Wrestling 12/2/2017 10:30:00 PM

Hladney fifth at New Standard Corporation Invitational

YORK, Pa. -- Rocco Hladney led the Elizabethtown College wrestling team with a fifth-place finish at a stacked New Standard Corporation Invitational hosted by York College of Pennsylvania, Saturday.

The tournament featured nine nationally-ranked programs and more than 20 nationally-ranked grapplers. Elizabethtown would finish 15th in the team standings with 25.5 points.

Hladney, ranked sixth by the NWCA and a d3wrestle.com contender, was the only Blue Jay to place. He made it all the way to the semifinals after major decisions against York's Hasan Alic (17-5) and d3wrestle.com honorable mention Chris Francis of Roger Williams (14-5) in the second round and quarterfinals.

Tenth-ranked Michael DiNardo of Johnson & Wales stopped Hladney's run to a title with a 6-2 decision in the semis. Another loss by decision in the consolation semis put Hladney into the fifth-place match where he was awarded a medical forfeit victory over nationally-ranked No. 4 Triston Engle of Brockport.

It was an otherwise tough day for E-town against tough competition. Only two more wrestlers, 149-pound entry Joe Ghione and heavyweight Eric Eckstein, were able to advance as far as the quarterfinals.

Ghione got off to a dominant start with a 19-8 major decision against Stevens' Aaron Wolfang and an 18-2 technical fall (6:57) over Ithaca's Demitri D'Orsaneo in his first two matches. Ghione ran into nationally-ranked No. 4/3 Collin Saunders of Ferrum in the semis, falling by major decision, 17-4. He later dropped a fourth-round consolation match to sixth-ranked Sean Peacock of Brockport by pin at 1:12.

Eckstein recorded a 6-2 decision over Averett's Thad Wilkerson and victory by medical forfeit before York's John Shorter got the best of the E-town senior with a pin at 1:54 of their quarterfinal match.

Elizabethtown also got a pair of consolation wins from Philip Torresani at 125 pounds, while Austin Jones (125), Josh Paisley (141), Chris Kummerer (165) and Max Rhoden (Hwt) each recorded a victory.

The Blue Jays will return to dual action Friday evening at Wilkes. Match time is 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

Max Rhoden: 285; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Philip Torresani: 125/149; 5' 3"; Senior

Joe Ghione: 141/149; 5' 5"; Senior

Austin Jones: 125/133; 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

Max Rhoden
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: 285

Philip Torresani
: 5' 3"; Senior
: 125/149

Joe Ghione
: 5' 5"; Senior
: 141/149

Austin Jones
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: 125/133