Shippensburg, 19 - Elizabethtown, 16

On Tuesday, Jan. 12, the Raiders took on Elizabethtown College in what was a key victory for the team.

Shippensburg University, now 7-5 on the season, picked up its sixth victory on the year in spectacular fashion. The meet began with a tough first three bouts, with Shippensburg losing at each of the three weight classes.

In addition to the slow start, junior Dante Steffenino had his 10-bout win streak dramatically halted with a 7-0 loss to Elizabethtown’s Bryan Pflanz, at 133-pounds. The deficit accumulated nine points for Elizabethtown before sophomore Mike Springer grabbed the first win of the night for his team, 8-4.

Following the ignition to a heroic comeback, freshman Adam Martz picked up a key forfeit at the 157-pound weight class, giving his team leverage to tie the meet at 9-9. This began a string of victories for Shippensburg, including a key major decision (9-1) in a stellar bout by senior 165-pounder, Mark Lentz.

Following in suit, redshirt freshman Gray Garber won a 14-7 decision at 174-pounds, shortly before sophomore Evan Ramos’ stunning 3-2 victory at 197-pounds to seal the deal.

The team escaped with an impressive 19-16 win, bringing them their sixth win of the season before returning back home to Shippensburg to battle Millersville University at Heiges Field House the following evening.

Shippensburg, 33 – Millersville, 14

In a PSAC East rivalry match that took place at Shippensburg’s Heiges Field House on Wednesday, Jan. 13, the Red Raiders defeated their foe once again.

Shippensburg was able to crush Millersville in seven bouts as it gathered three pins in seven victories. Now undefeated in the PSAC (2-0), the Raiders began the night with a pin by freshman Dustin Steffenino at 125-pounds, 6:05 into the opening bout.

After two losses for the Raiders, they would not lose again until the final bout at 285-pounds. Springer outperformed his opponent yet again at the 149-pound weight class with a pin 3:05 into the match. Garber followed Springer’s model as he also forced his opponent’s shoulders to the mat, capping off the third pin of the evening for the Raiders.

Being presented with their seventh win of the season, fourth in a row as a team, Shippensburg has high expectations while racking up victories left and right. With the second PSAC meet of the season in the books, a 33-14 victory against Millersville will help thrust the Raiders past their PSAC rivals, East Stroudsburg University on Jan. 19.

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