Welcome to St. Andrews Presbyterian College

December 4, 2007

LAURINBURG, N.C.—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College wrestling team logged three decisions, a major decision, and a technical fall en route to the first-ever victory in the programs NCAA Division II era defeating the visiting Newport News Apprentice School, 24-16, in a full house on Tuesday night.

The Knights, under inaugural head coach Joe Baranik, tallied their first dual match victory in the program’s second season winning six of the 10 trips to the mat against the Builders. Both teams hold a 1-1 record on the season.

St. Andrews started out with a 6-0 advantage after the Apprentice School forfeited at 125. Lightweight freshman Eric Brown (Norfolk, Va.) earned his seventh victory of the season for the Knights.

Junior Kyle Craver (Lexington, N.C.) increased the SAPC lead to 9-0 by gutting out his first win of the season with a 4-3 decision over sophomore Kevin Hill (Chesapeake, Va.) at 133-pounds. Craver gained points with a takedown and an escape.

The Apprentice School tied the contest with a decision at 141 and a forfeit victory at 149. Senior Josh Flint (Buena Vista, Va.) put the visitors on the board with a 10-4 decision against freshman Casey Gashaw (Laurinburg, N.C.), who was wrestling up a class for St. Andrews. Sophomore Charles Wood (Roberta, Ga.) picked up the forfeit win for the Builders.

The Knights once again took a lead in the match just before the halfway point when freshman Greg Todd (Gloucester, Va.) won his first collegiate match holding on for a 3-2 decision against sophomore Matt Perry (Chesapeake, Va.). Todd build a 3-0 lead in the 157-lb showdown with a takedown and then almost posted a shutout score but Perry pulled to within one with his own takedown in the final seconds.

The Builders tied the match for the second time at 12-12 when senior Justin Gilliard (Virginia Beach, Va.) edged freshman Rickey Flood (Martinsville, Va.) with a 7-4 decision at 165-pounds.

Freshman Eric Fulmer (Glenshaw, Pa.) improved to 2-0 in dual matches in the 174-lb ranks, garnering his second straight technical fall. Fulmer disposed of freshman Austin Damico (Sterling, Va.) 17-0 with a flurry of two takedowns and five near falls to put the Knights on top for good at 17-12.

The Apprentice School pulled to within one point (17-16) after the 184-lb bout as senior Eric Lybarger (Mooresville, Ind.) grappled to the 12-2 major decision over freshman Will Hess (Lexington, N.C.).

Freshman Brandon Riggan (Henderson, N.C.) extended St. Andrews lead to 21-16 with his first collegiate victory. After the addition of riding time, Riggan registered the 10-2 major decision over freshman Josh Seal (Mechanicsville, Va.) at 197-pounds.

Freshman heavyweight Andre Ellerbe (Laurinburg, N.C.) capped the Knights first dual match victory with a come-from-behind win to give SAPC its final margin of victory at eight (24-16). Ellerbe was trailing senior Kendall Ridenour (Spring Mills, Pa.) 2-1 in the third period but was able to muster up enough strength for a takedown to catapult into the lead and held on for the 3-2 victory as the fans erupted.

St. Andrews next visits regional foe Anderson University on Wednesday, December 12 at neutral Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, N.C. at 7:00 p.m.

125 ~ Eric Brown (SAPC) FOR Apprentice (6-0 SAPC)
133 ~ Kyle Craver (SAPC) DEC Kevin Hill (AS), 4-3 (9-0 SAPC)
141 ~ Josh Flint (AS) DEC Casey Gashaw (SAPC), 10-4 (9-3 SAPC)
149 ~ Charles Wood (AS) FOR St. Andrews (9-9 Tie)
157 ~ Greg Todd (SAPC) DEC Matt Perry (AS), 3-2 (12-9 SAPC)
165 ~ Justin Gilliard (AS) DEC Rickey Flood (SAPC), 7-4 (12-12 Tie)
174 ~ Eric Fulmer (SAPC) TF Austin Damico (AS), 17-0 (17-12 SAPC)
184 ~ Eric Lybarger (AS) MD Will Hess (SAPC), 12-2 (17-16 SAPC)
197 ~ Brandon Riggan (SAPC) MD Josh Seal (AS), 10-2 (21-16 SAPC)
HWT ~ Andre Ellerbe (SAPC) DEC Kendall Ridenour (AS), 3-2 (24-16 SAPC)