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King’s College junior and Crestwood graduate Mike Reilly will be in the mix for a national title this weekend when he competes in the 2011 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday in La Crosse, Wis.
Reilly, seeded fourth at 174 pounds in the preliminary bracket, went 30-1 this season after returning from serious injuries suffered in December 2009 that led to a medical redshirt.
The Monarchs standout wrestled for most of the 2010-11 campaign at 184 pounds before dropping down to 174 in the final two weeks to improve his chances for a national title.
A three-time Metropolitan Conference champion, this will be Reilly’s third trip to the NCAA tournament. As a program, King’s has sent at least one wrestler to NCAAs in each of the past 11 years. That includes David Morgan, who won back-to-back national titles in 2007 and 2008.
Reilly has a career 93-13 record for the Monarchs and enters the tournament on an 18-match winning streak.
The preliminary bracket has Reilly scheduled to face unseeded Zachary Bates of Bridgewater State (Mass.), who enters the event with a 32-7 record. Should Reilly advance, he would face the winner of fifth-seeded Matt Pfarr (26-7) of St. John’s (Minn.) and Kyle Roosa (28-9) of Wesleyan.
A win there could put Reilly up against top-seeded Kyle Kwait (29-4) of Ohio Northern in the semifinals.
With a top-eight finish, Reilly would join his older brother Jason as an All-American. Jason Reilly took fourth for the Monarchs at 197 pounds in the 2007 NCAA tournament.
BASEBALL
Misericordia 16, Elizabethtown 9
The Cougars’ hot start at the plate continued Wednesday in Fort Pierce, Fla., with their sixth straight victory.
Kenny Durling (4-for-5) came through with a grand slam while Andres Gonzalez (two RBI), Zach Myers (three RBI), Joe Tagliarini (three RBI) and Andrew Tressa all had two hits apiece.
Misericordia (6-2) scored 10 runs in the sixth inning to break open a 5-5 game.
Nick Morreale added three RBI and freshman Ryan Cacchioli earned his first collegiate victory.
MEN’S LACROSSE
Susquehanna 13, King’s 6
Mike O’Brien scored three second-quarter goals for the Monarchs in a non-conference loss.
Kieran McMahon, Lenny Fox and T.J. Tagg also scored for King’s (1-2). Goalie Kevin Conzola finished with 13 saves.
SOFTBALL
Misericordia earns split
The Cougars picked up their first win of the season on Wednesday at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., beating Waynesburg 4-0 after losing to Ave Maria (Fla.) 3-0.
Maria Kidron and Nicole Boccia had hits in both games for Misericordia (1-5). Jess Armillay tossed a three-hitter against Waynesburg to pick up her first collegiate win.