Two Pennsylvania wrestlers claimed National Championships as the 2018 NCAA Division II National Tournament took place over the weekend. Both wrestlers hail from Pitt-Johnstown as Greensburg-Salem graduate Chris Eddins won the 141 pound title and Cody Law (Forest Hills) took home gold at 157 pounds (Photo credit Kutztown Athletics).

Eddins, a sophomore for the Mountain Cats, came in as the runner-up out of the Super Regional East having lost to fellow Pennsylvania wrestler Drew Walker (North Hills/Notre Dame) in the regional finals. Eddins won three straight matches by regular decision to make the finals where he faced McKendree’s returning National finalist Darren Wynn – coming away with a 4-2 win and National Championship. It was a major improvement from a season ago when Eddins was a National qualifier at 141 pounds going 1-2 as a freshman.

Two additional Pennsylvania wrestles finished on the podium at 141 pounds with redshirt senior Drew Walker, a former standout for North Hills High School, placing third for Notre Dame College after dropping in the semifinals to Darren Wynn by fall in 5:38. Earning his second straight All-American finish at 141 pounds was former Middletown wrestler Bryce Killian of King. In 2017 Killian was seventh which he improved upon taking sixth in 2018 after falling to Wynn in the quarterfinals 3-2.

The second National Champion from Pennsylvania came at 157 pounds where Pitt-Johnstown senior Cody Law (Forest Hills) was able to win the title after a dominating season. The former Penn State Nittany Lion was fourth last year at the National Tournament but in 2018 he would not be denied. Law picked up a tech-fall and two decisions en route to the final where he faced St. Cloud’s Larry Bomstad. In 2017 Bomstad took third at 157 pounds winning by injury default over Law in the consolation finals. A healthy Law secured a 6-3 victory in the National finals to claim his first career title.

Two Pennsylvania wrestlers finished top eight at 165 pounds with former Penn Trafford wrestler Devin Austin of Pitt-Johnstown taking seventh and Millersville’s Shane Ruhnke (Great Valley) placing sixth. At 184 pounds former North Penn wrestler Jeff Reimel advanced into the semifinals and ended up in fifth place for Kutztown. Reimel was making his second trip to Nationals after going 0-2 in 2017. Closing out the tournament was Damon Sims Jr. of Pitt-Johnstown who captured seventh place at heavyweight for Pitt-Johnstown.

 

125 lbs.

1st Place – Elijah Hale of Central Okla.
2nd Place – Maleek Williams of Upper Iowa
3rd Place – Ivan McClay of Notre Dame (OH)
4th Place – Brett Velasquez of St. Cloud St.
5th Place – Josh Portillo of Neb.-Kearney
6th Place – Carlos Jacquez of Lindenwood (MO)
7th Place – Marcus Povlick of McKendree
8th Place – Nick Daggett of UNC Pembroke

 

133 lbs.

1st Place – Josh Walker of Upper Iowa
2nd Place – George Farmah of Minnesota St.
3rd Place – Kelan McKenna of Notre Dame (OH)
4th Place – Darius Bunch of West Liberty
5th Place – Bryce Shoemaker of Neb.-Kearney
6th Place – Airk Furseth of Wis.-Parkside
7th Place – Nolan Whitely of Newberry
8th Place – Dustin Kirk of King (TN)

 

141 lbs.

1st Place – Chris Eddins of Pitt.-Johnstown
2nd Place – Darren Wynn of McKendree
3rd Place – Drew Walker of Notre Dame (OH)
4th Place – Jarred Oftedahl of St. Cloud St.
5th Place – Joseph Calderone of LIU Post
6th Place – Bryce Killian of King (TN)
7th Place – Tyler Warner of Wheeling Jesuit
8th Place – Nick Crume of UIndy

 

149 lbs.

1st Place – Daxton Gordon of California Baptist
2nd Place – James Pleski of St. Cloud St.
3rd Place – Frank Yattoni of Wis.-Parkside
4th Place – Damian Penichet of Upper Iowa
5th Place – Isaiah Kemper of McKendree
6th Place – Taylor Misuna of Notre Dame (OH)
7th Place – Natrelle Demison of Adams St.
8th Place – Efe Osaghae of Fort Hays St.

 

157 lbs.

1st Place – Cody Law of Pitt.-Johnstown
2nd Place – Larry Bomstad of St. Cloud St.
3rd Place – Fernie Silva of Notre Dame (OH)
4th Place – Matt Malcom of Neb.-Kearney
5th Place – Jared Reis of Mary
6th Place – Tyler Mies of Newman
7th Place – Ryan Strope of McKendree
8th Place – Eric Milks of UNC Pembroke

 

165 lbs.

1st Place – Bret Romanzak of Ashland
2nd Place – Christian Smith of California Baptist
3rd Place – Blake Perryman of Northern St.
4th Place – Tyler Mann of Ouachita Baptist
5th Place – Rodney Shephard of UNC Pembroke
6th Place – Shane Ruhnke of Millersville
7th Place – Devin Austin of Pitt.-Johnstown
8th Place – Seth Elwood of Minnesota St.

 

174 lbs.

1st Place – Nick Becker of Wis.-Parkside
2nd Place – Nolan Kistler of California Baptist
3rd Place – Brandon Supernaw of Western St.
4th Place – Nick Foster of McKendree
5th Place – Bruno Nicoletti of Colorado Mesa
6th Place – Kolton Eischens of St. Cloud St.
7th Place – Zach Johnston of Minnesota St.
8th Place – Zach Stodden of Neb.-Kearney

 

184 lbs.

1st Place – Noel Torres of Newman
2nd Place – JaVaughn Perkins of Colorado St.-Pueblo
3rd Place – Jordan Murphy of Ashland
4th Place – Nicholas Fiegener of California Baptist
5th Place – Jeff Reimel of Kutztown
6th Place – Bradley Metz of Findlay
7th Place – Aero Amo of Augustana
8th Place – Tony Vezzetti of Notre Dame (OH)

 

197 lbs.

1st Place – Luke Cramer of Ashland
2nd Place – Vince Dietz of St. Cloud St.
3rd Place – Morgan Smith of Simon Fraser
4th Place – Evan Ramos of Shippensburg
5th Place – Matthew Rudy of Limestone
6th Place – Konnor Schmidt of Western St.
7th Place – Nick Baumler of Upper Iowa
8th Place – James Lehman of Wis.-Parkside

 

285 lbs.

1st Place – Terrance Fanning of Wheeling Jesuit
2nd Place – Kameron Teacher of Notre Dame (OH)
3rd Place – Matt Halverson of Wis.-Parkside
4th Place – Cody Johnson of Colorado St.-Pueblo
5th Place – Caleb Cotter of Central Okla.
6th Place – Mitchell Eull of Minot St.
7th Place – Damon Sims Jr. of Pitt.-Johnstown
8th Place – Jarrod Hinrichs of Neb.-Kearney

 

Final Brackets

[embeddoc url=”https://www.papowerwrestling.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wrestling_d2_2018.pdf” download=”logged”]