JOHNSTOWN, PA – The Mercyhurst wrestling team began postseason play on Saturday afternoon at the Super Region One Championships hosted by Pitt-Johnstown. Four Laker matmen found themselves placed in the top-three in their respective weight brackets to advance to the NCAA Division II National Tournament on March 11-12th, in St. Louis.
The first national qualifier for the Lakers at 133 is Eric Bartos. The redshirt junior Bartos began his day with a bye before he earned a second round tech fall over AIC's Aaron Morocho. In the semifinals, Bartos matched up with Seton Hill's William Burgess for the third time this season. Bartos made it a perfect 3-0 on the year against the Griffin's 133 pounder as he pinned him in four minutes and 30 seconds. Bartos would finish 2nd at 133, falling to Kutztown's Colin Wickramaratna in the championship bout via an 8-5 decision.
The second Mercyhurst matman to qualify was their 141 pounder
Alexis Soriano. Soriano had to work his way through the consolation bracket following a first round defeat to Shippensburg's Deandre Reed. After the 4-3 defeat, Soriano did not lose for the remainder of the tournament as he went on to defeat Millersville's Matt Morris by technical fall, he then rallied off three straight decision victories including a 2-0 shutout of Kutztown's K.J. Fenstermacher in the third place match to advance to nationals.
At 174 pounds,
Dillon Walker was the lone Mercyhurst freshman to make the national tournament. Walker began his day with a first round bye just like Bartos and Sorinao, he then earned an 8-1 decision in the quarterfinals followed by a 3-1 sudden victory win over Millersville's Anthony Yacovetti in the semifinals. Walker again went to overtime with Gannon's Joseph Petrella in the championship bout but this time fell 3-1 as he went on to take second on the podium at 174.
Mercyhurst's heavyweight
Jacob Robb will be joining Bartos, Sorinao, and Walker in St. Louis, Missouri in two weeks as he placed second in the 285 pound bracket. Robb won his first match of the day by fall against Seton Hill's John Meyers, he followed that performance by winning in sudden victory against Gannon's Freddie Nixon. Robb squared off with Kutztown's No.1 Andrew Dunn for the second time this season in the championship bout. Dunn was able to squeak past Robb with a 3-1 sudden victory.
