SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Newberry grapplers faced the #7 and #12 ranked teams in Division II this evening. The Indians took on host school #7 Shippensburg University in their first match-up of the day. After a tough end to the dual against the Raiders, Newberry faced #12 Wisconsin-Parkside in their last dual of the night, .

With four top eight ranked wrestlers, Shippensburg provided quite a challenge for the Indians. The dual started at the 141lb weight class where the match was in Taylor Gilstrap’s favor through most of the third period. With a quick shot Alex Renn and the Raiders were able to come away with the win at 141 and once again at 149. The Indians were not about to go down quietly though, as they mounted their comeback starting with Brandon Kelly (157). After a solid win at 157, Alonso Azumendi was able to put four more team points on the board for the Indians as he won 8-0 over Eric Kauffman. Quinn Tolbert followed Azumendi’s performance with a dominating one of his own defeating the Raiders Rick Mascino. The trio of wins put the Indians in the lead with a 10-7 team score. Shippensburg had an answer for Newberry’s lead as they won the next four straight matches. With Newberry receiving a forfeit at 133, the Indians posted six final team points in their 16-31 loss to the Raiders.

In their dual against #12 Wisconsin-Parkside Newberry came away with three solid wins. Two of these wins came by defeating two top eight nationally ranked wrestlers. At 157-pounds, Kelly was once again able to come away with a win for the Indians. An intense match that was settled in overtime, Kelly defeated Wisconsin-Parksides #6 Bradley Becker 7-3. Joining him was Tolbert who dominated much of the action in his match with #5 A.J. Morgan from Wisconsin-Parkside. Also adding three team points for the Indians in their tough loss was Kelly Anundson at heavyweight with a 7-1 win over Rick Schmoll. The Indians continued to struggle key weights due to injury and posted a 9-32 score against Wisconsin-Parkside.

The Indians will face Mercyhurst, University of Pittsburg – Johnstown, and Delaware Valley Saturday as they finish up their matches at the 2006 East Coast Duals.

Results:

Newberry 16, #7 Shippensburg 31
125 #1 James Thomas (SB) pin. Chauncey McElheney (NC); fall 1:58
133 Joey Robinson (NC); win by forfeit
141 Alex Renn (SB) def. Taylor Gilstrap (NC); 8-6
149 Daniel Nauman (SB) def. Matt Black (NC); M.dec. 15-7
157 Brandon Kelly (NC) def. Chris Murray (SB); 12-6
165 Alonso Azumendi (NC) def. Eric Kauffman (SB); M.dec. 8-0
174 Quinn Tolbert (NC) def. Rick Mascino (SB); 9-4
184 #2 Mark Murphy (SB) pin. Leighton Ellis (NC); fall 2:50
197 #1 Corey Jacoby (SB) pin. Dave Bush (NC); fall 6:13
HWT #6 Jacob Linninger (SB) pin. Kelly Anundson (NC); fall 1:14

Newberry 9, #12 Wisconsin-Parkside 32
125 Craig DeGreef (WP) pin. Chauncey McElheney (NC); fall 2:09
133 Mattt Lentz (WP) pin. Joey Robinson (NC); fall 5:58
141 Craig Becker (WP) def. Taylor Gilstrap (NC); 7-1
149 Darren Elkins (WP) pin. Matt Black (NC); fall 0:59
157 Brandon Kelly (NC) def. #6 Bradley Becker (WP); 7-3 sv1
165 Corey Van Groll (WP) def. Alonso Azumendi (NC); 6-2
174 Quinn Tolbert (NC) def. #5 A.J. Morgan (WP); 2-1
184 Ben Thiem (WP) def. Leighton Ellis (NC); M.dec. 8-0
197 #6 John Goral (WP) def. Dave Bush (NC); M.dec. 12-4
HWT Kelly Anundson (NC) def. Rick Schmoll (WP); 7-1