Grossmann Becomes 11th National Champion in Wilkes History Capturing 133-Pound Crown

Grossmann Becomes 11^th National Champion in Wilkes History Capturing 133-Pound Crown

HERSHEY, PA – Matthew Grossmann (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) captured the 11^th national championship in Wilkes University wrestling history claiming a 4-3 decision in the final bout on way to the title Saturday night at the NCAA Division III championships at the Giant Center. Guesseppe Rea (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) also claimed All-American status finishing in sixth place at 125-pounds on day two of the event.

(Full Results: Team Scores and Final Brackets)

Grossmann becomes the first national champion since 1975 when Gene Ashley (158) and Jim Weisenfluh (167) captured crowns in the championships.
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Grossmann faced unseeded Chad Bartschenfeld of Augsburg in the final at 133. He fell down early in the first period after a takedown only to battle back and escape to cut the lead to 2-1. After another escape to start the second period, Grossmann managed a takedown going up 4-2 with :25 left in the period. He took that 4-2 lead into the final period.

Bartschenfeld managed to escape late in the third period with :18 left, but Grossmann held on in the final seconds to win the gold 4-3 in his first season in the Navy and Gold.

Grossmann reached the finals thanks to a 3-1 upset of the top seed Nathan Giorgio of the United State Coast Guard Academy. He grabbed a 2-0 lead with an early takedown in the first period before Giorgio escaped to cut the advantage to 2-1. Giorgio chose top in the final period and Grossmann managed to escape to seal the win holding on for the final minute with a 3-1 win.

Grossmann finishes his rookie season with a 36-6 overall record including regional and national championships.

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Rea met the top seed Mike Fueniffinger in one of the semifinal bouts at 125-pounds. Rea took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first period. Fueniffinger managed to escape and cut the advantage to 2-1 heading into the final period. With Rea continuing to hold the 2-1 lead with just :33 left, Fueniffinger stole the match with a pin at 6:27.

Rea then wrestled the sixth seed Paul Bewak in the wrestlebacks falling 4-1 before settling for sixth place after dropping a 3-2 decision to seventh seeded Jake Agnitsch of Wartburg.

Just a junior, Rea earned his first All-American status of his career and finished the season with a 35-5 overall mark. Entering his senior year, Rea needs just seven more wins to reach the 100-win plateau for his career standing with a 93-23 career mark.

2015 NCAA Division III Championships Results
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Champ. Round 1 – G. Rea (Wilkes) 35-5 won by decision over Jakob Stageberg (Concordia-Moorhead) 27-13 (Dec 6-2)
Quarterfinal – G. Rea (Wilkes) 35-5 won by decision over Daniel Page (Central (IA)) 27-8 (Dec 3-2)
Semifinal - Mike Fuenffinger (Augsburg) 34-1 won by fall over G. Rea (Wilkes) 35-5 (Fall 6:27)
Cons. Semi - Paul Bewak (Johns Hopkins) 38-4 won by decision over G. Rea (Wilkes) 35-5 (Dec 4-1)
5th Place Match - Jake Agnitsch (Wartburg) 28-7 won by decision over G. Rea (Wilkes) 35-5 (Dec 3-2)

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Champ. Round 1 – M. Grossmann (Wilkes) 35-6 won by fall over Jacob Spearman (Washington And Jefferson College) 28-8 (Fall 3:56)
Quarterfinal – M. Grossmann (Wilkes) 35-6 won by fall over Connor Campo (Wartburg) 27-7 (Fall 6:02)
Semifinal – M. Grossmann (Wilkes) 35-6 won by decision over Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Coast Guard Academy) 41-2 (Dec 3-1)
1st Place Match – M. Grossmann (Wilkes) 35-6 won by decision over Chad Bartschenfeld (Augsburg) 30-12 (Dec 4-3)

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Prelim - Eamonn Gaffney (Ithaca) 27-9 won by decision over J. Evans (Wilkes) 21-14 (Dec 7-3)
Prelim - Trevor Engle (Cornell College) 33-10 won by fall over J. Evans (Wilkes) 21-14 (Fall 3:41)

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Champ. Round 1 - Conner Lefever (Wabash) 19-1 won by decision over K. Diesel (Wilkes) 24-10 (Dec 8-6)
Cons. Round 1 – K. Diesel (Wilkes) 24-10 won by major decision over Nicholas Allen (Olivet) 4-3 (MD 11-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Josh Thomson (Messiah) 45-6 won by decision over K. Diesel (Wilkes) 24-10 (Dec 4-1)

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Players Mentioned

Guesseppe Rea: Junior

Matthew Grossmann: First Year

Players Mentioned

Guesseppe Rea
: Junior

Matthew Grossmann
: First Year