PA Wrestlers at the NCAA Division II Nationals
At 125 LBS, Seton Hill senior Kenny Trumbetta (Greensburg Salem HS) earned his first All-American honors by finishing fifth. At 133 LBS, former District 11 wrestler Evan Yenolevich (Northwestern Lehigh HS) of Kutztown University earned All-American status finishing in fourth place.
The 149 LBS bracket saw several former PA wrestlers in action with two earning All-American honors. Ethan Swope (DuBois Area HS) of Gannon University earned his first All-American status by finishing sixth at 149 LBS. Also competing at 149 LBS was former Nazareth wrestling star Bobby Ward. Following his high school career, Ward attended Nassau Community College where he was a NJCAA All-American finishing as the runner-up. The following year Ward attended North Carolina State University where he qualified for the NCAA Division I National Championships and finished the season with an20-6 record. This season Bobby is attending Grand Canyon University and recently earned his first NCAA Division II All-American status by placing third at 149 LBS. Ward helped Grand Canyon finish in fourth place overall as a team. Senior Nathan Link (Central Cambria HS) of University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown finished behind Booby Ward in fourth place at 149 LBS falling by a score of (5-3) but earning his first All-American status.
157 LBS also saw two former PA wrestling stars medal at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Branden Turner (Southern Lehigh HS/Northampton HS) a redshirt sophomore at East Stroudsburg University finished in sixth place and Zach Lundgren (DuBois Area HS) a senior at Pitt-Johnstown University earned his first All-American status with a seventh place finish. The two former PA wrestlers faced off in the consolation round with Branden Turner coming out on top 2-0 over Lundgren. True freshman Travis McKillop a State Champions last season for Burrell HS earned his first All-American honors competing for Pitt-Johnstown University at 174 LBS by finishing seventh.
Below are other former PA Wrestler who qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Ryan Bohince (Penn Trafford HS) of Mercyhurst qualified at 125 LBS.
Cody Myers (Southern Huntington HS) of Shippensburg University qualified at 133 LBS.
Kody Young (Punxsutawney Area HS) of Mercyhurst qualified at 133 LBS.
Jack Bachman (Hempfield Area HS) of University of Pitt-Johnstown qualified at 141 LBS.
Kenny Stank (Central Dauphin HS) of Shippensburg University qualified at 149 LBS.
Nathan Link (Central Cambria HS) of University of Pitt-Johnstown qualified at 149 LBS.
Micah Bollinger (Mifflinburg HS) of Kutztown University qualified at 165 LBS.
Thad Frick (Nazareth HS) of East Stroudsburg University qualified at 165 LBS.
Gary Lantz (Kennard-Dale HS) of University of Pitt-Johnstown qualified at 184 LBS.
Giovanni Oritz (Reading HS) of Kutztown University qualified at 184 LBS.
Zach Benzio (Connellsville HS) of Seton Hill University qualified at 184 LBS.
Jon Moore (Kiski Area HS) of University of Pitt-Johnstown qualified at 197 LBS.
Brandan Clark (Methacton HS) of Kutztown University qualified at 285 LBS.