Strong Showing at ECWC Championships as Brockport Wrestling Places Second https://t.co/mLeMhdCQQK
— Brockport Athletics (@BportAthletics) January 17, 2022
The SUNY Brockport wrestling team took home second place with 143.5 teams points out of nine teams at the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference Championships hosted by Ithaca College on Sunday. 14 Golden Eagles posted podium finishes while Zach Levey (133) and Richard Knapp (285) placed first in their respective weight classes. Eli Sims (141), Marquis Larmond (149), Matt Kline (165), Chris Eames (184), Joe Benedict (197) and Joe Yanis (285) each placed second.
Knapp, who is ranked nationally, went 4-0 on the day to earn 23 team points and first place honors in the heavyweight division for Brockport. He pinned all three of his opponents in impressive fashion, including a 32 second fall victory over Oneonta's Diego Orellana in the quarterfinals. He earned a medical forfeit victory in the first-place match to earn his spot atop the podium.
Levey went 3-0 on the day to earn the top honors at 133. He topped Ithaca's Michael Snowden via fall at 5:46 in the quarterfinals before topping RIT's Josh Post by way of a 12-0 major decision in the semifinal. He beat Ithaca's Luis Hernandez via major decision, 16-6, in the first-place match.
Eli Sims went 2-1 and earned 14.5 points for Brockport in his first tournament of the season for the Golden Eagles in the 141-pound weight class. He defeated Cortland's Vincent Santilli 5-2 and defeated Oswego's CJ Walz via tech fall, 17-1 in the semifinals. Sims lost to Ithaca's Travis Jones 16-0 in the first-place match.
Chris Eames placed second and earned 13 team points for Brockport after going 2-1 in the 184-pound bracket. He defeated Cortland's Mike Rivera via an 8-1 decision in his first match of the day and he added a 7-5 sudden victory win over RIT's Nathan Parker in the semifinals. Eames lost to Ithaca's Chibueze Chukwuezi in the first-place match.
Joe Yanis went 3-1 on the day and scored 17 points as he placed second in the 285-pound bracket. He pinned Pitt-Bradford's Matt Ristau in just 37 seconds in the opener. He added a 5-4 decision victory over Calik Kennedy in the semifinals but had to bow out with a medical forfeit in the first-place match against teammate Richard Knapp.
Joe Benedict earned 17 team points and placed second for Brockport after posting a 2-1 record in the 197-pound weight class. He pinned Pitt Bradford's Shaquan Bagot at the 1:15 marker in his first match of the day. He also pinned Oswego's Anthony Cascen at 3:38 in the semifinals. Benedict lost a 7-4 decision against Ithaca's Jordan Wallace in the first-place match.
Marquis Larmond earned 15 team points and placed second after going 2-1 on the day in the 149-pound bracket. He won an 8-4 decision in his opening match and pinned Ithaca's Colin Murphy in 4:56 in the semifinals. Larmond lost a tight 14-9 decision against Ithaca's Matthew Beyer in the first-place match.
Matt Kline earned 14.5 team points and went 3-1 on the day to place second in the 165-pound weight class. He opened the meet with a tech fall victory, 16-0, over Oswego's Steven Felice. He then topped Pitt-Bradford's Tyler Newton 3-1 and went on to earn a sudden victory, 10-8, over Ithaca's Jackson Gray in the semifinals. Kline lost a tight 4-1 decision against Oneonta's Tyler Brazinski in the first-place match.
Austin Reed placed third and earned 17.5 points for Brockport after going 4-1 on the day. He pinned his first two opponents in convincing fashion before losing to Ithaca's Matthew Beyer in the semifinals. He went on to defeat Ithaca's Colin Murphy 8-6 in the third-place match to close out the day.
Jared Zenie placed third for Brockport and earned 13.5 team points at 174. He finished the day with a 4-1 record. He pinned Penn State Behrend's Brian Himes at 1:27 in the opener and went on to win a 7-1 decision over Oneonta's Nicholas Sergi in the quarterfinals. He advanced to the third-place match after defeating Alfred State's Cale Bartosch, 1-0, in the consolation semifinals. He capped his day with a 7-5 victory over Pitt-Bradford's Victor Elias in the third-place match.
Sam Grey went 2-2 and scored 11.5 team points in a fourth-place finish at 157 for Brockport. He pinned Alfred State's Ryan Nugent at 4:40 in his opening match and he also added a 7-4 victory over teammate Max Yahre in the consolation semifinals.
Pedro Cruz placed fifth in the 149-weight class. He went 3-2 on the day, including two pins and a medical forfeit victory in the fifth-place match.
Corey Snyder finished the day with a 2-3 record and placed sixth at 174 for Brockport.
Brockport returns home next Saturday when the Golden Eagles host Oswego State and Pitt-Bradford for a double dual at Jim & John Vlogianits Gymnasium at 1 p.m.