Courtesy of Shippensburg Athletics

Raiders Mike Trainor, Avery Shay score wins

The Shippensburg University wrestling team began a weekend of back-to-back road duals by dropping a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup to the Mercyhurst Lakers Friday night in Erie, 38-9.

Shippensburg (6-5, 1-2 PSAC) received wins from freshman Mike Trainor (Cochranville, Pa./Octorara) at 149 pounds and graduate Avery Shay (New Fairfield, Ct./New Fairfield (Clarion)) wrestling at 157.

Mercyhurst (5-6, 1-1 PSAC) won by a comfortable margin thanks to victories in key swing matchups at 133, 141, 197 and 285 pounds.

Trainor scored the Raiders’ most dominant performance with a pin of Mercyhurst’s Mike Zacur. Trainor struggled to finish in the first period, but made amends with a fast start in the second. The first-year wrestler grabbed a single leg before folding Zacur into a cradle for a quick pin.

Shay made it back-to-back victories for the Raiders with a 10-3 decision over Mercyhurst 157-pound wrestler Max Stedeford.

Shay scored the initial takedown with a quick spin around on the edge of the mat, and continued to pile on from there, taking down his opponent three more times – including twice in the final period – to wrap up the win.

At 133, it was a matchup between two national qualifiers in Ship graduate Tyshawn White(Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin (Clarion/Lock Haven/Glenville State)) and Mercyhurst’s Eric Bartos, with Bartos winning via injury default.

Mercyhurst’s Jake Neffenegger pinned Shippensburg graduate Al Miscovich (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area (UPJ)) at 141, and Trever Begin won a close 8-5 decision over SU freshman Trey Shoemaker (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) at 197. Lastly, Laker heavyweight Hunter Harnish came from behind to defeat Shippensburg redshirt-junior Danny Schieb (Hegins, Pa./Tri-Valley).

The Raiders return to the mat tomorrow afternoonfor a road dual meet against the Gannon Golden Knights. Wrestling is slated to begin at 12 p.m.

Mercyhurst 38, Shippensburg 9

125: Billy Smith (HURST) wins via forfeit (0-6)

133: Eric Bartos (HURST) inj. def. Tyshawn White (SHIP), 5:20 (0-12)

141: Jake Niffenegger (HURST) pins Al Miscovich (SHIP), 5:53 (0-18)

149: Mike Trainor (SHIP) pins Mike Zacur (HURST), 3:34 (6-18)

157: Avery Shay (SHIP) dec. Max Stedeford (HURST), 10-3 (9-18)

165: Michael Clark (HURST) dec. Kyler Everly (SHIP), 6-0 (9-21)

174: Dillon Walker (HURST) maj. dec. Nyiem Flucas (SHIP), 11-2 (9-25)

184: Charles Stein (HURST) maj. dec. Owen Koch (SHIP), 2-16 (9-29)

197: Trever Begin (HURST) dec. Trey Shoemaker (SHIP), 8-5 (9-32)

285: Hunter Harnish (HURST) pins Danny Schieb (SHIP), 6:06 (9-38)

Exhibition

285: John Campbell (HURST) dec. Connor Livingston (SHIP),