Results
YORK, Pa. – Senior Ian Evans (Laurys Station, Pa./Parkland) advanced to the semifinals at 157 pounds to lead The University of Scranton on the opening day of the NCAA East Regional at York College. Evans is one of six wrestlers still alive heading into Sunday's second and final day of action.
Senior Salvatore Montuori (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson), junior Zachary D'Apolito (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley Senior), sophomore Daniel D'Agostini (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) and freshmen Nicholas Ciaccia (Freehold, N.J./Howell) and Keegan Connelly (Schnecksville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) are all still alive in the consolation bracket, as well.
Evans can secure a place in the NCAA Tournament in two weeks if he can earn a victory in his semifinal bout, as the top three finishers in each weight class advance to nationals. He entered the regional as the second seed at 157 pounds and opened with a bye before edging Andrew Munn of Case Western Reserve, 5-4, in the second round. He then posted a 9-8 win over Christopher Kummerer of Elizabethtown to reach Sunday's semifinal where he will face Rocco Russo of SUNY-Oswego.
The two wins on Saturday give Evans 121 for his career, second-most in Royals history and four shy of matching the program's all-time record. He is now 31-3 on the season.
Montuori got out to a fast start at 285 pounds with a pin of John Carroll's Russell Porter in 4:18 in the first round, then posting a 9-2 decision over John Austin of Wilkes to reach the quarterfinals. There, he was pinned by second-seeded Jacob Evans of Waynesburg. But Montuori bounced back to pin Skylar Ebner of Lycoming in 6:08 to reach the consolation quarterfinals. He'll need three wins on Sunday to finish third and earn a trip to nationals.
D'Apolito opened with a bye at 174 pounds, then pinned Darren Decker of Heidelberg in 6:03 to reach the quarterfinals. He then dropped a 2-0 decision to Tory Cain of Rochester Institute of Technology, but rebounded for a 4-0 decision over Joseph Sindoni of York in the consolation bracket. He'll also need three wins on Sunday to finish third.
D'Agostini began with a bye at 184 pounds, then routed Cito Balsells of Cast Western Reserve for a technical fall (18-1) to reach the quarters. But he dropped a 5-2 decision to Waynesburg's Ryan Shank before bouncing back in the consolation bracket for a 9-5 win over Kevin Khoma of John Carroll. He also needs three wins Sunday to finish third.
Ciaccia opened at 133 pounds with a 10-2 major decision over Heidelberg's Ryan Hornack, but then lost to Elizabethtown's Bryan Pflanz by major decision, 9-0. Ciaccia bounced back for a 5-2 win over Alec Hoover of Case Western Reserve to remain alive in the consolation, and will need three wins Sunday to advance to nationals.
Connelly had a tougher road at 197 pounds. He opened with a bye, but then suffered an 11-0 major decision loss to Kyle Koser of Messiah. In the consolation bracket, he came back with a 6-0 decision over Tyler Maclellan of Baldwin Wallace and a 2-1 decision over Mason Litz of John Carroll to reach the consolation quarters. He'll need three wins Sunday to advance to nationals.
Action continues Sunday morning with semifinal bouts and consolation quarterfinals starting at 10 a.m. at York College.
--ROYALS--
