Head Coach Jason Valek was also named the Super Region I coach of the year as his team finished the season with a 23-2 record and went undefeated against region teams. Eight Newberry wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament, which is the same amount that qualified last year when Newberry finished eighth. This year the tournament is being held in Houston, Texas.
Coming in behind Newberry at second place was Pittsburgh-Johnstown with 108.5 points. West Liberty State took third place with 92 points and was followed by Gannon University (80.5) and Mercyhurst College (71).
Claiming the first championship of the day for Newberry was Matt Oliver (Toms River, N.J.). Oliver won his semifinal match over No. 3 Scott Morgan of Pittsburgh-Johnstown with a 11-3 major decision and then won by medical forfeit over No. 5 Russell Weakley of UNC-Pembroke in the championship match.
The championship was Oliver's first as he took second in last years regional. Oliver qualified for the national tournament for the second time in his career.
Making his third straight trip to the national tournament at 133 lbs. is Andrew Young (Summerville, S.C.). Young went 2-1 on the day, but claimed third place in the tournament. In his semifinal match, Young lost to the eventual champion, Shane Valko of Pittsburgh-Johnstown by a 4-1 decision. However, Young battled back to win his next match over No. 4 Mike Nash of UNC-Pembroke by a 8-3 decision.
In the third place match, Young defeated sixth-seeded Nick Wykoff of West Liberty State by a 5-2 decision. Young's season record now stands at 16-7.
Tony Washington (Georgetown, S.C.) went 1-2 on the day to claim sixth place. Washington won his first match with a 8-2 decision over No. 7 Dallas Evans of Seton Hill, but lost in his following match to No. 5 Jeremy Parker of Limestone by a 2-1 decision.
In the fifth place match, Washington lost his second straight match by a point to No. 2 AJ Milanak of Gannon by a 1-0 decision. Washington failed to qualify for the national tournament as his finished his season with a 23-10 mark.
At 149 lbs., Latra Collick (Berlin, Md.) claimed his third-consecutive Super Region I Runner-up as he went 1-1 on the day. Collick defeated No. 5 Kayne Melko of West Liberty State in the semifinals with a 3-1 sudden victory, but then lost in the championship finals to No. 3 Kevin McElhaney of Gannon by a 7-3 decision.
By claiming second place, Collick qualified for his third straight national tournament. His season record now stands at 26-8 after a 3-1 showing this weekend.
Sean Byrnes (Jackson, N.J.) failed to place in the tournament as he lost to No. 2 Mike Rogers of Carson-Newman by a 10-3 decision. Byrnes went 2-2 in his first ever regional tournament as he finished his freshman campaign with a 18-12 record.
At 165 lbs., Brandon Kelly (Fort Myers, Fla.) took home third place as he went 2-1 on the day to qualify for his first national tournament. Kelly lost to Pittsburgh-Johnstown's No. 3 Kyle Keane in the semifinals by a 5-3 decision, but won in his next match over Gannon's No. 4 Brett Terry with a 8-3 decision.
In the third place match, Kelly defeated No. 6 Seth Phalen of West Liberty State by a 8-4 decision. Kelly's record improved to 28-8 as he held a 4-1 record at the region tournament.
Also placing for Newberry was Josh Whitelock (Rhodesdale, Md.) at 174 lbs. Whitelock went 1-2 on the day to qualify for his first national tournament. In the championship semifinals, Whitelock lost by a narrow 5-4 decision to Belmont Abbey's No. 2 Adam Phillips. Whitelock responded with a 7-2 decision over Zach Lundgren of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.
In the third place match, Whitelock was unable to defeat Joby Shreckhise of Limestone as he lost by a 5-1 decision. Competing in his first region tournament, Whitelock went 2-2 and improved his season record to 24-10.
Top seed at 184 pounds, Bryant Blanton (Summerville, S.C.) took fourth place as he went 1-2 on the day. Blanton lost his semifinal match to No. 4 Mitch Knapp of West Liberty State in the second tiebreaker by a 4-2 score. However, Blanton rebounded with a 21-second pin of Shippensburg's Zach Hogentogler in the consolation semifinals.
Blanton was unable to defeat Carson-Newman's No. 5 Landon Hall as he fell by a 4-3 decision. Despite the loss, Blanton still qualified for the national tournament, which will be his second appearance.
Taking home the 197 pound crown was Keeno Griffin (Jacksonville, Fla.), who finished the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. Griffin defeated No. 5 Zach Anderson of Anderson University by a 9-2 decision in the semifinals and then claimed a 6-2 decision over Kutztown's No. 3 Scott Snyder.
Griffin's record now stands at 29-2 as the 2008 All-American will travel to nationals for the third straight year. Griffin's winning streak now stretches to 18 matches.
In the heavyweight division, No. 1 Cy Wainwright (Green Cove Spring, Fla.) claimed his second straight region title as he finished the tournament with a 3-0 record. In the semifinals, Wainwright defeated UPJ's No. 5 Chris Dempsey by a pinfall at the 2:14 mark and then beat Gannon's No. 3 Frank McGrath by a 13-3 major decision.
The 2008 All-American still holds a perfect record this season at 32-0 and has a winning streak of 34 matches. Wainwright will also make his third appearance at the national tournament.
The Newberry College wrestling team will travel to Houston, Texas for the NCAA Division II Tournament, where they will be looking to improve upon last year's eighth place finish. Championship information can be found at the following link. More information about the Super Region I Tournament can be found on Mercyhurst's website.
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