Blue Jays defeat Scranton 34-12 in home opener

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Elizabethtown racked up the bonus points in front of its home crowd for the first time in the 2015-16 season. The Blue Jays were benefactors of three pins, a tech fall and two major decisions in a 34-12 victory over Scranton Wednesday evening at Thompson Gymnasium.

Sophomore 125-pounder Philip Torresani set the tone with a 13-5 major decision over Jake Thomson to start the match and Elizabethtown rattled off the first 18 points of the night.

Torresani improved to 9-5 on the season with a bevy of takedowns against Thomson. The Horsham, Pa., native scored three of them in the first period and six overall to account for 12 of his 13 points.

Bryan Pflanz built a 6-1 lead over the Royals' (5-5) Nicholas DePierro after the first period of their 133-pound matchup, winning by decision, 9-2.

Mike and Chad Lammer continued their terrific seasons with a pair of wins Wednesday. Mike Lammer put together three takedowns and a four-point near fall in the first three minutes to open a 10-3 advantage on James Samson at 141. Early in the second, the senior from Ephrata notched his fourth takedown. Lammer wrapped up his fourth fall of the season moments later at 3:32.

Mike Lammer saw his record jump to 13-1 with the pin, briefly giving him the team lead until Luke Fernandez matched him with a fall at 197.

Chad Lammer, who along with brother Mike, is receiving honorable mention accolades in the myHOUSE/d3wrestle.com national rankings, shutout Liam Gallagher, 15-0, for a 5:27 tech fall in the 149-pound bout. The Lammer's have a combined record of 24-5 after the Jays' first match of 2016.

Scranton got on the board with a forfeit victory by Ian Evans at 157, but Chris Kummerer quickly restored E-town's (3-3) 18-point lead with a fall at 165. Kummerer's 10th win of the season was dominant, as he got a quick takedown of Daniel O'Neill and two four-point near falls before earning the pin with 21 seconds to go in the opening period.

Rocco Hladney (184) and Fernandez (197) both added to Elizabethtown's impressive bonus point total against the Royals. Hladney worked his way to a 13-3 major decision over Kevin Merle and Fernandez needed just 2:16 to pin Derek Fisher. The hosts held a 13-3 advantage in bonus points by the end of the match.

Elizabethtown heads to Ursinus Saturday for the North-South Duals. The Jays will host Shippensburg next Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. Prior to the match against the Raiders, E-town will honor former grappler Benn Druck, who passed away last Sept. at age 47.

Elizabethtown vs. Scranton Wednesday, January 6, 2016 • Elizabethtown, Pa. (Thompson Gymnasium
Wt.		EC	SCR
125	Philip Torresani (EC) maj. dec. Jake Thomson (SCR), 13-5	4	0
133	Bryan Pflanz (EC) dec. Nicholas DePierro (SCR), 9-2	7	0
141	#NR/HM Mike Lammer (EC) pinned James Samson (SCR), 3:32	13	0
149	#NR/HM Chad Lammer (EC) tech fall Liam Gallagher (SCR), 15-0 (5:27)	18	0
157	#NR/CT Ian Evans (SCR) won by forfeit	18	6
165	Chris Kummerer (EC) pinned Daniel O'Neill (SCR), 2:39	24	6
174	Andrew Gombas (SCR) dec. Quinn Ruble (EC), 8-2	24	9
184	Rocco Hladney (EC) maj. dec. Kevin Merle (SCR), 13-3	28	9
197	#NR/CT Luke Fernandez (EC) pinned Derek Fisher (SCR), 2:16	34	9
285	Eric Calimano (SCR) dec. Eric Eckstein (EC), 6-2	34	12
Rankings: NWCA / d3wrestle.com NR - Not ranked CT - Contender HM - Honorable Mention

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Players Mentioned

Eric Eckstein: 197/285; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Luke Fernandez: 197; 6' 2"; Junior

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

Chad Lammer: 149/157; 5' 7"; Senior

Mike Lammer: 141; 5' 7"; Senior

Bryan Pflanz: 133; 5' 5"; Senior

Quinn Ruble: 174; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Philip Torresani: 125; 5' 3"; Sophomore

Rocco Hladney: 184; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Eric Eckstein
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: 197/285

Luke Fernandez
: 6' 2"; Junior
: 197

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

Chad Lammer
: 5' 7"; Senior
: 149/157

Mike Lammer
: 5' 7"; Senior
: 141

Bryan Pflanz
: 5' 5"; Senior
: 133

Quinn Ruble
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: 174

Philip Torresani
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: 125

Rocco Hladney
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: 184