Four Hokies win titles at Navy Classic
Tech takes second place in tough event
November 21, 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Four Hokies won Navy Classic wrestling titles on Saturday, leading Tech to a second-place finish on Saturday in Annapolis, Md. Juniors Chris Diaz, Tommy Spellman, D.J. Bruce and sophomore Jesse Dong all collected individual titles on the day.

At 141 pounds, Diaz earned a major decision over Adam Healy of Bucknell, and dominated Eric Filipowicz of Navy, 7-1. In the championship bout, Diaz continued his stellar wrestling with a route of third-seeded Zachary Hancock of Bucknell, 8-2.

Dong won the 157-pound crown. Dong tallied major decisions over Bobby Barnhisel of Navy and Bucknell’s Scott Sechler. After winning, 2-0, in the weight’s semis over third-seeded Brantly Hooks of Bucknell, the Westerville, Ohio, native recorded his second-straight shutout in the title bout, defeating top-seeded Bryce Saddoris of Navy, 4-0.

Spellman won four-straight matches to capture the 184-pound belt. Spellman pinned Kevin Foley of Bucknell to open the tournament, then earned a major decision over Navy’s Greg Prioleau. He then beat Bucknell’s Rob Waltko, and registered another major decision in the first-place match, defeating Navy’s Andrew Buck for the weight’s crown.

Bruce, the top seed, capped off the string of Hokie champions at the Navy Classic, winning the heavyweight class. Bruce had no trouble with his first two opponents, notching a major decision and a pin against Navy’s Joseph Breaux and Franklin and Marshall’s Daniel Canfield, respectively. The pin over Canfield came 1:08 into the match. Bruce held off the third seed, Daniel Miller of Navy, 5-3, to win the title.

Five other Hokies placed at the tournament. Fourth-seeded Erik Spjut finished second at 133 pounds, Nick Murray placed fourth at 141 pounds and Pete Yates collected a runner-up finish at 149 pounds. Top-seeded Matt Epperly finished fourth at 165 pounds, and Anthony Trongone, seeded second at 174 pounds, placed third.

The Hokies return to the mat Friday in Cassell Coliseum against Newberry and Campbell. Results and live stats will be available on hokiesports.com.

125: #5 seed Schuyler Swanton (0-2)
Lost to Austin Clouse (Navy), 11-3 MD
Lost to Derrik Russell (Bucknell), 8-6

133: #4 seed Erik Spjut (2-1, 2nd Place)
Def. Jack Ingram (Bucknell), TF 16-0 (4:32)
Def. #2 seed Denny Herndon (George Mason), 5-2
Lost to #1 seed David Marble (Bucknell), 2-0

133: Jared Jones (2-2)
Def. #5 seed Dan Gaylord (Bloomsburg), 2-1
Lost to #6 seed Jacob Bucha (F&M), 6-3
Def. Matt Murray (F&M), Fall, 2:45
Lost to Jared Anongos (Navy), 4-2

141: #1 seed Chris Diaz (3-0, CHAMPION)
Def. Adam Healey (Bucknell), 10-2 MD
Def. Eric Filipowicz (Navy), 7-1
Def. #3 Seed Zachary Hancock (Bucknell), 8-2

141: Nick Murray (4-2, 4th Place)
Def. John Delgado (George Mason), 13-1 MD
Lost to #3 seed Zachary Hancock (Bucknell), Fall 6:10
Def. Donald Takagi (George Mason), TF, 16-1
Def. Jaaziah Bethea (George Mason), 13-0 MD
Def. Eric Filipowicz (Navy), Fall 2:36
Lost to # 4 seed Matt Pagan (Navy), DQ Flag

149: #2 seed Pete Yates (2-1, 2nd Place)
Def. John Regan (Bucknell), 11-6
Def. #3 seed Glenn Shober (Navy), Fall 1:36
Lost to #1 seed Kevin LeValley (Bucknell), 13-2

157: #2 seed Jesse Dong (4-0, CHAMPION)
Def. Bobby Barnhisel (Navy), 15-3 MD
Def. Scott Sechler (Bucknell), 13-2 MD
Def. #3 seed Brantly Hooks (Bucknell), 2-0
Def. #1 seed Bryce Saddoris (Navy), 4-0

157: Taylor Knapp (3-2)
Def. Gavin Johnston (Bucknell), Fall, 1:46
Lost to #1 seed Bryce Saddoris (Navy), TF 18-3 (6:16)
Def. Josh Veltre (Bloomsburg), Fall, 3:46
Def. Chris Mazzatta (Campbell), Fall, 6:42
Lost to Jake Fose (Campbell), 11-7

165: #1 seed Matt Epperly (2-2, 4th Place)
Def. Jacob Schalles (Navy), 18-6 MD
Lost to Robby Neill (Navy), 7-4
Def. Nicholas Czapla (Bucknell), TF 25-8
Lost to #2 seed Rick Schmelyun (Bloomsburg), 13-5 MD

165: Daniel Fissmer (0-2)
Lost to Nicholas Czapla (Bucknell), 11-2 MD
Lost to Kramer Whitelaw (George Mason), 6-1

174: #2 seed Anthony Trongone (3-1, 3rd Place)
Def. John Merickel (Campbell), 12-3 MD
Lost to #2 seed Nathan Graham (Bloomsburg), 4-1
Def. Matt Fullowan (F&M), 2-0
Def. #4 seed Michael Billings (Navy), 9-5

174: John Dickson (0-2)
Lost to Michael Billings (Navy), 8-3
Lost to Matt Fullowan (F&M), 4-2

184: #1 seed Tommy Spellman (4-0, CHAMPION)
Def. Kevin Foley (Bucknell), Fall, 2:37
Def. Greg Prioleau (Navy), 11-0 MD
Def. Rob Waltko (Bucknell), 4-1
Def. Andrew Buck (Navy), 10-0 MD

197: Tim Miller (2-2)
Def. Nick Hylton (Navy), 4-3
Lost to #2 seed Jacob Dabishinsky (Bloomsburg), Fall, 6:28
Def. Mike Grillakis (Bloomsburg), 6-3
Lost to Charles Carafano (Navy), 6-4

285: #1 seed D.J. Bruce (3-0, CHAMPION)
Def. Joseph Breaux (Navy), 15-6 MD
Def. Daniel Canfield (F&M), Fall 1:08
Def. #3 seed Daniel Miller (Navy), 5-3