February 27, 2009

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ERIE, Pa.—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College wrestling program wrapped up its third season with five Knights competing in the 2009 NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament hosted by Mercyhurst College on Friday.

Casey Gashaw (pictured) holds the SAPC career record for most wins with 25 victories in his first two seasons in a Royal Blue & White singlet.

Sophomore Casey Gashaw (Laurinburg, N.C.) earned a No. 8 seed at the East Regional, becoming the first Knight to ever earn a top-8 seed in postseason competition.

Gashaw was upset by Leonard Drummond (Carson-Newman) in his opening match of the 133-pound tournament by a 19-2 technical fall. Gashaw was then ousted by Ethan Swope (Gannon) in wrestle-back bracket by a 12-2 major decision.

Gashaw will finish the season with a team-high 13 wins and a two-year total of 25 victories.

In the lightweight ranks, freshman Matt Fletcher lost his first match to No. 4 seed Chris Neidermeier (Belmont Abbey) in a first round pin fall, 1:27. Fletcher was eliminated by No. 6 seed Payne Lint (Mercyhurst) with a 16-0 tech fall.

Freshman Dan Butcher was the closest SAPC grappler from winning a match on Friday, dropping a pair of hard fought decisions in the 141-pound ranks. Butcher was edged 5-0 by No. 3 seed Tony Washington (Newberry) and 8-7 by Tom Wiechelt (Shippensburg).

Butcher and Fletcher finish with 11 and eight wins, respectively, in their rookie seasons.

Sophomore Troy Baranik (Laurinburg, N.C.) took a 15-0 technical fall loss to No. 8 seed Brett Martinez (Kutztown) in the 149-lb opener and was pinned in two minutes and 19 second by No. 7 seed Ryan McIntyre (Pitt-Johnstown).

Freshman Mike Frazzitta (Fayetteville, N.C.) was also eliminated by a pair of regionally ranked wrestlers. No. 5 seed David Zeek (Kutztown) shutout Frazzitta with a 10-0 major decision before No. 6 seed Seth Phalen (West Liberty State) knocked out Frazzitta with a 17-2 tech fall.

The Knights will use the experience of competing in a very strong tournament as they head into next season. The regional will feature five teams from Super Region 1 that are ranked in the nation’s top-20. Individually, 16 grapplers who are ranked in the nation’s top eight of their respective weight class come from the East Region.