Seton Hill University Athletics

Griffins Advance in NWCA National Duals with 21-16 Win Over #3 Ashland

The #25 Seton Hill wrestling program opened its first ever NWCA National Duals in style on Thursday morning with a 21-16 victory over #3 Ashland at the Fort Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  SHU used three bonus point wins and three wins by decision to knock off the third ranked Eagles.  Seton Hill improves to 3-0 overall this season in dual matches while the Eagles fall to 1-2 in dual matches this season. 

The dual opened up with a matchup of two top 10 wrestlers as #4 ranked Alan Diltz took on #9 Sebastian Vidika in the 125 pounds match.  #9 Vidika proved no match for #4 Diltz as Alan earned a 11-2 major decision victory to give the Griffins an early 4-0 lead in the match.  Rodney Sunday continued the momentum for the Griffins with another major decision victory at 133 pounds.  He defeated Jerry Fenner III by the score of 10-2 to extend the Griffins lead to 8-0 after two matches. 

After dropping the 141 pound match, Austin Shaw continued the run of bonus point victories for the Griffins.  Shaw earned the third major decision win for the Griffins.  Shaw defeated Dustin Marteney at 149 pounds by the score of 10-1 to push the SHU advantage to 12-3 after four matches.  Jake Willochell followed with a decision win over sixth ranked Garrett Hall at 157 pounds.  Willochell won his match by a 9-4 score to give the Griffins a 15-3 lead midway thru the match.

#3 ranked Bret Romanzak defeated Zach Voytek 4-1 in a hard fought 165 pound weight class match.  Damon Greenwald extended the Griffins lead to 18-6 with a 6-2 decision win at 174 pounds.  Ashland got back in the match with a win by fall by #4 ranked Jordan Murphy at 184 pounds and a major decision by top ranked Luke Cramer at 197 pounds which cut the Griffins lead to 18-16 setting up a winner take all 285 pound match.

Neither Jacob Temple or Tristen Weirich were able to score in the first period.  Temple used an escape to take a 1-0 lead in the second period.  Temple then used a huge four point nearfall early in the third period to take control of the match.  Jacob finished off Weirich by the score of 7-2, securing the match for the Griffins.

Seton Hill moves on to the quarterfinal round of the NWCA National Duals and will take on #10 Upper Iowa University at 3 PM on Thursday afternoon. 

Seton Hill 21  Ashland 16
125 - Alan Diltz (Seton Hill) over Sebastian Vidika (Ashland) Maj 11-2
133 - Rodney Sunday (Seton Hill) over Jerry Fenner III (Ashland) Maj 10-2
141 - Robert Mason (Ashland) over Joel Cawoski (Seton Hill) Dec 7-4
149 - Austin Shaw (Seton Hill) over Dustin Marteney (Ashland) Maj 10-1
157 - Jake Willochell (Seton Hill) over Garrett Hall (Ashland) Dec 9-4
165 - Bret Romanzak (Ashland) over Zach Voytek (Seton Hill) Dec 4-1
174 - Damon Greenwald (Seton Hill) over Chance Esmont (Ashland) Dec 6-2
184 - Jordan Murphy (Ashland) over Zach Mattucci (Seton Hill) Fall 4:33
197 - Luke Cramer (Ashland) over Jody Crouse (Seton Hill) Maj 10-2
285 - Jacob Temple (Seton Hill) over Tristen Weirich (Ashland) Dec 7-2