Warner Earns First WJU Wrestling Regional Title
Fanning & Nania Advance

February 25, 2017

ERIE, Pa. – For the first time in program history, the Cardinal Culture wrestling team has a Super Region champion. Dustin Warner earned the 133-pound title via a 2-1 tiebreaker, while Wheeling Jesuit added both Terrance Fanning (197) and Dominick Nania (149) as NCAA Division II National Championships qualifiers.  

After he shutout No. 3 seeded David Bavery of Notre Dame College in the morning's Semifinals, Warner scored the title win over top-seeded Carmine Ciotti of Gannon. In his four bouts, the 2015 All-American Warner outscored his opponents, 16-6.  

"We were pretty excited about crowning our first regional champion today in Dustin Warner. I'm really proud of his ability to bounce back from last year's disappointment and he was really fantastic the past two days," said WJU head coach Sean Doyle.  

At 197, Fanning's run came up just short. The No. 2 seed redshirt sophomore suffered a one-point championship loss, 6-5, to No. 1 Evan Ramos of Shippensburg. Fanning defeated No. 3 Wes Phipps of Mercyhurst, 8-3, in the Semifinals to qualify for the title bout.  

After falling in Friday's Quarterfinals, Nania battled back with a second first-day win. In Saturday's consolation third round, the WJU senior edged No. 1 seed TJ Fabian of LIU Post, before he received a medical forfeit from No. 6 Mike Springer from Shippensburg in the Consolation Semifinal. Nania left no doubt in the third place match when he pinned Seton Hill's Ty Lydic in 1:22 after he had fell to the same foe by major decision less than two weeks ago.  

"Terrance wrestled well this weekend and came very close to winning a title as well. Dom does what he does best and came flying through the consols for a 3rd place finish. The exciting part is that we have three guys that will be major threats in Birmingham to not only All-American but win a national title," explained Doyle.  

The WJU coach continued, "It was not the weekend we wanted as a team and, unfortunately a few guys will have a long spring/summer trying to identify what they weren't able to accomplish these past two days. I think for the first time in our four years, I felt we did not wrestle our best at the regional, with the obvious exception of Dustin, Terrance and Dom."

  For the first time, WJU saw its number of National Championship qualifiers fall by one from four a year ago to the three.  

As a team, WJU took seventh place with 76.5 points after it was fourth in each of the last two Regionals. Notre Dame College won the team title by 29 points over Gannon, 155.0 to 116.5.

NCAA DII Super Regional - East
February 24-25, 2017
Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA

Team Scores

1. Notre Dame College (Ohio) 155.0
2. Gannon University 116.5
3. University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown 104.5
4. Mercyhurst University 93.5
5. Seton Hill University 83.5
6. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania 78.0
7. Wheeling Jesuit University 76.5
8. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania 47.0
9. Ohio Valley University 31.5
10. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania 30.5
11. West Liberty University 24.0
12. Alderson Broaddus University 20.0
13. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania 19.0
14. Long Island University/LIU Post 17.0
15. American International College 6.5

NCAA DII Super Regional -East Results for Wheeling Jesuit University
133 - Dustin Warner (4-0) placed 1st and scored 15.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit University) 4-0 won by decision over Connor Maliff (East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania) 1-2 (Dec 8-3)
    Quarterfinal - Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit University) 4-0 won by decision over Tanner Cahill (University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown) 2-2 (Dec 3-2)
    Semifinal - Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit University) 4-0 won by decision over David Bavery (Notre Dame College (Ohio)) 4-1 (Dec 3-0)
    1st Place Match - Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit University) 4-0 won in tie breaker - 1 over Carmine Ciotti (Gannon University) 20-2 (TB-1 2-1)

141 - Nolan Whitely (3-3) placed 6th and scored 8.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 won by tech fall over Maverick Meeks (Ohio Valley University) 9-10 (TF-1.5 2:43 (18-2))
    Quarterfinal - Cobey Fehr (Notre Dame College (Ohio)) 3-1 won by major decision over Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 (MD 13-4)
    Cons. Round 2 - Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 won by major decision over Karl Lightner (Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania) 13-10 (MD 19-8)
    Cons. Round 3 - Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 won by decision over John Marotto (Gannon University) 4-5 (Dec 6-4)
    Cons. Semi - Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill University) 14-5 won by decision over Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 (Dec 5-3)
    5th Place Match - Michael O`Brien (Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania) 4-2 won by major decision over Nolan Whitely (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 (MD 13-5)

149 - Dominick Nania (5-1) placed 3rd and scored 19.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit University) 5-1 won by fall over Christian Echevarria (American International College) 0-2 (Fall 1:13)
    Quarterfinal - Juwan Edmond (Notre Dame College (Ohio)) 4-0 won by fall over Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit University) 5-1 (Fall 2:27)
    Cons. Round 2 - Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit University) 5-1 won by tech fall over Matt Harris (Alderson Broaddus University) 7-9 (TF-1.5 4:14 (23-6))
    Cons. Round 3 - Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit University) 5-1 won by decision over TJ Fabian (Long Island University/LIU Post) 14-6 (Dec 9-7)
    Cons. Semi - Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit University) 5-1 won by medical forfeit over Mike Springer (Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania) 21-9 (M. For.)
    3rd Place Match - Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit University) 5-1 won by fall over Ty Lydic (Seton Hill University) 21-11 (Fall 1:22)

157 - Greg Brusco (2-2) place is unknown and scored 3.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Greg Brusco (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-2 won by fall over Tryston Kessler (West Liberty University) 0-2 (Fall 1:04)
    Quarterfinal - Joey Kratochvil (East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania) 6-6 won by decision over Greg Brusco (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-2 (Dec 7-6)
    Cons. Round 2 - Greg Brusco (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-2 won by decision over William Manley (Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania) 7-9 (Dec 7-6)
    Cons. Round 3 - Cole Gavin (Mercyhurst University) 11-23 won by decision over Greg Brusco (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-2 (Dec 7-5)

165 - Nic Skonieczny (1-2) place is unknown and scored 0.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Nic Skonieczny (Wheeling Jesuit University) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
    Quarterfinal - Isaiah White (Notre Dame College (Ohio)) 4-0 won by major decision over Nic Skonieczny (Wheeling Jesuit University) 1-2 (MD 16-5)
    Cons. Round 2 - Nic Skonieczny (Wheeling Jesuit University) 1-2 won by decision over Eduardo Ramirez (Long Island University/LIU Post) 8-11 (Dec 5-2)
    Cons. Round 3 - Keith Stednitz (Alderson Broaddus University) 22-7 won by fall over Nic Skonieczny (Wheeling Jesuit University) 1-2 (Fall 4:00)

174 - Reyse Wallbrown (3-3) placed 6th and scored 8.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Reyse Wallbrown (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 won by decision over Joe Welk (East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania) 0-2 (Dec 7-2)
    Quarterfinal - Jake Stratton (Gannon University) 15-7 won by decision over Reyse Wallbrown (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 (Dec 8-1)
    Cons. Round 2 - Reyse Wallbrown (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 won by fall over Carlos Kusic (West Liberty University) 1-2 (Fall 6:52)
    Cons. Round 3 - Reyse Wallbrown (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Zach Mattucci (Seton Hill University) 15-14 (SV-1 4-2)
    Cons. Semi - John Blankenship (University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown) 4-1 won by decision over Reyse Wallbrown (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 (Dec 3-0)
    5th Place Match - Shane Ruhnke (Millersville University Of Pennsylvania) 10-3 won by major decision over Reyse Wallbrown (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-3 (MD 10-2)

184 - Anthony Smith (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Collin Schildt (Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania) 12-6 won by decision over Anthony Smith (Wheeling Jesuit University) 0-2 (Dec 6-3)
    Cons. Round 1 - Nathan Dawson (West Liberty University) 1-2 won by decision over Anthony Smith (Wheeling Jesuit University) 0-2 (Dec 3-1)

197 - Terrance Fanning (3-1) placed 2nd and scored 14.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-1 won by major decision over Colton Dull (Millersville University Of Pennsylvania) 1-3 (MD 9-1)
    Quarterfinal - Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-1 won in sudden victory - 1 over Jeff Reimel (Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania) 12-6 (SV-1 8-6)
    Semifinal - Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-1 won by decision over Wes Phipps (Mercyhurst University) 19-12 (Dec 8-3)
    1st Place Match - Evan Ramos (Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania) 24-2 won by decision over Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit University) 3-1 (Dec 6-5)

285 - Maxwell Lacey (2-3) placed 6th and scored 8.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Maxwell Lacey (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-3 received a bye () (Bye)
    Quarterfinal - Ryan Appleby (Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania) 18-10 won in sudden victory - 1 over Maxwell Lacey (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-3 (SV-1 3-1)
    Cons. Round 2 - Maxwell Lacey (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-3 won by fall over Dereck Berberick (Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania) 13-17 (Fall 6:26)
    Cons. Round 3 - Maxwell Lacey (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-3 won by major decision over Lou Maser (Seton Hill University) 5-18 (MD 10-1)
    Cons. Semi - Nick Budd (Gannon University) 12-3 won by decision over Maxwell Lacey (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-3 (Dec 3-1)
    5th Place Match - Damon Sims (University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown) 4-2 won by decision over Maxwell Lacey (Wheeling Jesuit University) 2-3 (Dec 8-4)


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