For the first time in school history, the Griffin wrestling program will send five wrestlers to the Division II National Championships.  Five Griffin wrestlers earned top four finishes at the Super Region I Championship in Erie on Saturday to punch their ticket to nationals. 

The team also earned a fifth place finish at the regional finishing with 83.5 points.  Notre Dame (OH) finished first with 155 points.

Leading the way for the Griffins was freshman Alan Diltz who finished second at 125 pounds.  Redshirt junior Zach Voytek (157) and freshman Billy Bowlen (184) each won the consolation final for a third place finish.  Redshirt sophomore and defending national runner up Joey Alessandro finished fourth at 141 pounds and redshirt senior Ty Lydic finished fourth at 149 pounds.  Its the second trip to nationals for Alessandro and Voytek and the third trip for Lydic.

Diltz opened day two with a victory over top seeded and defending national runner up Willie Bohince of Mercyhurst.  Diltz used a takedown in the first and third period in route to a 6-2 victory in the semifinal round.  Alan then dropped a tough 10-9 decision to #2 seed Ivan McClay in the championship match.

Zach Voytek dropped the semifinal match to #1 Cody Law of UPJ by the score of 19-8.  Voytek fought his way back thru the consolation rounds for a third place finish.  He defeated Cole Gavin by fall (0:42) to advance to the consolation finals.  Zach defeated #6 seed Joey Kratochvil of ESU in the consolation final by the score of 5-4.

Billy Bowlen won three consolation matches on Saturday to punch his trip to nationals.  He opened with a 5-4 win over #4 Cody Spinks of Alderson Broaddus.  Billy followed that with a win by fall (3:37) over #6 seed Mike Green of Mercyhurst.  Bowlen then defeated #5 seed Levi Niebauer of UPJ in the consolation final by the score of 12-5.

Joey Alessandro dropped his semifinal match in double overtime to #4 seed Chris Eddins of UPJ by the score of 7-1.  Joey defeated #6 seed Nolan Whitely of Wheeling Jesuit in the consolation semifinal by the score of 5-3 before forfeiting the consolation final for a fourth place finish.

Ty Lydic opened the consolation round on Saturday with a 6-2 win over #7 seed David Charles of Millersville.  Lydic then defeated #8 seed George McGuire of Gannon 8-4 in the consolation semifinal.  Ty was pinned by #4 seed Dom Nania of Wheeling Jesuit in the consolation final for a fourth place finish. 

All five wrestlers will take part in the Division II National Championships as part of the Winter Sports Festival in Birmingham, Alabama on March 10-11.