Three Red Raider Wrestlers Advance to Semifinals at Division II National Championships
Mar. 9, 2007
KEARNEY,
Neb. - Shippensburg University sent four wrestlers to the Division
II National Championships held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and
three of them have recorded two victories and head into the quarterfinals
with unblemished records. The triumvirate of senior Mark Murphy (Dillsburg/Northern
York), redshirt sophomore Jason Groller (Easton/Easton) and freshman Steve
Fittery (Denver/Cocalico) have combined to put Shippensburg in 12th place
overall with a team total of 26.0 points.
At 141, No. 3-ranked Fittery earned a 9-3 decision in his first match over
Nebraska-Kearney's Jeff Rutledge, who held a home-mat advantage by
competing in his own gym. Fittery was unfazed, however, and would go on to
defeat No. 6-ranked Yasiim Bribieseca of Nebraska-Omaha in a 4-0 decision
to place him just one more victory away from wrestling in his first National
Championship. The freshman improved his season record to 27-3, and is set
to wrestle No. 5-ranked John Gamble of Upper Iowa in Session 3.
Fittery will have his work cut out for him, however, as No. 1-ranked Kyle
Evans of Central Oklahoma remains in the bracket after recording two easy
victories Friday to improve his overall season record to 37-0. Evans is the
only undefeated wrestler in Division II at any level competing in the National
Championships.
At 184, No. 5-ranked Murphy quickly moved into the second round by recording
a fall in 1:57 over Nicolas Wilkes of Southern Connecticut State. In Session
2, Murphy competed in an epic match with Nebraska-Kearney's Matt Farrell.
The home-mat advantage for Farrell once again proved to be no matter for
Shippensburg, as Murphy eventually earned a decision in two tiebreakers after
the score was tied at 1-1.
Murphy (15-6) will face No. 7-ranked Austin Boehm of Nebraska-Omaha in Session
3. Boehm has recorded two falls in a combined time of 2:07 this far in the
Championships over Pino Scavella and Charlie Pipher. No. 1-ranked Mike Corcetti
of UPJ, whom Murphy defeated at the NCAA East Regionals, was upset in Session
2 by No.2-ranked Jared Deaguera of Adams State (Colo.), and is now in the
consolation bracket.
Meanwhile at heavyweight, No. 8-ranked Groller won a tight 5-3 decision over
Loyde Braidlow, and advanced to face No. 6-ranked Dan Goodson of Upper Iowa.
Groller dispatched of Goodson as well, recording a 4-2 decision with a save
to head into a daunting match in Session 3.
The opponent for Groller will be No. 2-ranked Josh LeadingFox of Central-Oklahoma,
whose record stands at 28-5 after two winning decisions on Friday. Both men
are looking up to No. 1-ranked Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney, however,
who recorded two easy victories and brings with him a 46-1 record into his
Session 3 matchup with No. 3-ranked Brady Wilson of Minnesota State-Mankato.
Redshirt sophomore Jake Wilson (Carlisle/Carlisle) was the fourth wrestler
to compete at Nationals for the Red Raiders, but did not fare as well as
his other Shippensburg compatriots. Wilson lost in the opening round to No.
4-ranked Brandon Girtz of Minnesota State-Mankato, and then lost 13-5 in
the consolation bracket to Danny Grater of Fort Hays State (Kan.).
Fittery, Murphy and Groller will all be in competition when Session 3 commences
from the UNK Health and Sports Center at 10 a.m. An update on Shippensburg‚s
wrestlers will be made available at raiders.ship.edu following the action
in Session 3, and if any wrestlers are to continue into the final session,
that action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
- Red Raider Wrestling -
