ETOWN FALLS IN CLOSE MATCH TO GETTYSBURG, 24-23, TO BEGIN SEASON 0-1

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- Elizabethtown's first dual match of the season Wednesday turned out to be a roller coaster ride as the Blue Jays lost at home to Gettysburg, 24-23. The match saw Gettysburg vault out to a 15-0 lead only to see Elizabethtown come roaring back to go ahead 19-15. Gettysburg regained a 21-19 lead, but the Blue Jays came right back to go up 23-21. Gettysburg won the final match of the night to secure a 24-23 come-from-behind win.

The evening began with the 165-lb. match, which resulted in an 8-3 decision victory for the Bullets' Matt Miller (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren Regional). Gettysburg took a 9-0 lead on a pin at 174 lbs. by Eric Sweitzer (Lewisberry, PA/Cedar Cliff). Things began to look bleak for the Blue Jays when Etown forfeited the 184-lb. match to hand Gettysburg a 15-0 lead.

The momentum abruptly shifted when Elizabethtown's Art Mattes (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) won at 197 lbs. on a fall at 3:57. An 11-3 major decision victory by Etown's Josh Boyer (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) at heavyweight immediately followed by a Gettysburg forfeit at 125 lbs. suddenly put Etown in a tenuous 16-15 lead.

A 3-1 decision win by Sam Lannigan (Lancaster, PA/Conestoga Valley) of Etown at 133 lbs. increased the Blue Jay's lead to 19-15, but the balance was about to shift yet again. Gettysburg's Mike Russo (Sewell, NJ/Peddie School) pinned Etown's Eric Boyle (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks East), who normally wrestles at 125 lbs. but was filling a gap in the lineup at 141 lbs. Wednesday night, at 3:37, to regain the lead for Gettysburg, 21-19.

Etown struck back at 149 lbs. when Brian Alwine (Hanover, PA/South Western) won big in a 13-0 major decision to return the lead to the Blue Jays, 23-21.

And so, it all came down to the final match of the evening at 157 lbs., where Gettysburg's Tim Scarpato (Boothwyn, PA/Chichester) won a 10-3 decision to win the match for the Bullets, 24-23.

Elizabethtown returns to action at home Saturday, November 18 against Middle Atlantic Conference rival Wilkes at 12:00 p.m.

At Elizabethtown, PA
Gettysburg 24, Elizabethtown 23
165: Matt Miller (G) dec. Brett Koser (E), 8-3 — (3-0 G)
174: Eric Sweitzer (G) pinned Ben Kreisher (E), 3:54 — (9-0 G)
184: Cory McManimen (G), forfeit win — (15-0 G)
197: Art Mattes (E) pinned Brandon Smith (G), 3:57 — (15-6 G)
Hwt: Josh Boyer (E) maj. dec. Dana Barschdorf (G), 11-3 — (15-10 G)
125: Woody Adams (E), forfeit win — (16-15 E)
133: Sam Lannigan (E) dec. Stephen Kareha (G), 3-1 — (19-15 E)
141: Mike Russo (G) pinned Eric Boyle (E), 3:37 — (21-19 G)
149: Brian Alwine (E) maj. dec. Vince Carbonaro (G), 13-0 — (23-21 E)
157: Tim Scarpato (G) dec. Nick Myles (E), 10-3 — (24-23 G)