In the first tri-meet of the Red Raiders’ season, Shippensburg University traveled to Lock Haven University on Saturday, Nov. 21 to scrap against Lock Haven and Purdue University. As students, families and wrestling fans alike congregated at Lock Haven’s Thomas Field House, tension and excitement grew immensely as the time to tussle grew near.

In the two matches, the Raiders’ vigor alone proved to not be enough as they fell to both schools on the day. Shippensburg began the tri-meet with taking on the first of its two Division I opponents, Purdue, in what became a tough loss, 35-4.

Quickness, agility and pure skill kept the Raiders fighting throughout the match, losing close decisions in four of the 10 bouts, plaguing the rest of the squad with losses due to major decisions.

Another great performance out of Shippensburg’s Dustin and Dante Steffenino started the team out strong headed into two matches against Purdue’s two nationally ranked wrestlers that followed shortly after.

Following eight consecutive losing bouts for the Raiders, mat master Evan Ramos took the match into his own hands, manhandling Purdue’s Drake Stein in a 15-7 major decision, giving the team their only victory over the entirety of the match. Ramos’ domination by overpowering adversaries continued, which gave him victories in both bouts on the day, taking him to an undefeated personal record of 4-0.

This was not the only bout in which Ramos was able to achieve victory for his team. His superiority trickled into the next battle against Lock Haven, defeating Lock Haven’s Matt Moore at 197 pounds.

Throughout the two matches, sophomore Colin Ochs fought hard, keeping matches close, just barely missing his opportunity at a victory. His drive and unwillingness to give up helped the team in yet another tough contest for the Raiders.

Another team loss against LHU resulted in a second round of consecutive losses, as Ramos was again the only Raider to pick up a ‘W’. At the 133-pound weight class, red-shirt freshman Jared Leonetti filled in and stayed off his back giving a boost to his team and saving team points.

Close matches followed, intermingled with a few costly pins, which led to the team’s crushing defeat against Lock Haven’s prestigious wrestling program, 39-3. The Raiders’ difficult tri-meet against two equally impressive Division I schools leaves them with a team record of 1-3 on the season headed into the PSAC tournament on Dec. 5, which is being held at Mercyhurst University.

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