeter (Augsburg) 33-13, Sr. over Luke Lohr (Waynesburg) 39-7, RS Sr. (Dec 11-9).

 

157 Results

1st Place – Nick Carr of Washington And Jefferson College (South Fayette)
2nd Place – Reece Lefever of Wabash
3rd Place – Jorge Lopez of Williams College
4th Place – Steven DeWitt of Loras
5th Place – Drew Wagenhoffer of Wartburg
6th Place – Kevin Collins of Ithaca
7th Place – Jon Garrison of Mount Union
8th Place – Antonio Mancella of The College Of New Jersey

 
1st Place Match
Nick Carr (Washington And Jefferson College) 27-0, RS Jr. over Reece Lefever (Wabash) 22-2, RS Jr. (Dec 6-2).

 
3rd Place Match
Jorge Lopez (Williams College) 29-2, RS Jr. over Steven DeWitt (Loras) 35-4, Sr. (Fall 2:24).

 
5th Place Match
Drew Wagenhoffer (Wartburg) 30-8, Jr. over Kevin Collins (Ithaca) 24-8, Sr. (Dec 7-0).

 
7th Place Match
Jon Garrison (Mount Union) 28-6, Sr. over Antonio Mancella (The College Of New Jersey) 27-12, Jr. (Inj. 1:55).

 

165 Results

1st Place – Farai Sewera of Coe
2nd Place – Tyler Schneider of Wisconsin-La Crosse
3rd Place – Nolan Barger of Lycoming (Clearfield Area)
4th Place – Sam Guidi of Waynesburg (Fort Cherry)
5th Place – Eric Hensel of Augsburg
6th Place – Andrew Steiert of Wartburg
7th Place – Ethan Farmer of Wabash
8th Place – Jesse Bader of Hunter

 
1st Place Match
Farai Sewera (Coe) 29-2, Jr. over Tyler Schneider (Wisconsin-La Crosse) 23-6, So. (Dec 9-4).

 
3rd Place Match
Nolan Barger (Lycoming) 36-8, So. over Sam Guidi (Waynesburg) 43-6, Sr. (MD 12-2).

 
5th Place Match
Eric Hensel (Augsburg) 22-14, Jr. over Andrew Steiert (Wartburg) 18-6, So. (Fall 1:43).

 
7th Place Match
Ethan Farmer (Wabash) 17-5, RS So. over Jesse Bader (Hunter) 36-7, Sr. (Dec 3-0).

 

174 Results

1st Place – Conner Lefever of Wabash
2nd Place – Zach Zotollo of The College Of New Jersey
3rd Place – Josh Thomson of Messiah (Mechanicsburg Area)
4th Place – Ryan Harrington of Coe
5th Place – Tory Cain of Rochester Institute Of Technology
6th Place – Sebastian Gardner of Concordia-Moorhead
7th Place – Garrett Chase of Baldwin Wallace (Cathedral Prep)
8th Place – Jordan Newman of Wisconsin-Whitewater

 
1st Place Match
Conner Lefever (Wabash) 20-1, RS Jr. over Zach Zotollo (The College Of New Jersey) 22-2, RS Sr. (Dec 5-4).

 
3rd Place Match
Josh Thomson (Messiah) 45-6, Jr. over Ryan Harrington (Coe) 20-6, Fr. (Dec 9-3).

 
5th Place Match
Tory Cain (Rochester Institute Of Technology) 32-7, Sr. over Sebastian Gardner (Concordia-Moorhead) 25-10, Sr. (Dec 5-2).

 
7th Place Match
Garrett Chase (Baldwin Wallace) 6-3, RS So. over Jordan Newman (Wisconsin-Whitewater) 5-4, Fr. (M. For.).

 

184 Results

1st Place – Riley Lefever of Wabash
2nd Place – Devin Peterson of Wartburg
3rd Place – Daniel Olsen of Wheaton College (Illinois)
4th Place – Christoper Chorzepa of Williams College
5th Place – Richard Dowdley of Heidelberg
6th Place – Richard Carlson of Wisconsin-La Crosse
7th Place – Patrick Sheehan of New York University
8th Place – Tyler Beckwith of SUNY-Cortland

 
1st Place Match
Riley Lefever (Wabash) 20-0, RS So. over Devin Peterson (Wartburg) 16-4, So. (Dec 5-3).

 
3rd Place Match
Daniel Olsen (Wheaton College (Illinois)) 8-2, Sr. over Christoper Chorzepa (Williams College) 42-3, RS So. (SV-1 12-10).

 
5th Place Match
Richard Dowdley (Heidelberg) 40-4, Sr. over Richard Carlson (Wisconsin-La Crosse) 27-9, Jr. (Dec 11-4).

 
7th Place Match
Patrick Sheehan (New York University) 26-5, RS So. over Tyler Beckwith (SUNY-Cortland) 25-7, RS Sr. (Dec 7-2).

 

197 Results

1st Place – Joe Giaramita of SUNY-Cortland
2nd Place – Shane Siefert of Wisconsin-Whitewater
3rd Place – Eric Twohey of Wisconsin-La Crosse
4th Place – Aaron Karns of Delaware Valley (Berwick)
5th Place – Donnie Horner of Coe
6th Place – Gerard Roman of Wartburg
7th Place – Matt Hechsel of Augsburg
8th Place – Matt Seabold of Central (IA)

 
1st Place Match
Joe Giaramita (SUNY-Cortland) 32-1, RS Jr. over Shane Siefert (Wisconsin-Whitewater) 6-2, RS So. (SV-1 6-4).

 
3rd Place Match
Eric Twohey (Wisconsin-La Crosse) 35-2, RS Sr. over Aaron Karns (Delaware Valley) 33-5, Sr. (Dec 6-1).

 
5th Place Match
Donnie Horner (Coe) 30-11, Sr. over Gerard Roman (Wartburg) 31-7, Jr. (Dec 8-5).

 
7th Place Match
Matt Hechsel (Augsburg) 30-11, Sr. over Matt Seabold (Central (IA)) 24-8, So. (MD 13-3).

 

285 Results

1st Place – Donny Longendyke of Augsburg
2nd Place – Terrance Jean-Jacques of Rhode Island College
3rd Place – Zachery Roseberry of Delaware Valley
4th Place – James Bethel of Oneonta State
5th Place – Benjamin Nagle of Wartburg
6th Place – Trevor Maresh of Alma College
7th Place – Anthony Edgren of Wisconsin-Whitewater
8th Place – Conner Herman of Luther

 
1st Place Match
Donny Longendyke (Augsburg) 32-0, So. over Terrance Jean-Jacques (Rhode Island College) 34-2, RS So. (Dec 1-0).

 
3rd Place Match
Zachery Roseberry (Delaware Valley) 35-4, So. over James Bethel (Oneonta State) 39-6, Fr. (Fall 5:14).

 
5th Place Match
Benjamin Nagle (Wartburg) 30-4, Jr. over Trevor Maresh (Alma College) 21-6, Jr. (Dec 3-1).

 
7th Place Match
Anthony Edgren (Wisconsin-Whitewater) 7-3, RS Jr. over Conner Herman (Luther) 16-8, RS Jr. (Fall 4:25).