Seton Hill University Athletics

Wrestling Sending Four to Nationals

The Griffin wrestling team took part in the NCAA Super Regional on Saturday at Mercyhurst University.  Seton Hill had four wrestlers advance to nationals with top three finishes and two more earn top six finishes. 

The team finished fifth in the event with 72 team points.  Pitt Johnstown won the regional title with 141 points.  Kutztown, Gannon and Mercyhurst rounded out the top four.

Leading the way for the Griffins were two second place finishers.  Alan Diltz was second at 133 pounds while Austin Shaw was second at 149 pounds. 

Both Damon Greenwald (174) and Billy Bowlen (184) each advanced to nationals with wins in the consolation finals.  Derrick Chandler-Christie (125) and Jody Crouse (197) each finished sixth in the event. 

Diltz opened the event with a 16-7 win in the quarterfinals.  He then defeated #3 Ryan McGuire (Mill) 8-4 in the semifinal.  Alan then battled top ranked Alexis Soriano of Mercyhurst in the regional final.  Soriano picked up a 6-3 win over Diltz in the final.

Shaw opened his day with a win by fall (6:00) in the quarterfinals.  He then knocked off #3 Ferris Messai in a wild 10-9 semifinal.  Shaw got a late takedown for the win.  Austin then met top seeded Chris Eddins of UPJ in the final.  Eddins won the match by a 13-1 score. 

Greenwald opened with a win by fall (6:18) over the number six ranked wrestler.  He then dropped into the consolation round with a 5-2 loss to the number two wrestler.  Damon advanced to the consolation final with a 3-2 win.  Greenwald then defeated #4 Steve Edwards of UPJ 4-3 in the consolation final to advance to nationals.

Bowlen opened with a 9-4 win over the number six ranked wrestler.  He dropped into the consolation round with a 6-4 loss to the number three wrestler.  Billy advanced to the consolation final with a 9-1 win over #4 Dan McClure of LIU Post.  Bowlen then defeated #6 Evan Morrill of Millersville 6-1 to advance to nationals. 

Chandler-Christie opened with a 7-2 win before falling to the top ranked wrestler 15-0 in the semifinals.  He then dropped his next two matches in the consolation round for a sixth place finish.  Crouse opened with a win by fall (1:29) over the sixth ranked wrestler.  He then dropped into the consolation round with a 15-4 loss to the top ranked wrestler.  He then dropped his two consolation round matches to finish sixth.

Jake Beistel was 2-2 on the day with two hard fought overtime losses ending his regional.

The four Griffins will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Cleveland, OH at Cleveland State's Wolstein Center on March 8th and 9th.