By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

MOORESTOWN, N.J. – The Penn State Mont Alto wrestling team were crowned NCWA Mideast Conference dual champions on Saturday as the Nittany Lions claimed victories over Slippery Rock (WC), Montclair State (WC), the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and Rowan University (WC).

The team improved to 14-5 overall on the season in dual competition as they beat Montclair State 28-23, Slippery Rock by a 29-24 team score, UMBC 48-9, and Rowan University by 34-19 margin.

Against Montclair State

• Mason Blank (Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg) earned a close 4-3 win over Jesse Lipton at 125 pounds. Jack Coulston (Carlisle, Pa. / Boiling Springs) scored a 12-4 win at 141 pounds.
• PSUMA then had back-to-back pins with John Halbrendt (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg Area) and Ron Schilpp(Severna Park, Md. / Severna Park) doing the honors. Schlipp pinned his opponent in 3:50 and Halbrandt pinned Kerim Recci in 1:31. At 174 pounds, Nick Kostyak (Carlisle, Pa. / Boiling Springs) went all three periods for the 6-3 win over Luka Stepana.

Against Slippery Rock

• Jack Coulston (Carlisle, Pa. / Boiling Springs) pinned his eighth opponent of the season doing it in 1:42 over Ryan Reconnu. Bryce Palamar (Smithsburg, Md. / Williamsport) pinned Julian Breese in 4:07 at 149 pounds.
• Nick Kostyak (Carlisle, Pa. / Boiling Springs) earned the 16-3 major decision to put Mont Alto up 25-9. Davon Williams (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) earned his team four points with a 14-5 win at 197 pounds

Against UMBC

• Mason Blank (Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg) pinned his opponent within the third period to give PSUMA the first six points of the dual. Jack Coulston (Carlisle, Pa. / Boiling Springs) scored another pin, this time in 20 seconds.
• Both John Halbrendt (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg Area) and Ron Schilpp (Severna Park, Md. / Severna Park) pinned their opponents again. Having faced both of them in previous duals the Nittany Lions were able to get the upperhand.
• Eric Wilson (Carlisle, Pa. / Boiling Springs) scored another Nittany Lion pin in the 285 pound weight class. Wilson earned the fall in 2:10 over John Volkey.

Against Rowan

• The highlights of the dual against Rowan included back-to-back pins from Ron Schilpp (Severna Park, Md. / Severna Park) and Nick Kostyak (Carlisle, Pa. / Boiling Springs). Schlipp earned his just five seconds into the second period and Kostyak pinned Daniel Wollerman in 1:44.

Penn State Mont Alto returns to action next Saturday at the Garrett College Tri-Match.