SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University wrestling team defeated West Liberty (24-16) and American International (35-9) while holding its own against No. 7-ranked Mercyhurst on Alumni day from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (6-11) rode with the Lakers (16-1) during the first half of the match but ultimately lost 30-12. Sophomore Karl Lightner, freshman Cody Blankenship and junior Cameron Throckmorton all notched wins for the Raiders.
 
Lightner defeated Ryan Bohince, the No. 1 ranked 133-pound wrestler in Super Region 1, 12-8. He was taken down early in the bout but managed to escape, recover and progressively wear out Bohince by scoring back points on multiple occasions. Lightner was en route to a major decision before Bohince landed a move and came close to a pin before the final horn sounded.
 
Overall, Lightner finished the afternoon 3-0 – scoring a pin against American International's Cole Ludorf in 2:07 while handing West Liberty's Joe Wagstaff a 15-0 technical fall in 5:30.
 
Blankenship was losing to MU's Kody Young 4-0 in the third period before using an impressive reversal to gain control and ultimately pin Young in 5:52. Blankenship backed up his first match with an equally impressive 7-1 decision over West Liberty's 141-pound wrestler, Anthony Craig.
 
Throckmorton notched an impressive 9-3 decision over Mercyhurst's Jeremy Landowski, the No. 5 wrestler in Division II at 149 pounds. Throckmorton finished 3-0 on the day, recording an 11-2 major decision over West Liberty's Cole Nace before finishing the afternoon with an explosive 40-second pin of American International's Nicholas DeMore.
 
Sophomore Dante Steffenino went 2-1 on the day at 125 pounds, pinning WLU's Zach Brown in 5:30 and recording a 18-0 technical fall over AIC's Connor Liebel.
 
Freshman Mike Springer finished 2-1, winning both bouts by two points. Springer won 7-5 over Joel Paolo, Super Region 1's No. 3-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds who was wrestling up one class in the bout. Against Paolo, Springer was trailing 4-3 late in the third period and worked a reversal to gain a 5-4 lead. Paolo escaped with 50 seconds left in regulation but Springer scored another takedown with 40 seconds left to secure the victory. Springer won his final match of the day, 3-1, over AIC's Brandon Walsh.
 
Junior Mark Lentz won his only bout of the afternoon, 4-2 at 165 pounds. He needed overtime to defeat AIC's Zack Winegardner, as the two were tied 2-2 in the second overtime before Lentz used impressive footwork to score a reversal and capture the victory.
 
Sophomore Colton Rebert avenged a tough loss earlier in the afternoon by pinning American International's 184-pound wrestler P.J. Baker in 1:15.
 
Freshman Arthur Watkins finished the afternoon 1-1, including a 5-3 sudden victory win over AIC's Michael Shulze at 174 pounds. Shulze chose the defensive position to start sudden victory and Watkins used impressive defensive technique to keep his opponent on the mat. Watkins managed a reversal in the second half of sudden victory to earn the win.
 
Freshman Mike Hafer notched a 5-0 decision at 141 pounds over American International's Anthony Milano.
 
Shippensburg travels Tuesday to UPJ for a 7 p.m. PSAC match with the Mountain Cats.
 
Mercyhurst 30, Shippensburg 12
125: Willie Bohince (HURST) maj. dec. Dante Steffenino (SU), 9-1 (4-0)
133: Karl Lightner (SU) dec. Ryan Bohince (HURST), 12-8 (4 -3)
141: Cody Blankenship (SU) pins Kody Young (HURST), 5:52 (9 -4)
149: Cameron Throckmorton (SU) dec. Jeremy Landowski (HURST), 9-3 (12 -4)
157: Francis Mizia (HURST) maj. dec. Mike Springer (SU), 13-3 (12 -8)
165: Angelo Bortoluzzi (HURST) maj. dec. Brett Pastore (SU), 13-4 (12-12)
174: August Mizia (HURST) tech falls Arthur Watkins (SU), 16-1 (5:12) (17-12)
184: Dakota DesLauriers (HURST) pins Hunter Fenk (SU), 6:33 (23-12)
197: Brian Beattie (HURST) dec. Jalal Paige (SU), 4-2 (OT2) (26-12)
285: Andrew Welton (HURST) maj. dec. Francis Slover (SU), 11-1 (30-12)
 
Shippensburg 24, West Liberty 16
125: Dante Steffenino (SU) pins Zach Brown (WLU), 5:30 (6-0)
133: Karl Lightner (SU) tech falls Joe Wagstaff (WLU), 15-0, 5:30 (11-0)
141: Cody Blankenship (SU) dec. Anthony Craig (WLU), 7-1 (14-0)
149: Cameron Throckmorton (SU) maj. dec Cole Nace (WLU), 11-2 (18-0)
157: Mike Springer (SU) dec. Joel Paolo (WLU), 7-5 (21-0)
165: David Schlieper (WLU) dec. Arthur Watkins (SU), 8-2 (21-3)
174: Eric Antesberger (WLU) maj. dec. Colton Rebert (SU), 13-0 (21-7)
184: Kyle Taylor (SU) dec. Danny Doyle (WLU), 3-2 (24-7)
197: Nathan Dawson (WLU) pins Jalal Paige (SU), 1:58 (24-13)
285: Aaron  Silverio (WLU) dec. Derek Earnest (SU), 1-0 (24-16)
 
Shippensburg 35, American International 9
EXB: Artie Millner (SU) maj. dec. Christopher Hunter (AIC), 14-3
125: Dante Steffenino (SU) tech falls Connor Liebel (AIC), 18-0, 3:59 (5-0)
133: Karl Lightner (SU) pins Cole Ludorf (AIC), 2:07 (11-0)
141: Mike Hafer (SU) dec. Anthony Milano (AIC), 5-0 (14-0)
149: Cameron Throckmorton (SU) pins Nicholas Demore (AIC), 0:40 (20-0)
157: Mike Springer (SU) dec. Brandon Walsh (AIC), 3-1 (23-0)
165: Mark Lentz (SU) dec. Zack Winegardner (AIC), 4-2 (OT2) (26-0)
174: Arthur Watkins (SU) dec. Michael Schulz (AIC), 5-3, SV1 (29-0)
184: Colton Rebert (SU) pins P.J. Baker (AIC), 1:15 (35-0)
197: Sheldon Rhoden (AIC) dec. Marshall Hobbs (SU), 7-3 (35-3)
285: Soslan Khamitcaev (AIC) pins Derek Earnest (SU), 1:34 (35-9)