Semple's run at nationals ends one match shy of All-American status

Junior 184-pounder falls 9-3 to top seed

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (March 5) – Junior 184-pounder Corbin Semple saw his run at the NCAA Division III National Championships come to an end Friday night as he dropped a 9-3 decision to top-seeded Tyler Burkle of Coe in the consolation round.

For the second-straight year, Semple ends his run at nationals at with a 1-2 record.

Burkle took a 2-0 lead just second into the first period and rode Semple over the rest of the two minutes. In the second period, Burkle took top and turned the Yellow Jacket standout for three back points, before Semple was able to reverse his way on top to cut the lead to 5-2.

In the third period, Burkle escaped from the down position and took Semple down to go up 8-2. Semple escaped late in the bout, but it was too little too late. A point for riding time brought up the final score of 9-3.

Semple ends the season with an official record of 28-7 and he’ll play the role of spectator and supporter for teammate Nick Garber, who will wrestle in the 133-pound All-American round on Saturday.

Although he won’t be an All-American on the mats, Semple will be recognized as an All-American in the classroom as he was named an Academic All-American by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). A full release on that accomplishment will be out soon.

Sport:

2.10.12 | 5 p.m.

Wrestling vs PAC Tournament

Athletes of the Week

Jessi Drayer

Women's Basketball

Drayer poured in a team-high 21.0 points per game for the 1-1 Yellow Jackets this past week. She was the team’s leading scorer in both games, going for a game-high 23 points against Westminster, before pouring in a contest-best 19 points in a win over Geneva. The Waterford, Ohio native averaged 21 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game this week.

Dan Bruni

Wrestling

Bruni went 3-0 during Waynesburg’s home quad-match against Penn State Greater Allegheny, Penn State Beaver and Penn State Fayette. The sophomore won two matches by major decision and scored a fall in just 31 seconds over Greater Allegheny’s Soham Salvi.

What are you most looking forward to in 2012 when it comes to Waynesburg sports?

Seeing how far the women's basketball team can go in the PAC tournament and beyond.
The wrestling team going for a third-straight PAC team title.
The Jacket softball team playing to get back into the PAC playoffs.
Waynesburg track taking another shot at an elusive PAC team title.
Just being outside when the weather turns warm.

Did You Know...

Going nowhere fast

Waynesburg held Westminster to minus-105 yards rushing in a game in 1967.

Unbreakable record

In 2009, Scott Cree ran an interception back 100 yards for a touchdown, a record that can't be broken.

Don Herrman

Former Waynesburg football great Don Herrman played for the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints from 1969 to 1977.

TV Football

Waynesburg played in the first televised football game. The Yellow Jackets faced Fordham on Sept. 20, 1939 in Randalls Island, N.Y.

Champions in the classroom

During the 2009-10 school year, no school in the conference boasted more honorees on the PAC Academic Honor Roll than Waynesburg.

The Three Musketeers

Dominick Hunter, Ivan Hawkins and Paul D'Imperio, who rank 1-2-3 in career receptions , all played together from 2002 to 2004.

Jackets own Nittany Lions

The Waynesburg football team is 2-0 all-time against Penn State. The last time they met was in 1932, when the Jackets won 7-6.

Headlee's All-American resume

Head wrestling coach Ron Headlee was a three-time NAIA All-American at Messiah College and the school's first NCAA All-American.

Waynesburg University Athletics