The Shippensburg University wrestling team completed its 2018-19 regular season on Thursday with a Senior Night matchup against No. 8-ranked Kutztown, as the Raiders fell 37-3 to the Golden Bears in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Division II dual meet from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg's lineup featured five freshmen, one sophomore, two juniors and one senior, and the Raiders competed to five decisions out of the nine contested bouts. Kutztown, who claimed a share of the PSAC Division II Dual Meet Championship with the victory, garnered late bonus points with a major decision, technical fall, forfeit and pin among the final five weight classes.
 
During an intermission, Shippensburg honored its two seniors: David Reagan and Abner Thompson. Reagan, the 2017 PSAC Champion Scholar, has been sidelined due to injury for the majority of the season and was unable to compete Thursday. Thompson battled Connor Rogovich at 165 pounds, dropping an 18-7 major decision. It was Thompson's seventh match of the season.
 
Freshman Jake Downing was the Raider victor on the night, scoring an 8-5 decision over Lucas Miller. Downing avenged a loss to Miller in his collegiate debut this season, a 3-2 setback at the PSAC Championships, on the strength of takedowns in each period. He improved to 5-7 with the victory.
 
Junior Cole Rush returned to action at 141 pounds and faced Anthony Petril, the No. 4-ranked wrestler in Super Region 1. Petril, who earned a 6-2 decision, earned four back points off a takedown in the first period. Rush held Petril scoreless the remainder of the match, riding him the entire second period and scoring a late takedown while competing for just the second time in a 30-day span.
 
Freshman Drake Brenize battled the No. 12-ranked wrestler in the nation at 157 pounds, dropping a 6-0 decision to Chad Haegele. Redshirt-sophomore Alexi Castro competed against the No. 6-ranked wrestler in the region in James Meyer, with Meyer winning by a 7-4 score.
 
All four of KU's nationally-ranked wrestlers won on the night, as No. 6 T.C. Warner achieved a first-period technical fall at 174 pounds, No. 1 Jeff Reimel earned a forfeit at 184 pounds, and No. 4 Andrew Dunn Jr. scored a victory by fall against junior Derek Berberick in a battle of two of Super Region 1's Top 3 wrestlers.
 
The Raiders will now train for the 2019 Super Region 1 Championships, held next weekend in Erie.
 
#8 Kutztown 37, Shippensburg 3
125: Joe Renne (KU) maj. dec. Julius Starkey (SU), 10-2 (4-0)
133: Jake Downing (SU) dec. Lucas Miller (KU), 8-5 (4-3)
141: Anthony Petril (KU) dec. Cole Rush (SU), 6-2 (7-3)
149: Jake Jones (KU) dec. Colton Babcock (SU), 4-0 (10-3)
157: #12 Chad Haegele (KU) dec. Drake Brenize (SU), 6-0 (13-3)
165: Connor Rogovich (KU) maj. dec. Abner Thompson (SU), 18-7 (17-3)
174: #6 T.C. Warner (KU) tech falls Austin Klucker (SU), 17-0 [2:00] (22-3)
184: #1 Jeff Reimel (KU) wins by forfeit (28-3)
197: James Meyer (KU) dec. Alexi Castro (SU), 7-3 (31-3)
285: #4 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KU) pins Derek Berberick (SU), 1:56 (37-3)

Records:
Kutztown: 14-1, 6-1 PSAC
Shippensburg: 4-9, 0-7 PSAC
 
UP NEXT: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 22-23 at Super Region 1 Championships at Mercyhurst.