Wrestling 11/15/2017 9:45:00 PM

Eckstein's late takedown gives wrestling 22-19 win at #14 York

YORK, Pa. -- Senior heavyweight Eric Eckstein's takedown in the final 10 seconds of the third period broke a 1-1 deadlock in the bout and a 19-all tie in the match, as the Blue Jays escaped with a 22-19 victory over 14th-ranked York (Pa.) in their dual opener Wednesday evening.

Elizabethtown led nearly the entire match after opening up a 15-0 lead with wins at 125, 133, 141 and 149, but the homestanding Spartans (0-1) put a successful result for the Jays in jeopardy with 19 unanswered points before a major decision from Rocco Hladney at 197 and Eckstein's heroics at 285 saved the guests.

Eckstein, coming off a career-best 22 wins as a junior, put a move on Stefanos Karpontinis, who just broke into the d3wrestle.com national rankings at No. 10 Wednesday, with eight seconds left in the third period of a low-scoring battle and his two-point takedown was the difference-maker in a 3-1 decision that put the Blue Jays (1-0) on top in the final moments.

The late-match drama almost didn't happen after York scored bonus points in three of four matches while winning four straight weights between 157 and 184. A fall from Eric Hutchinson at 157 and a forfeit victory for Frankie Krauss at 184 were big blows, with the six points for the forfeit putting the Spartans ahead for the first time, 19-15.

Hladney, a d3wrestle.com Contender, put the Blue Jays back on even ground. The senior from Middletown, Del., cranked out a 14-4 major decision over Hasan Alic at 197, to knot the score at 19 heading into the final match.

It was all Jays early as Philip Torresani pinned Brendan McDonough 3:39 into their match at 125 pounds; Josh McLaughlin blanked Zach Dwyer, 3-0, at 133; Josh Paisley worked past Verlensky Joachim, 10-3, at 141; and senior d3wrestle.com Honorable Mention Joe Ghione avenged an overtime loss in the finals of last Saturday's Ursinus Fall Brawl to nationally-ranked No. 4/9 Gregory Warner with a 7-4 victory, Wednesday.

Elizabethtown snapped York's four-match winning streak in the series between the two local rivals, and gained its first victory since February, 2013. The Spartans were revealed as the 14th-ranked team in the nation according to the first NCAA Division III poll released Wednesday night.

The Blue Jays are back in action Sunday at the Star City Open in Salem, Va., ahead of their dual home opener against Shippensburg on Thanksgiving Eve at 5 p.m.

Elizabethtown at #14 York (Pa.) Wednesday, November 15, 2017 // York, Pa. (M&T Bank Fieldhouse)
Wt.		EC	YCP
125	Philip Torresani (EC) pinned Brendan McDonough (YCP), 3:39	6	0
133	Josh McLaughlin (EC) dec. Zach Dwyer (YCP), 3-0	9	0
141	Josh Paisley (EC) dec. Verlensky Joachim (YCP), 10-3	12	0
149	#NR/HM Joe Ghione (EC) dec. #4/9 Gregory Warner (YCP), 7-4	15	0
157	#NR/HM Eric Hutchinson (YCP) pinned Dan Smith (EC), 2:19	15	6
165	#NR/CT Jackson Drum (YCP) dec. Chris Kummerer (EC), 5-2	15	9
174	David Keith (YCP) maj. dec. Tyler Mentzer (EC), 13-3	15	13
184	#NR/CT Frankie Krauss (YCP) won by forfeit	15	19
197	#NR/CT Rocco Hladney (EC) maj. dec. Hasan Alic (YCP), 14-4	19	19
285	Eric Eckstein (EC) dec. #NR/10 Stefanos Karpontinis (YCP), 3-1	22	19
Rankings: NWCA / d3wrestle.com NR - Not ranked CT - Contender HM - Honorable Mention

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Players Mentioned

Eric Eckstein: 285; 5' 10"; Junior

Rocco Hladney: 184; 5' 11"; Junior

Chris Kummerer: 157; 5' 7"; Junior

Dan Smith: 141/149; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Philip Torresani: 125; 5' 3"; Junior

Josh Paisley: 133/141; 5' 5"; Freshman

Eric Eckstein: 285; 5' 10"; Senior

Rocco Hladney: 197; 5' 11"; Senior

Chris Kummerer: 157/165; 5' 7"; Senior

Josh Paisley: 141; 5' 5"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Eric Eckstein
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 285

Rocco Hladney
: 5' 11"; Junior
: 184

Chris Kummerer
: 5' 7"; Junior
: 157

Dan Smith
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: 141/149

Philip Torresani
: 5' 3"; Junior
: 125

Josh Paisley
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: 133/141

Eric Eckstein
: 5' 10"; Senior
: 285

Rocco Hladney
: 5' 11"; Senior
: 197

Chris Kummerer
: 5' 7"; Senior
: 157/165

Josh Paisley
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: 141