LEMONT FURNACE, PA.--The AB wrestling team had a strong performance in their regular season finale at PSU Fayette, host school for this year's USCAA National Invitational. The Battlers put 7 athletes in the finals and earned a tournament high four championships on their way to a second place finish as a team.

Freshman Noah Hodges won his second tournament title of the year going 3-0 on the day. In every match he earned bonus points, with a pin and two major decisions on his way to the championship.

At 133, Senior Breandan Coughlin made his way to the finals with a semi-final pin over Penn State Mon Alto. In the championship match Breandan fell to the defending champion from the Apprentice School to finish with silver.

Dalton Pearl put together a strong performance at 157 lbs. for the second week in a row. In the quarterfinals he won a 2-1 decision, and followed that up with an overtime victory over teammate Syrus Colon. In the finals he won by injury default in the first period to win his first collegiate gold.
  
Nick Sulhoff made the finals at 174 with a pair of hard fought victories in the first two rounds. In the semi-finals the Battler junior suffered a strained muscle in his rib cage and had to dig deep to gut out the victory. Nick injury defaulted in the final match out of precaution and finished in second place.

Gino Sita had a technical fall and a pin on his way to the finals at 184 lbs. In the final Sita won his third straight USCAA National Invitational Championship and 113th career victory with a 10-5 decision. This was nationally ranked junior's fourth tournament championship of the season, and his 11th career tournament championship. 

Jared Burgoyne put together three wins in a row to win his second USCAA title in as many years. After a decision and a semi-final pin, the third AB finalist from Huntingtown, MD gutted out a tough 3-2 decision to claim the championship. An escape and second period takedown on the mat's edge were the points necessary to score the win.

AB Wrestling is back in action on Saturday, February 29th at Erie, Pennsylvania where they look to the NCAA Division II Super Regional.