SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University wrestling team won six of the 10 contested bouts on Tuesday night, including a victory by fall at 141 pounds by sophomore
Cole Rush, as the Raiders defeated Millersville, 21-14, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Division II dual meet from Heiges Field House.
Shippensburg (4-3, 1-1 PSAC) was able to overcome Millersville (3-4, 0-4 PSAC) on the strength of some pivotal victories over regionally-ranked wrestlers.
At 133 pounds, redshirt-senior
Dante Steffenino returned to action for the first time since early December and defeated Alex Baider, the No. 5-ranked wrestler in Super Region 1, by a 7-4 score. Steffenino, wrestling at 133 pounds for the first time this season, used a first-period takedown and four-point near fall for the momentum in the match.
Redshirt-senior
Evan Ramos emerged victorious against his second straight regionally-ranked foe, defeating Colton Dull (No. 7 in Super Region 1) in a 7-2 decision. With the match 2-1 in Ramos' favor in the third period, the SU senior fended off a couple of turn attempts while on defense and worked a reversal to take control. Ramos also scored a takedown in the final 30 seconds.
SU's only bonus points of the night came at 141 pounds, where Rush wrestled up one weight class for the first time this season and proceeded to score a victory by fall in 3:56 over Kevin Constantine. Rush had scored three takedowns in the first period before working his third pin of the season.
The Raiders built an 11-point advantage at the midway point with four consecutive wins after an initial setback at 125 pounds. Senior
Cody Blankenship won 3-1 at 149 pounds, working a third-period reversal and gaining a riding-time point for the decision.
At 157 pounds, senior
Mike Springer had built a 4-1 lead and a riding-time advantage of more than 4:00 through two periods before ultimately securing a 9-5 decision with a late reversal after yielding a pair of third-period takedowns to Seth Decker.
Millersville trailed 15-4 after five bouts before winning three straight, including the match of the night at 174 pounds in which brothers Kyle Narber of Millersville and sophomore
Ryan Narber of Shippensburg faced off against one another. After each evaded shots from one another through the first period, it was Millersville's Kyle Narber who notched takedowns in each of the final two periods and posted a 6-1 decision over his younger brother.
The Marauders received major decisions on the night from Aaron Wildonger (17-6) at 125 pounds and No. 9-ranked Shane Ruhnke (11-3) at 165 pounds. With the match at 15-14 entering the final two bouts, SU secured the win with Ramos' decision at 197 and a 4-1 decision at heavyweight by sophomore
Derek Berberick.
Shippensburg travels to Kutztown this weekend for the KU Duals, where the Raiders will face LIU Post (Friday 7:30 p.m.), UNC Pembroke (Saturday 11 a.m.) and American International (Saturday 2 p.m.).
#25 Shippensburg 21, Millersville 14
125: Aaron Wildonger (MU) maj. dec.
David Reagan (SU), 17-6 (4-0)
133:
Dante Steffenino (SU) dec. Alex Baider (MU), 7-4 (4-3)
141:
Cole Rush (SU) pins Kevin Constantine (MU), 3:56 (9-4 SU)
149:
Cody Blankenship (SU) dec. Eric Fuentes (MU), 3-1 (12-4)
157:
Mike Springer (SU) dec. Seth Decker (MU), 9-5 (15-4)
165: #9 Shane Ruhnke (MU) maj. dec.
Chris Miller (SU), 11-3 (15-8)
174: Kyle Narber (MU) dec.
Ryan Narber (SU), 6-1 (15-11)
184: Evan Morrill (MU) dec.
Logan Fisher (SU), 5-1 (15-14)
197: #3
Evan Ramos (SU) dec. Colton Dull (MU), 7-2 (18-14)
285:
Derek Berberick (SU) dec. Zachary Yackenchick (MU), 4-1 (21-14)
