PSUD Wrestlers finish season at NCWA Championships

Photo of:  Senior, Joe Knarr

Penn State DuBois wrestlers finish season at NCWA National Championships

Allen, TX

Four Penn State DuBois wrestlers competed in the NCWA National Wrestling Championships at the Allen Event Center in Allen, TX March 9-11th. These individuals qualified through the NCWA Mid-East Conference tournament in late February.

Head Coach Joe Shields and Assistant Coach Dave Hoare took the following wrestlers to Texas with hopes of earning All-American honors in their weight class; Senior Joe Knarr, Junior John Prentice, Sophomores Deontay Wadley and Bryce Hanley. Following a good first session of competition in which all the PSUD wrestlers won their first matches, the second session saw 3 of the 4 wrestlers lose matches by close margins. Deontay Wadley would win his first two matches before losing to the eventual Champion in his 3rd bout.

All the wrestlers would bounce back and win at least one match in the consolation bracket before losing a second time and be eliminated from competition.

For the weekend John Prentice (165lbs) won 2 and lost 2 matches, Joe Knarr (174lbs) also won 2 and lost 2 matches, Deontay Wadley (174) won 4 and lost 2 matches, and Bryce Hanley (285) had won 2 and lost 2 matches to complete his season.

Coach Joe Shields stated "I was pleased with the overall performances of his wrestlers throughout the season and look for several of the wrestlers to make return trip to NCWA championships in 2018. He gave special thanks to 4 year starter Joe Knarr who had an outstanding career and thanked Joe for his leadership on and off the wrestling mat."

Winning the team championship was Emmanuel College followed by Liberty University; 3rd was Central Florida, 4th Grand Valley State, and 5th was US Air Force Academy Prep.