Spartans Go 1-2 at Messiah Duals
GRANTHAM, PA – The York College wrestling
team fell on hard luck Saturday afternoon at the Messiah College
Duals, going 1-2 for the day with both of their defeats coming by a
mere two points each. For the season, the green and white move to
2-2-1.
The Spartans came out on the short end of
a 19-17 score line against their first opponent of the duals,
Lycoming College. Seniors Sean Hightman (Dover,
Pa./Northeastern) and Kyle Flickinger (New Oxford,
Pa./Bermudian Springs) secured the 125- and 133-pound
classes while freshman Taylor Ulm (Great Meadows,
N.J./Hackettstown) grabbed the victory at 141 pounds. The
Spartans dropped the next three classes before 174-pound
Brian Thomason (Wernersville, Pa./Schuylkill
Valley) got York back on track with a 13-5 major decision.
Junior Chris Elliott (Crofton, Md./South River)
captured the 184-pound class but losses at both 197 and 285 spelled
a win for Lycoming.
The day’s second match resulted in a
victory for the Spartan side, 21-12 over Seton Hill. The 141-pound
Ulm secured York’s lone win in the lower weight classes
before the green and white’s middle and heavy weight
wrestlers swept the higher weights. Senior 165-pound John
Niedrich (Freehold, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy)
kick-started the streak with a win by fall only 2:45 into his
match. Thomason and Elliott each picked up their second victories
of the duals in the 174- and 184-pound classes. At 197 pounds,
James Laughlin (Hanover, Pa./South Western) took
down Ron Oswald 4-2, while freshman Joe Erb (Langhorne,
Pa./Pennsbury) edged out a 3-2 victory in the 285-pound
class.
York’s day ended in similar fashion
to how it began, with a tough two-point defeat. This time it was
Waynesburg that slipped by the Spartans by a slight 18-16 margin.
Flickinger notched a 9-3 win at 133 pounds, while Jason
Ecklof (Howell, N.J./Howell) captured his first victory of
the day with a 3-1 decision at 157 pounds. Niedrich, Thomason, and
Elliott took the next three classes before Waynesburg snapped the
streak at 197-pound class. Sophomore Shane Cooley
(Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York) secured a 4-2 sudden
victory win in the 285-pound class but it proved not to be enough,
as Waynesburg grabbed the team victory.
Thomason and Elliott both went 3-0 for the
day, while Niedrich, Ulm, and Flickinger each posted 2-1 marks.
The York side returns to the mat in two
weeks as hosts of the annual Spartan Invitational. The tournament
action begins in York’s Grumbacher Sport & Fitness Center
at 9:30 am.
Taylor Ulm photo courtesy of Eric Linsley
