PSNK Wrestling Picks Up Split at Penn State Beaver Tri-Meet
The Penn State New Kensington Wrestling team (1-1, 1-1) opened up their dual meet season on Saturday with a split against PSUAC foes Penn State DuBois (6-3, 5-0) and Penn State Beaver (0-7,0-5).
The New Ken Lions opened the day up with a loss against Penn State DuBois, 42-6. The lone victory for PSNK came at 149 where Andrew Floyd picked up a fall against DuBois' Trevor Delhunty in 2:55. Delhunty opened the match up with a takedown early and looked to be in control from the start. Late in the first period, Floyd was able to reverse Delhunty to his back and pick up the pin with only five seconds remaining in the opening frame.
In the match of the afternoon, New Kensington's James Melnyk fell to Shane Alterio 14-12. Alterio jumped out to an early 12-2 lead after recording three takedowns and two sets of back points. Melnyk was able to respond nicely in the second and third periods by recording two more escapes and four takedowns of his own against last year's NCWA Mid-East Regional Champ. Melnyk used a series of sprawls and spins to tighten the gap, but ran out of time to complete the comback.
Penn State New Kensington dropped the final three bouts against DuBois at 165 (Aaron Shreve), 235 (Mike Benzenhoefer), and 285 (John Doppelhauer). Shreve and Benzenhoefer both lost via first period fall and Doppelhauer lost 4-2 against National Qualifier Chris Minarchik on DuBois. Minarchik was able to score first in the second period with an escape before Doppelhauer got a reversal early in the third period to give him a 2-1 lead. Minarchik was able to get to his feet and escape tying the match at 2-2 midway through the third period. With just under 20 seconds to go in regulation, Minarchik got in deep on a shot and took the PSNK freshman down on the edge of the mat.
In their second dual meet of the afternoon, Penn State New Kensington came away with a 24-8 victory over Penn State Beaver. Beaver grappler Bobby Tempalski came out early and picked up a technical fall at 157 against Andrew Floyd in 3:23.
Melnyk bumped up to 165 to face Dylan Winkle and fell just short, 5-3. Winkle got in on a single leg against Melnyk and was able to finish with only 20 seconds left to seal the match.
In the final match of the afternoon, Penn State New Kensington's Mike Benzenhoefer picked up his first win of the season against Devante Phillip at 235. Midway through the first period, Benzenhoefer was able to take Phillip from his feet to his back and pick up two backpoints with his takedown for an early 4-0 lead. An escape by Phillip closed the gap to 4-1 to end the first period. Phillip was able to pick up a take down of his own after choosing neutral to start the second period. After getting an escape off the takedown, Benzenhoefer threw Phillip to his back and recorded the fall at 4:23.
Penn State New Kensington also picked up three forfeits at 174 (Aaron Shreve), 184 (Casey Cavanaugh), and 285 (John Doppelhauer).
Penn State New Kensington Wrestling will be back in action on Tuesday, January 15th as they travel to Penn State Fayette. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.