NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Shippensburg University wrestling team concluded its first day of competition at the 2010 East Region Duals by winning eight of 10 bouts in a resounding 39-7 victory over Belmont Abbey College after dropping a 35-3 decision to the host institution, No. 2 Newberry.

Shippensburg (3-3) may have faced some adversity in dropping its opener to Newberry, ranked No. 1 in the East Region and No. 2 in Division II, but redshirt senior Jon Hade had the highlight of the day when he scored a huge 3-2 decision over Bryant Blanton, a returning All-American with a 27-4 record and the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the region.

Every single wrestler for Newberry entered the dual among the top-ranked grapplers in the region, including three (Matt Oliver [125], Bryant Blanton [184], Keeno Griffin [197] who currently hold a No. 1 classification.

Another impressive effort for Shippensburg came at 197 pounds, where freshman Keith Dahlheimer faced Griffin, the reigning national champion and top wrestler in the region. The match was one of the closest of the opening dual, but Griffin ultimately earned a 7-4 decision.

Dahlheimer and fellow promising freshmen Simon Rice each recorded pins to highlight the nightcap win over Belmont Abbey as seven of the eight Red Raider victories included bonus points. Rice's pin came in 5:25 while Dahlheimer recorded his in the third period as well at the 5:51 mark.

Redshirt junior Chris Barrick avenged his loss to Curtis Chenowith, the No. 3 wrestler in the region, with a 19-3 technical fall over Ryan Gregory. Sophomore Russell Davidson moved up one weight class to 141 but still earned a 16-0 technical fall in five minutes over Tashawn Takeall.

At 149, freshman Devan Jones earned a 10-0 major decision while senior Bill Purvis picked up an 11-1 major decision. Hade's second win of the day as he was on the right end of a forfeit after being forced to take a forfeit loss against Anderson last Saturday.

Shippensburg continues its 2010 East Region Duals schedule at 9 a.m. tomorrow against St. Andrew's Presbyterian and at 1:30 p.m. against Limestone.

Newberry 35, Shippensburg 3
125: Matt Oliver (NC) maj. dec. Justin Morris (SU), 15-1 [4-0]
133: Sheridan Moran (NC) maj. dec. Russell Davidson (SU), 18-5 [8-0]
141: Deral Brown (NC) maj. dec. Tom Wiechelt (SU), 14-5 [12-0]
149: Dale DeBacco (NC) dec. Devan Jones (SU), 8-2 [15-0]
157: Latra Collick (NC) maj. dec. Bill Purvis (SU), 11-3 [19-0]
165: Dustin Harvey (NC) dec. Nate Reese (SU), 5-3 [22-0]
174: Curtis Chenowith (NC) dec. Chris Barrick (SU), 11-2 [26-0]
184: Jon Hade (SU) dec. Bryant Blanton (NC), 3-2 [26-3]
197: Keeno Griffin (NC) dec. Keith Dahlheimer (SU), 7-4 [29-3]
285: John Gibson (NC) pins Tyler Zittle (SU), 1:14 [35-3]

Shippensburg 39, Belmont Abbey 7
125: Shane Summerlin (BA) maj. dec. Justin Morris (SU), 13-0 [0-4]
133: Simon Rice (SU) pins Ryan Devita (BA), 5:25 [6-4]
141: Russell Davidson (SU) tech falls Tashawn Takeall (BA), 16-0, 5:00 [11-4]
149: Devan Jones (SU) maj. dec. Peter Petties (BA), 10-0 [15-4]
157: Bill Purvis (SU) maj. dec. Trevor Sterverson (BA), 11-1 [19-4]
165: Jake Varilek (BA) dec. Nate Reese (SU), 11-7 [19-7]
174: Chris Barrick (SU) tech falls Ryan Gregory (BA), 19-3, 5:02 [24-7]
184: Jon Hade (SU) wins by forfeit [30-7]
197: Keith Dahlheimer (SU) pins Tom McGee (BA), 5:51 [36-7]
285: Tyler Zittle (SU) dec. Kyle Spar (BA), 6-2 [39-7]