Day One Results

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The journey for a spot at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship will continue for three Gettysburg College grapplers at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship hosted by Lycoming College.
 
Seniors Colin Kowalski (Derwood, Md/Georgetown Prep) and Paul Triandafilou (Derwood, Md./Georgetown Prep) and junior Colin Devlin (Dresher, Pa./Upper Dublin) each posted two wins and advanced to the semifinals in their respective weight classes. The top three finishes at each weight will earn a ticket to nationals. Action at the regional resumes at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
 
Kowalski dominated his opening two bouts at 174 pounds and ran his season record to 36-3. He posted a technical fall (15-0, 5:26) against Kyle Hillermeier from Delaware Valley College and took down Levko Higgins form Penn State Behrend by major decision 11-1. He'll face Ahston Gyenizs from Wilkes University in the semifinals Saturday. Kowalski, who is ranked 10th in the nation, is seeking his second-straight appearance on the national stage.
 
Triandafilou, ranked eighth in the country at heavyweight, sits on the cusp of his third trip to the national stage. A two-time regional runner-up, he posted a 15-0 victory over Oscar Daniels from Delaware Valley in his opening match. The senior then scored an escape to start the second period for the only point in a decision over Sam Colebert from Pitt-Bradford. Triandafilou improved his season record to 32-3. Waiting in the Saturday's semifinal is last year's Southeast Regional champion Garrett Wesneski from Lycoming. Triandafilou and Wesneski met in the finals of the Messiah Invitational in 2017 with the Warrior wrestler coming out with a 6-4 win.
 
Devlin scored his 10th pin of the season in the opening period of his first match at 149 pounds. The junior followed with a 4-1 decision over Bryce Crew from Washington and Lee University to earn his first trip to the regional semifinals. Devlin will see a familiar face across the mat on Saturday in Stephen Maloney from Messiah College. Maloney is 4-1 against the Gettysburg wrestler with Devlin's victory coming by fall in the finals of the Messiah Invitational this past November. Maloney won the rematch 7-4 in a dual with Messiah one month later.
 
Every wrestler from Gettysburg scored a victory at the regional Friday, helping the team jump into a tie for eighth in the team standings with 49.5 points. Messiah paces the 20-team field with 71 points.
 
Senior Dan Ebert (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Warde) will also continue his season Saturday after reaching the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket at 184. Ebert won his preliminary bout by third-period fall, but was upended in his next match in a close decision. The senior scored two more pins in the wrestleback, giving him 10 on the season and lifting his record to 25-11.
 
Both sophomore Alex Shaffer (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and freshman Ray Martin (Downingtown, Pa./West Chester Henderson) posted two wins at 133 and 157, respectively. Shaffer won two matches in the consolation bracket, including a first-period fall. Martin rallied from an opening setback to post a 9-3 decision and an 11-3 major decision in his next two matches at 157.
 
Sophomores Sean Thompson (Plainsboro, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South) and Mike Iodice (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) won their opening matches. Thompson scored a 6-5 decision in his opener at 141 before falling by major decision. His day ended with a 6-5 overtime loss to Delaware Valley's Robert Duxbury. Iodice won his first regional bout 3-1 to set up a showdown with top seed Ken Burrs from Waynesburg University. Burrs held off the Gettysburg sophomore for an 11-7 decision and Iodice withdrew from the rest of the tournament due to an injury.
 
Sophomore Marc Larson (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) accounted for the final victory by the Bullets with an 11-1 major decision in his second match at 165 pounds.