Statesmen Finish 1-3 at Desert Duals
William Penn University Athletics
Las Vegas, Nev.–The William Penn wrestling team faced some top competition on Sunday, coming away knowing what it will take to reach the top level.
The Statesmen (1-4) opened the day with a 30-21 loss to #4 Campbellsville (Ky.) before dropping a 34-15 matchup against #16 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.). The team was then shut down by NCAA Division III #3 Coe 35-13 before slipping past #19 Concordia (Neb.) 24-18 for its first dual win of the year.
Campbellsville 30, William Penn 21
The navy and gold collected just one true victory in its opening meet when 149-pounder Eric Burgey (So., Easton, Pa., Easton HS) defeated #11 Matt Milton 7-3.
The squad also received forfeits at 125, 184, and 285 pounds.
Embry-Riddle 34, William Penn 15
Burgey, who was perfect on the day (10-0 on the year), again had his hand raised at 149 pounds with a 7-4 win versus Matt Hamilton.
Ishmael Rempson (Fr., Olympia Fields, Ill., Rich Central HS) made it two in a row with a fall over David Snook in a time of 2:29 at 157 pounds, while heavyweight Kory Morrow (So., Oskaloosa, Wartburg) also pinned his opponent (Garrett Foster) in 2:43. Morrow matched Burgey with a perfect 4-0 record (two falls, two forfeits).
Coe 35, William Penn 13
Burgey got William Penn on the board against the Kohawks with a 9-4 decision over Adam Garcia and then Rempson (3-1 on the day) collected a 13-3 major decision against Jason Taylor-Ohmes.
A forfeit was also received at heavyweight.
William Penn 24, Concordia 18
Aaron Shaffer (Fr., Longmont, Colo., Longmont HS) collected his first true win of the day (forfeit against Campbellsville) to spark the Statesmen in their final dual. The 125-pounder defeated Brandon Roath 9-4.
Burgey pinned his foe Jon Frerichs in 2:29 and Rempson posted an 8-2 win over Zach Schnell.
Unfortunately, the next three matches went in favor of the Bulldogs, putting William Penn in an 18-12 hole entering its final two contests.
Nathan Merical (So., Grinnell, Grinnell HS) gave his team life, though, by pinning Kale Hintz in 3:26 at 197 pounds and Morrow completed the rally with a quick 42-second fall over Hunter Cummins.
Next: The Statesmen are off the remainder of Christmas vacation, returning to action on Saturday, January 7 to host the William Penn Open. Action begins at 9 a.m. in the Penn Activity Center.
