University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
East Regional Tournament - 02/29-03/01/08
Newberry Battles Back to Claim East Regional Wrestling Title;
Limestone’s Dan Scanlan Named Outstanding Wrestler,
Newberry’s Jason Valek Tabbed Coach of the Year
03/01/08...Newberry (S.C.) College battled back after trailing Pitt Johnstown after day one of the East Regional Wrestling Tournament to dethrone the Mountain Cats and claim their first ever NCAA Division II East Regional Wrestling Championship, Saturday afternoon in the Pitt Johnstown Sports Center. The Indians posted 129.5 team points to defeat the Mountain Cats by 8.5 points and end Pitt Johnstown streak of five straight regional titles.
Limestone (S.C.) College’s Dan Scanlan posted a 3-0 record and won the title at 184 lbs. to secure the Outstanding Wrestler Award, and Jason Valek was tabbed the East Region coach of the Year after leading the Indians to their first regional crown.
Newberry and Pitt Johnstown both advanced six wrestlers to Saturday’s finals, but the Indians took the lead and sealed the championship by earning head-to head-victories against Pitt Johnstown at 197 lbs. and heavyweight. #2-seeded Kelly Anundson defeated top-seeded Patrick Walsh, 9-6, at 197 lbs., and #1-seeded Cy Wainwright dealt #2-seeded Zach Majocha a 4-2 loss at heavyweight.
Newberry finished with a pair of champions and four runner-ups, while Pitt Johnstown claimed three titles and had three wrestlers finish second. Matt Oliver (125 lbs.), Andrew Young (133 lbs.), Tony Washington (141 lbs.) and Latra Collick (149 lbs.) all placed second for the Indians. NCAA #1 Brandon Reasy (133 lbs.), Kyle Keane (165 lbs.) and Albert Miles (174 lbs.) claimed championships for the Mountain Cats. Along with Walsh and Majocha, three-time All-American Mike Corcetti (184 lbs.) earned a runner-up finish for Pitt Johnstown.
In addition two of the three true-fourth place matches saw the fifth place finisher defeat the fourth place finisher. At 133 lbs., Gannon’s Corey Bowers defeated Reimark Neidermeier (Belmont Abbey), 6-1 to earn a spot in the National Tournament, and Chris Gibbs (West Liberty State) pinned Joby Schreckhise (Limestone) at 6:12 to advance.
The Indians will have eight representatives at the NCAA Division II National tournament, while Pitt Johnstown will have seven National Qualifiers. West Liberty State (WV) College has six National Qualifiers and Mercyhurst has five.
Mercyhurst placed third with 87 team points, followed by Gannon University and West Liberty State (83.5 points) and Limestone (62.5 points). Belmont Abbey (N.C.) College and Shippensburg University tied for seventh with 47 points apiece. Kutztown University (43 points), UNC-Pembroke (42 points), Anderson S.C.) University (14.5 points), St. Andrews (S.C.) College (14.5 points) and American International (MA) University rounded out the 13-team field.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the NCAA division II National Tournament hosted by Upper Iowa University in Rapid City, IA on March 14-15.
Last Reviewed: March 6, 2008