DALTON, GA. – The Apprentice School wrestling team opened competition on Friday in the 2013 National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Duals and won a pair of two-point dual matches to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center.
They opened action, as the seventh-seed in the event, facing a Marion Military Institute team that they had defeated 28-22 earlier in the year at the Central Florida duals in November. After losing the opening match, the Builders won the next four with decisions by Dwayne Roes, Kyle Spruill and Phillip Porto to put the Apprentice School up 15-6 after Porto's 7-2 win at 157.
Marion Military won the next three bouts with a pair of bonus point wins at 165 (major decision) and 184 (fall) to lead 19-15 after 184 pounds. A win by Luke Hanson for the Builders at 197 by fall in 1:47 pushed the Builders up 21-19. The lead went back to MMI as Robert Luth won by a 7-0 decision at 235 to put their lead at 22-21.
Sophomore Ian Jones scored a point in the first period and got an extra point with a riding time advantage to give the Builders a 2-0 win at heavyweight and a 24-22 win over Marion Military Institute.
The next match pitted the Builders against ninth-seeded Middle Tennessee State University. In a match that had similarities to their opener, the Builders this time started with a win by Ty Ford at 125 via an 8-5 decision before losing 133 by fall to trail 6-3.
Apprentice School then won four of the next five matches with bonus point wins by Spruill at 149 (19-3 tech fall) and Porto at 157 (fall in 1:35) to lead 20-9 after a Kenneth Lowry win at 174 pounds by 9-4 decision. MTSU made a push over the next three weights with decision wins at 184 and 197 followed by a win via fall at 235 to lead 21-20.
Once again, the dual fell to the heavyweight where Jones recorded a 3-2 decision to give the Apprentice School a 23-21 win and head coach Bruce Shumaker a pair of wins on his birthday.
The Builders now advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday where they'll face second-seeded Lindenwood-St. Charles at 11 am. A win or a loss will put them against either third-seeded University of Central Florida or sixth-seeded Grand Valley State University in their second match. With a loss at 11 am, they'll step right back on the mat at 1 pm. A win at 11 am will put them in the 3pm semifinals.
Apprentice School 24, Marion Military Inst. 22
125: B. Smith (MMI) p. Ford 6:16; 133: S. Smith (A) won by forfeit; 141: Roes dec. Carlos 7-5; 149: Spruill (A) dec. Porzillo 2-0; 157: Porto (A) dec. Vieira 7-2; 165: Burns (MMI) maj. dec. Wesby 14-6; 174: Garrett (MMI) dec. Martz 11-6; 184: T. Smith (MMI) p. Rodriguez 5:59; 197: Hanson (A) p. Leary 1:47; 235: Luth (MMI) dec. Cox 7-0; 285: Jones (A) dec. Morgan 2-0.
Apprentice School 23, Middle Tenn. St. 21
125: Ford (A) dec. Shaffner 8-5; 133: Feuerbacher (MTSU) p. Smith 4:11; 141: Roes (A) dec. Gamadamis 10-6; 149: Spruill (A) tech fall Keiffer 19-3; 157: Porto (A) p, Henry 1:35; 165: Colbert (MTSU) dec. Wesby 8-4; 174: Ken. Lowry (A) dec. Sawyer 9-4; 184: Roberts (MTSU) dec. Rodriguez 12-9; 197: LaBadie (MTSU) dec. Hanson 9-5; 235: Wells (MTSU) p. Cox 2:45; 285: Jones (A) dec. Rayford 3-2.