SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The seventh-ranked Mercyhurst University wrestling team extended its winning streak to 11 straight on Saturday afternoon with a pair of victories at Shippensburg University. The Lakers had to come-from-behind to defeat the Red Raiders, 30-12, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference battle. Mercyhurst then made quick work of regional-foe American International College, 48-0, to finish off the day. With the wins, Mercyhurst improved to 16-1 overall and remained perfect in PSAC competition at 5-0. Shippensburg dropped to 5-11 overall and 1-4 in the conference while the Yellow Jackets fell to 1-9 overall.

In the opener, redshirt sophomore Willie Bohince staked the Lakers to a 4-0 win after a 9-1 major decision victory over Shippensburg's Dante Steffenino.

But, the hosts rattled off three straight victories at 133, 141, and 149 to jump in front by a 12-4 margin. Redshirt senior Ryan Bohince was in danger of suffering a major decision loss at 133 before earning a takedown and a three-point nearfall in the waning seconds. He nearly turned it into a fall, but the final horn sounded, and Bohince lost by a 12-8 decision. Redshirt junior Kody Young followed and led for a majority of the match before Shippensburg's Cody Blankenship earned a takedown in the third period and turned to manuever into a fall at 141. Finally, at 149, redshirt junior Jeremy Landowski had his hands full with Cameron Throckmorton and suffered a 9-3 loss.

The Lakers, however, battled back to win the next six matches - five with bonus points - to earn the victory. Redshirt sophomore Francis Mizia started the win streak with a major decision victory over Mike Sprinter at 157 while redshirt junior Angelo Bortoluzzi followed suit at 165 to even the match at 12-12. Redshirt junior August Mizia put Mercyhurst ahead for good at 174 with a technical fall victory over Arthur Watkins, giving the Lakers a 17-12 lead. Sophomore Dakota DesLauriers pinned Shippensburg's Hunter Fenk with 27 seconds left in regulation to extend the Laker lead to 23-12.

Redshirt junior Brian Beattie sealed the win, needing two overtimes before coming up with a 4-2 decision over Jalal Paige. Sophomore Andrew Welton finished off the Red Raiders with a major decision over Francis Slover in the heavyweight bout.

In the nightcap, head coach Mike Wehler used a combination of regular starters and key reserves to blank the Yellow Jackets.

Willie Bohince started off the dual with a 16-1 technical fall victory over AIC's Connor Liebel to jump start the Lakers. Bohince, with the two victories on Saturday, improved to 27-3 overall and 17-0 in dual competition this season.

Freshman Kevin Kinyua followed at 133 by earning his first collegiate victory in a dual after defeating Cole Ludorf via technical fall, 16-0, just 2:10 into the bout. Kinyua, who had only wrestled in tournaments entering Saturday's match, improved to 9-11 overall on the season.

Junior Joey Miller got the call at 141 pounds and earned a 7-0 decision over Anthony Milano to even his season record at 10-10 overall and 1-1 in duals.

Mercyhurst had its big guns wrestle at 149, 157, 165, and 174, and earned bonus-point wins in all four bouts. Landowski (23-4, 14-2) atoned for a loss in the Shippensburg dual by pinning Nicholas DeMore at 1:13. Francis Mizia (23-3, 14-1) added to his NCAA leading technical fall total with a 15-0 victory at 157 - his eighth technical fall against a Division II opponent this season. Bortoluzzi (23-6, 15-2) earned a major decision win at 165 and August Mizia (24-4, 15-2) collected a technical fall at 174. When the dust cleared, the Lakers led 33-0.

Senior Grant Chase, who earned a victory on Friday night against Millersville, returned to action and pinned AIC's P.J. Baker at 2:35 to extend the lead to 39-0. Chase improved to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in duals this season. At 197, Beattie trailed Sheldon Rhoden, 6-2, in the second period before Rhoden was called for using an illegal slam, causing an injury to both wrestlers. Despite not beating the two-minute recovery clock, Beattie (8-14, 6-11) was awarded the six points for the illegal slam.

Welton (18-9, 13-4) concluded the successful afternoon with a 7-2 decision over Soslan Khamitcaev in the 285-pound bout.

The Lakers will have a much shorter trip on Wednesday night, February 11, when they travel to Gannon University for a PSAC showdown. The match is scheduled to get underway at 7:00 p.m. from Gannon's Hammermill Center.

#7 Mercyhurst 30, Shippensburg 12
125 - Willie Bohince (MER) major decision over Dante Steffenino (SHIP), 9-1
133 - Karl Lightner (SHIP) decision over Ryan Bohince (MER), 12-8
141 - Cody Blankenship (SHIP) fall over Kody Young (MER), 5:52
149 - Cameron Throckmorton (SHIP) decision over Jeremy Landowski (MER), 9-3
157 - Francis Mizia (MER) major decision over Mike Sprinter (SHIP), 13-3
165 - Angelo Bortoluzzi (MER) major decision over Brett Pastore (SHIP), 13-4
174 - August Mizia (MER) technical fall over Arthur Watkins (SHIP), 16-1
184 - Dakota DesLauriers (MER) fall over Hunter Fenk (SHIP), 6:33
197 - Brian Beattie (MER) decision over Jalal Paige (SHIP), 4-2 (OT2)
285 - Andrew Welton (MER) major decision over Francis Stover (SHIP), 11-1

#7 Mercyhurst 48, American International 0
125 - Willie Bohince (MER) technical fall over Connor Liebel (AIC), 16-1, 4:33
133 - Kevin Kinyua (MER) technical fall over Cole Ludorf (AIC), 16-0, 2:10
141 - Joey Miller (MER) decision over Anthony Milano (AIC), 7-0
149 - Jeremy Landowski (MER) fall over Nicholas DeMore (AIC), 1:13
157 - Francis Mizia (MER) technical fall over Christopher Hunter (AIC), 15-0, 2:30
165 - Angelo Bortoluzzi (MER) major decision over Zack Winegardner (AIC), 9-1
174 - August Mizia (MER) technical fall over Michael Schulze (AIC), 16-0, 2:59
184 - Grant Chase (MER) fall over P.J. Baker (AIC), 2:35
197 - Brian Beattie (MER) injury (illegal slam) over Sheldon Rhoden (AIC)
285 - Andrew Welton (MER) decision over Soslan Khamitcaev (AIC), 7-2