Junior Evan Ramos became the first Shippensburg University champion in wrestling in nine years at the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Championships at Lock Haven University on Dec. 10.
Ramos defeated Lock Haven University’s Tristan Sponseller by an 8–5 decision in the 197-pound championship for his third win of the tournament to move to 11–2 in his career at the PSAC Championships. He beat Brandon Steele of East Stroudsburg University, 14-4, as well as Dustin Conti of Clarion University, 6–4, to reach the final. Ramos’s performance was one of many strong outings by the Raiders at the championships.
Ramos and Sponseller were fairly even for the beginning of the match until Ramos was able to perform a takedown in the first round. He stayed on top of Sponseller for almost the entire second round, but Ramos took a 4–2 advantage with a takedown with only 10 seconds left in the second period.
With only 80 seconds left in the match, Sponseller took Ramos down to tie the score again. Ramos was careful in those last seconds to make sure that he retook the lead while not allowing Sponseller to get back into the match. He was able to find the opening for another takedown to grab the lead and seal his victory.
Ramos is only the eighth wrestling champion for SU in school history and is its first champion in the 197-pound division. He was finally able to claim his championship after falling just short at the last two championships, coming in third both years. With his performance, SU finished 10th at the PSAC Championship.
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