Nance National Champion at 197, Tech Finishes Second

February 15, 2016

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania — WVU Tech wrestling was carried to a second place finish in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Wrestling Invitational Championship with an individual champion in Terry Nance II (197 pounds) and nine other top-five finishes Sunday in State College, Pennsylvania.

Tech finished with 148.5 points to come out just behind Penn State DuBois (174 points) in a championship that saw individuals from 11 different schools. The Newport News Apprentice School (129 points) finished third in the competition.

Nance continued his success this season by topping his opponent with a 13-6 decision at 197 pounds to be crowned a national champion for the second consecutive year.

The team also benefited from second place finishers junior Colton Rowe who loss by decision in the title round, 3-1 and fellow classmate Jon Boarman who fell by pin in the final bout at 285 pounds to Penn State DuBois' Bryce Hanley.

Sophomore Othniel Edmond wrestled at 133 pounds while junior Denis Robles-Gomez participated at 125 pounds and freshman Noah Julian at 235 pounds, each earning third in the nation by fall over their opponents. Senior Conrad Lacey (157 pounds) won by decision for a third place finish, 3-1 over Penn College's Tanner Leid.

The final top finishes for Tech included freshman Robert Pritt (fourth at 141 pounds), sophomores Andrew Renninger (fourth at 235 pounds) and Jeanpaul Jephte (fifth at 149 pounds) and junior Paul Gonzales (fifth at 133 pounds). Jephte grabbed the fifth place victory by fall over Apprentice School's Chris Hercules.

Next, the Golden Bears will concentrate on the NAIA East Regionals set to be held February 20.

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