WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Pins by undersized juniors Nik Christine (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) and Sam Batchelor (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) at 197 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, helped the Lycoming College wrestling team open up its 2013-14 dual meet season with a come-from-behind 24-13 win over York College of Pennsylvania on Tuesday night, Nov. 12, at Lamade Gym.
 
Christine entered the third period down 5-2 to York's Zach Coleman after giving up a takedown and a 2-point near fall in the second period, but he immediately scored to get back into the match with a reversal. With less than 30 seconds left and the wrestlers scrambling near the out-of-bounds line, Christine put Coleman's shoulder on the mat for a two-point near fall before losing grip. As time rolled under 20 seconds, a second stall warning on Coleman tied the match at six. Now the aggressor, Christine attacked, getting the takedown and then the pin with 11 seconds remaining, giving Lycoming (1-0 overall) an 18-13 lead.
 
Batchelor, who improved to 7-2 on the season, took an easier road to his meet-clinching win at 285 pounds, as he got two first-period takedowns, his second landing Thomas Boylan on his back, where Batchelor finished off the meet seconds later. Batchelor is just one win away from his career high of eight set as a freshman.
 
After a major decision gave York (0-1 overall) a 13-9 lead entering the 184-pound match, York's Nicholas Zak looked as if he could walk away with a narrow victory over senior Greg Wetzel (Arlington, N.Y./Pleasant Valley), but Wetzel kicked out with an escape just before riding time could kick in for Zak to tie the match at one in the third period. Wetzel then struck late in the period to earn a takedown to take a 3-1 decision and pull the Warriors within one point at 13-12.
 
York took a 6-0 lead after decisions in the first two bouts, but Lycoming answered with wins in three of the next four bouts, with junior Caleb Willey (Towanda, Pa./Towanda Area) dominating an 8-2 win over Nick Gattinella at 141 pounds and freshman Seth Lansberry (Klingerstown, Pa./Line Mountain) posting a 5-0 win over John Allenson at 149 pounds to tie the match at six. Sophomore Matt Neff (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) added a 2-1 win thanks to riding time at 165 pounds to tie the match at nine, setting up the dramatic conclusion.
 
The Warriors get back on the mat on Wednesday, Nov. 20, when they face 16^th-ranked Brockport State at 7:30 p.m. in Lamade Gym.
 
Dual Meet Results
Lycoming (LYCO) 24.0 York (PA) (YOPA) 13.0
125: Thomas Gattinella, YOPA, dec. Cody Barbiche, LYCO, 6-2
133: Ryan Flynn, YOPA, dec. Andrew Gipe, LYCO, 9-4
141: Caleb Willey, LYCO, dec. Nicholas Gattinella, YOPA, 8-2
149: Seth Lansberry, LYCO, dec. John Allenson, YOPA, 5-0
157: Adam Kritzer, YOPA, dec. Nolan Barger, LYCO, 7-5
165: Matthew Neff, LYCO, dec. Austin Barley, YOPA, 2-1
174: Tyler Rhoads, YOPA, maj. dec. Johnathan Secor, LYCO, 12-0
184: Greg Wetzel, LYCO, dec. Nicholas Zak, YOPA, 3-1
197: Nikolas Christine, LYCO, pinned Zach Coleman, YOPA, 6:49
285: Samuel Batchelor, LYCO, pinned Thomas Boylan, YOPA, 2:18
 
Exhibition Matches
125: Jake Witmer (LC) maj. dec. Evan Shirakawa, 13-0
133: Evan Zuzulock (YC) dec. Zack Finn, 8-5
174: Mitchell Ramsey (YC) tech. fall Frank Rodriguez, 5:54
184: Matt Zippilli (YC) fall Willie Alford, 5:37
197: Skylar Ebner (LC) dec. Troy Uhrin, 6-3
285: Max Lamport (LC) fall James Kennedy, 3:17