PHOTO: U.S. Marine Corps wrestlers presented a signed singlet from the All-Marine wrestling team to David Noblit's mother Dana during the fundraising event Reprinted with permission from the Upper Dauphin Sentinel By Dara Scheidler, STAFF WRITER Halifax, PA - A packed gymnasium at the Halifax Area High School witnessed a spectacular greco-roman wrestling exhibition Dec. 22. Even more exciting than the action, which featured two area graduates, was the announcement by Tyler Erdman, the event’s coordinator, that the exhibition raised $1,185 for the David A. Noblit Jr. Fund. By the end of the evening, the total climbed to $1,245. Noblit, a combat engineer specializing in locating IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) for the United States Marine Corps, was stationed in southern Afghanistan when he accidentally stepped on an IED on Oct. 20. Noblit lost both of his legs in the blast. He is currently receiving physical therapy services at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Richmond VA Medical Center in Virginia and exceeding the doctors’ expectations, according to his wife. His recovery could take up to two full years. “I wanted to accomplish three things.†Erdman, a 2008 Line Mountain High School graduate, got permission from the Halifax and Line Mountain school districts to allow the exhibition. Amy Simmons, whose son, Donald “D.J.†Simmons, wowed the crowd with his moves on the mat that night, was instrumental in helping Tyler obtain those permissions. Tyler said his goals that night were to help Noblit, help our troops and “get D.J. Simmons in front of Halifax fans after all the work he’s put in wrestling for the Marines.†Let’s get ready to rumble! “What better way to honor and benefit our U.S. Marine David (A.) Noblit (Jr.) than to have three Marines ...(and) two Army R.O.T.C. members ... display their talents in greco-roman wrestling here tonight?†Gino Frank, coach of the Modern Day Gladiator Wrestling Club, asked of the crowd before the exhibition. Three members of his club, including Erdman, gave their all against a powerhouse team from the United States Marine Corps who, very fittingly, dominated the matches. Neither team weighed in before the exhibition. Greco-Roman wrestling has a different scoring system than typical folkstyle wrestling used at the high school and collegiate levels. It prohibits any holds below the waist or takedowns using the legs. Each bout consists of three two-minute periods, with a 30-second rest between each period. Each period begins with both wrestlers facing off in a standing position for one minute, thirty seconds, then ends in a “par terre†position with one wrestler on top and one on the bottom. Sam Julian, 25, of Schuylkill Haven agreed to officiate the matches. “There’s no question that he is regarded as one of the best greco-roman and freestyle officials in the country,†Frank said. The Marines take on the Gladiators. The first bout featured Dan Bechtold, assistant wrestling coach at Elizabethtown College, representing the MDGWC against Joel Ahern of the All-Marines wrestling team, who is ranked 10th nationally in his weight class. The two grappled furiously, neither of them willing to give up a point, until Bechtold, with only two seconds left in the period, finally scored two points with a gutwrench move on Ahern. Ahern earned a point in the second period with a pushout – sending his opponent out of the circle – to even the score. Down to the wire, with a seemingly scoreless third period deciding the match, Ahern finally secured the decision with a gutwrench move for two points during the “par terre†section of the period. One down, two to go. Erdman, who Frank said “put the same heart and soul into preparing this event as he does for the club,†gave up close to 15 pounds against a very accomplished Donovan Depatto, currently ranked sixth in his weight class nationally and a former University World Team Member and Armed Forces Champion. Erdman, no slouch himself as a two-time NCAA Division-III All-American and the 2010 University Nationals runner-up, struggled to make the weight difference a non-issue. Scoreless for the first 1:30, Erdman attempted a reverse lift from the top, which Depatto reversed for one point. By preventing any further scoring opportunities from Erdman, Depatto earned himself another point, up 2-0 after the first period. The second period went down to the wire as well, this time with Depatto on top in the “par terre.†He immediately secured a gutwrench on Erdman for two points and the win. It’s the final countdown. Next up it was hometown favorite Donald “D.J.†Simmons, a 2007 Halifax Area High School graduate and 2010 University Nationals All-American, who faced off against Townsend Mundorf, a last-minute replacement for MDGWC assistant coach Chris Haines, who was unable to attend the event. Mundorf, who had not trained for the last year, put forth what Frank described as “a heroic effort†against the younger, larger Marine. In the crowd-pleasing, action-packed finale, Simmons showed off some of his best moves, not allowing Mundorf a single point. Thirty second in, Simmons earned a point for a pushout. Fifteen seconds later, he hauled Mundorf into a “grande amplitude†throw – what might commonly be referred to as a suplex – for a five point gain, ending the period at 6-0. Simmons earned another two points for pushouts, 10 seconds and 34 seconds into the second period. With 1:15 left in the second period, Simmons executed a front headlock takedown for three points. A gutwrench by Simmons at 1:06 ends the bout with a 6-0, 7-0 decision. A big win. With a total of $1,245 raised for the David A. Noblit Jr. Fund, Erdman and Frank, while disappointed with the team loss, were ecstatic about the success of the evening. Erdman, who has goals of wrestling in the Olympics, said, “It was awesome to wrestle a much bigger and more experienced Depatto. He has represented the United States at world championships quite a few times before. Even though I lost my match tonight, I am happy to say that we were able to win in a bigger and better way for David and his family. I only expected the event to raise about $300 but four times that is awesome,†he added. Frank said, “I’m very proud of the guys, especially Town(send) Mundorf who stepped in with no training. “It (was) an honor to have members of the U.S. Marines’ Greco-roman wrestling team give up their time in a friendly competition against our athletes to benefit an injured hero.†CURRENT ADDRESS Cpl. David A. Noblit Jr.currently accepts mail and may be visited at the following address through mid-January: Richmond VA Medical Center 2B Polytrauma Unit Cpl. David A. Noblit Jr., Rm. 165 1201 Broad Rock Blvd. Richmond, VA 23249 TO DONATE Two funds have been established to collect donations for Cpl. David A. Noblit Jr. and his family: David A. Noblit Jr. Fund Herndon National Bank 115 North Main St. Herndon 17830-0305 Amanda and David A. Noblit Jr. c/o Nicole Wendt First National Bank 2625 N. Susquehanna Trail Shamokin Dam 17876 Exhibition Results 60 KG - Donovan Depatto (Marines) dec Tyler Erdman (Modern Day Gladiators) 2-0, 2-0 74 KG - Joel Ahern (Marines) dec Dan Bechtold (Modern Day Gladiators) 0-2, 1-0, 2-0 84 KG - Donald Simmons (Marines) dec Townsend Mundorf (Modern Day Gladiators) 6-0. 7-0 Coverage and Interviews from the event can be located here http://www.flowrestling.org/videos/coverage/view/238038-support-an-injured-troop-benefit