Blank, Palamar, and Mays Shine in PSUAC/USCAA Tournament

By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto wrestling team competed against Ursinus College in a dual on Saturday and took part in the PSUAC/USCAA Championships the following day. The highlights from the tournament included Mason Blank (Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg) earning a fifth-place finish as well as Bryce Palamar (Smithsburg, Md. / Williamsport) and Joe Mays (Glen Rock, Pa. / Susquehannock) taking sixth-place in their respective weight classes.

Against Ursinus, it was a back and forth affair in the 125-pound bout before Collin Wickramaratna pinned Dan Bertram (Seaford, N.Y. / Seaford) halfway through the second period. At 133, it was by far the closest battle, but Patrick Ammirati earned a 10-7 decision over Mason Blank (Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg). The Nittany Lions concluded their regular season with a 9-9 overall record in duals.

The Nittany Lions then competed in the historic Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State University on Sunday. Blank initially picked up a 10-0 decision over Nick Boyce but fell in his next bout and moved to the consolation bracket. He lost to Brandon Caffrey by a 5-2 margin before picking up a medical forfeit to earn his fifth-place finish.

Palamar and Mays each earned sixth-place in their respective weight classes. Palamar had an exciting 12-4 win over Anthony DeVanny and in his fifth-place bout, he dropped a narrow 13-11 decision to Austin Bailey from Kent State-Tuscarawas. In the 165-pound weight class Joe Mays (Glen Rock, Pa. / Susquehannock) pinned Carl Chaney in 3:56 and was sent to the consolation bracket after an 16-3 tech-fall to Alderson Broaddus's Nick Sulhoff. In his fifth-place match, Mays fell 16-0 to Mackay Revis.

Mont Alto will now train for the next two weeks before competing in the NCWA Mid-East Conference Qualifier on Saturday, March 2.

Ursinus 56, Penn State Mont Alto 0

125 – Collin Wickramaratna (UC) pinned Dan Bertram(PSUMA), 3:49 (6-0)

133 – Patrick Ammirati (UC) dec. Mason Blank(PSUMA), 10-7 (9-0)

141 – Kyle Seibert (UC) tech fall Bryce Palamar(PSUMA), 23-7 (14-0)

149 – Patrick Rowe (UC) pinned Mitchell Krcelic (PSUMA), 3:18 (20-0)

157 – Edward Howlette (UC) won by forfeit (26-0)

165 – Zachary Goranson (UC) pinned Joe Mays, 1:28 (32-0)

174 – Gary Nagle (UC) won by forfeit (38-0)

184 – Anthony Cutrufello (UC) won by forfeit (44-0)

197 – Kyle Schaffer (UC) won by forfeit (50-0)

285 – William McGinley (UC) won by forfeit (56-0)