DUBOIS – Coach Matt Park and assistant Josh Knapp traveled to Allen, Texas with 10 wrestlers to compete in the NCWA National Championships hosted at the Allen Civic Center just north of Dallas over this past weekend.
The team finished in 21st place with 21 points. Team champions Grand Canyon University (254.5 points) ran away with the title putting seven wrestlers into the finals with four individual champions and three runner-up finishes. The battle for second place was between Liberty University (171.5) and Shorter College (162.5); Central Florida finished strong taking fourth with 122 points.
PSU DuBois was led by Mid-East Conference champion Logan Shirey at 184lbs. Shirey finished the tournament with a 2-2 record.
Shirey won his first match with a first-period fall over Will Robinson of Fort Collins, and lost his second bout to Jack Wedholm of Army Prep Academy, 11-2. He rebounded with a 6-2 decision over Alec Warner from PSU Mont Alto and was eliminated from competition by a second-period fall at the hands of Staben Cervantes of Navy Prep Academy.
Tother Penn State DuBois wrestler’s results were as follows:
Brett Himes (125) 0-2, Austin Sheibley (133) 1-2, Jake Himes (157) 2-2, Joe Knarr (165) 0-2, Matt Rivera (174) 1-2, Ryan Terwilliger (174) 1-2, Nate Rodgers (197) 1-2, Tim Suydan (235) 2-2 and Andrew Bigley (285) 0-2.
Park stated, “I am pleased with the overall improvement of the wrestlers from early October. This is a long season and we battled through injures and stayed focus on getting better each day.
“Nine of the 10 wrestlers will be back next year; this championship tournament gives the guys an idea of what it takes to earn All-American honors. The level of completion at the NCWA championships is very tough, we will return better prepared and the guys will be working on getting on the podium.”
In five seasons, the Penn State DuBois team has built a sound foundation and continues to grow and improve under the Leadership of Park and Knapp.
Park commented “We have great kids who are getting it done in the classroom and doing all the little things right. I am grateful that Penn State DuBois is giving these students an opportunity to compete at this level.”