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Penn College of Technology Athletics

Penn College Wildcats
Season Cap

Wrestling

2022-23 Season Recap

When reflecting on the team's season, the individual accomplishments of freshman Isaac Cory stand out. But there was much more during its 11-10 dual-match campaign and results in bouts against eight of the top 25 teams in NCAA Division III and multiple top 15 individuals under first-time head coach Pankil Chander, including:
  • First tournament title,
  • First conference medalists,
  • First time with two top-five tournament team finishes in one season,
  • First time with six medalists in a single tournament,
  • First time a wrestler garnered a national ranking and a Top 10,
  • First Wilkes Open medalist,
  • First win over conference contender SUNY Oneonta,
  • First winning dual record (in the NCAA era).
 
After the regular season ended, Cory placed second in the 184-pound weight class at the D-III Mideast Regional and became the first Wildcat wrestler in school history dating to 1968 to qualify for a national championship, while junior Noah Hunt, of Muncy, at 141 and senior Ryan Berstler, of Middletown, at 125, also claimed All-Region honors as Hunt placed sixth and Berstler seventh. As a team, the Wildcats finished 11th of 21, tying the college's previous highest finish in 2019.
 
At nationals, Cory, the lone freshman in his weight class, went 1-2 to close out an 18-4 season, finishing among the top 16 at 184 in D-III, and earn the program's first team point at the national event, tying it for 52nd in a 71-team field.
 
"Overall, we grew in various ways as a contingent," Chander said. "(We have) higher belief in oneself and their teammates, consistent accountability, a more competitive training environment, stronger performances, and most importantly, we learned how to be resilient amid adversity.
 
"We hit performance milestones — first winning dual season (in the NCAA era), two top-five tournament team finishes, multiple individual tournament titles, first NCAA berth, strong team GPA, largest home crowd in program history, organically tripled our following on social media. There is a lot to be proud of.
 
"We're only just beginning to realize how competitive we can be as a young team and program.
 
"The future is bright!"
 
Wrestling
Final overall dual: 11-10
 
Postseason honors
ECWC: Ryan Berstler (Middletown, 125); Mason Leshock (Shamokin, 165); Noah Hunt (Muncy, 141); Patrick Snoke (Northampton, 133).
NCAA Division III Mideast Region: Isaac Cory (Montoursville, 184); Ryan Berstler (Middletown, 125); Noah Hunt (Muncy, 141).
d3wrestling.com: Isaac Cory (Montoursville, 184) All-Freshman Team.
 
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Players Mentioned

Ryan Berstler

#125 Ryan Berstler

125
Senior
Construction Management
Noah Hunt

#133 Noah Hunt

133
Sophomore
Accounting
Patrick Snoke

#133 Patrick Snoke

133
Sophomore
Welding & Fabrication Engineering Technology
Isaac Cory

#184 Isaac Cory

Freshman
Electric Power Generation Technology: Diesel Emphasis
Mason Leshock

#157 Mason Leshock

Freshman
Plastics & Polymer Engineering Technology

Players Mentioned

Ryan Berstler

#125 Ryan Berstler

Senior
Construction Management
125
Noah Hunt

#133 Noah Hunt

Sophomore
Accounting
133
Patrick Snoke

#133 Patrick Snoke

Sophomore
Welding & Fabrication Engineering Technology
133
Isaac Cory

#184 Isaac Cory

Freshman
Electric Power Generation Technology: Diesel Emphasis
Mason Leshock

#157 Mason Leshock

Freshman
Plastics & Polymer Engineering Technology