HOUSTON, Texas – A pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference wrestlers capped off a successful season by winning national championships in their respective weight classes at the recent Division II Winter Championships Festival.
Mercyhurst’s Josh Shields became the school’s first wrestling national champion when he downed Nebraska-Omama’s Aaron Denson, 5-0, in the title bout. The two wrestled to a near stalemate for the first 6:30 of the match, with Shields owning a 1-0 lead on an escape he picked up in the second period. In the final 30 seconds, however, Shields picked up three near fall points and earned an extra point for riding time, accounting for the final score.
Shields was dominant during his national title run, picking up a 9-2 decision in the first round, a fall in the quarterfinals and a 4-0 shutout against the No. 2 seed in the semifinals. He finished the season with a Mercyhurst record 29 wins against three losses, one of which came to Denson in early January. Only a sophomore, Shields is now a two-time All-American after finishing fourth a year ago.
Also striking gold was Kutztown’s Joe Kemmerer, who emerged as the title winner in the 133-pound weight class. A senior, Kemmerer picked up his second national championship, having won the same weight class as a sophomore.
Like Shields, Kemmerer avenged an earlier season loss on his way to the title, downing Pitt Johnstown’s Shane Valko by a 2-1 count in the championship tilt. Valko had pinned Kemmerer at the regional championship just a few weeks ago, the only loss in a 28-1 season for the Golden Bear.
Kemmerer endured some hard-fought battles on his way to winning the crown and being named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. In the opening round he scored all three of his points in the third period to claim a 3-0 decision, then scored a third-period takedown for a 4-2 decision over Cody Garcia in the quarterfinals. Garcia came into the match as a two-time NCAA II champion in the 125-pound weight class. Prior to the win over Valko, Kemmerer had to go to the second tiebreaker in a 1-0 semifinal win over Western State’s Marques Bravo.
Mercyhurst had the top finish among PSAC teams at the tournament, placing ninth out of 35 teams. In addition to Shields, Andy Lamancusa (3rd – 157) and Payne Lint (8th – 125) earned All-America status for their top eight placements. Gannon finished 15th in the team standings behind All-Americans Frank McGrath (5th – Hwt), Kevin McElhany (6th – 149) and Jacob Tazzi (6th – 184).