The Shippensburg University wrestling team performed admirably Tuesday night against a nationally-ranked foe, winning three of the first four contested bouts before dropping a 35-10 decision to No. 11 Pittsburgh-Johnstown in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Division II dual meet from Sports Center.
Shippensburg got off to a good start as sophomore
Dustin Steffenino notched an 11-1 major decision over Sam Hollandez to improve to 13-7 on the year. Steffenino has won eight of his last nine bouts overall.
At 133 pounds, freshman
Cole Rush beat Joe Davis by a 7-4 to even his season record at 9-9. Junior
Mike Springer continued his winning ways with a 10-7 decision over Colin Landowski. Springer is now 14-1 since January 1.
Shippensburg has been ravaged by injuries late in the season and is currently without three NCAA Division II qualifiers in its lineup (
Karl Lightner,
Adam Martz and
Evan Ramos). The Raiders were forced to forfeit two matches Tuesday evening and have one person wrestle up one class as a result, all before sustaining an additional injury-default loss late in the proceedings.
Pitt-Johnstown also got a pin from the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country at 157 pounds (Cody Law) and a major decision from the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the country at 165 pounds (Tyler Reinhart).
Shippensburg will conclude its regular season at 7 p.m. Thursday with a home dual on Senior Night versus Kutztown.
#11 UPJ 35, Shippensburg 10
125:
Dustin Steffenino (SU) maj. dec. Sam Hollandez (UPJ), 11-1 (0-4)
133:
Cole Rush (SU) dec. Joe Davis (UPJ), 7-4 (0-7)
141: Chris Eddins (UPJ) maj. dec.
Jared Leonetti (SU), 9-0 (4-7)
149:
Mike Springer (SU) over Colin Landowski (UPJ), 10-7 (4-10)
157: #1 Cody Law (UPJ) pins
Cody Blankenship (SU), 0:55 (10-10)
165: #2 Tyler Reinhart (UPJ) maj. dec.
Ryan Narber (SU), 14-3 (14-10)
174: #12 John Blankenship (UPJ) wins by forfeit (20-10)
184: Levi Niebauer (UPJ) inj. def.
Hunter Fenk (SU), 1:14 (26-10)
197: Nico Pecora (UPJ) wins by forfeit (32-10)
285: Allan Beattie (UPJ) dec,
Derek Berberick (SU), 3-2 (35-10)
Records:
Shippensburg: 12-13, 1-5 PSAC
UPJ: 13-2, 6-0 PSAC
