FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 26, 2001

The 2001-2002 Clarion University Wrestling team is ready to roll out the mats on a new season. A traditional NCAA Division I powerhouse, the Golden Eagles will travel to the Las Vegas Invitational on November 30 - December 1, then open the dual meet season with back to back matches Dec. 7 and Dec. 8.

Clarion will travel to West Virginia to open the Eastern Wrestling League season on December 7^th with match time set for 7:30pm. The following night Clarion returns to Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium and hosts the Nittany Lions of Penn State. The home opener starts at 7pm.

Head coach Ken Nellis begins his fifth season directing the program having posted a four-year dual meet record of 25-32-2. Last year the Golden Eagles posted a quality 11-3 overall dual meet record and finished the EWL regular season in third place with a 5-2 league mark. Nellis’ Eagles went on to place 4^th at the PSAC’s, 4^th at the EWL’s and 42^nd at the NCAA Division I Nationals at Iowa.

"We’re excited to get out on the mats and start the new season," said Clarion’s coach Nellis. "We’ve been very pleased with our pre-season and believe Clarion wrestling fans will like this year’s team. We will have a couple of guys out until January, but when they return, we should have a very solid lineup and be a very good tournament team. Our leadership has been extremely good and I like what I’ve seen from our first year wrestlers. We’ve set some high goals, including wanting to battle for the EWL title. We know that’s high, but that’s where we want to be. We simply need to stay healthy."

Leading the returnees are four NCAA Division I Qualifiers in heavyweight John Testa (Jr. Newark, De./St. Mark’s), 197-pounder Eric Mausser (Jr. Sharon), 133-pounder Rad Martinez (Jr. West Jordan, Utah) and 149-pounder Dominic Surra (Sr. Kersey, St. Marys).

Testa, a junior and two-time NCAA Division I Qualifier, had an outstanding sophomore season in 2001. He notched a 29-6 overall record, won the EWL and PSAC individual titles, and was seeded 8^th at the NCAA Division I Tournament before posting a 1-2 record. In 2000, as a freshman, Testa was 28-11 overall, won the PSAC title and placed 4^th at EWL’s before posting a 3-2 record at nationals. He enters this season with a career record of 57-17.

Mausser, also a two-time NCAA Qualifer and a red-shirt junior, had a stellar 2001 season posting a 29-11 overall campaign. Eric was fourth at PSAC’s, third at EWL’s and notched a 2-2 record at the NCAA’s before being eliminated. He red-shirted the 2000 season, but as a freshman in 1999 he placed second at the

PSAC’s and EWL’s on his way to a 25-16 overall record. Mausser has a two-year record of 54-27.

Martinez, a junior, made an immediate impact when he joined Clarion for the 2001 season. Last year he was 29-10 overall, placed second at the PSAC’s and fourth at the EWL’s. Earning a wild card to the NCAA’s, Martinez injured his elbow and was 0-2 at nationals. He is healthy and ready for another strong season in 2002.

Surra, a senior, had his top season last year at 149-pounds. Dom notched a 21-15 overall record and placed 4^th at PSAC’s and EWL’s. Also a wild card selection to nationals, Surra was 0-2 but gained valuable experience.

Mausser, Martinez and Surra will be looked upon to provide mat leadership this year as Clarion’s captains.

"We expect the leadership from our captains will be outstanding this year," analyzed Nellis. "They are very hard working, no nonsense type leaders who will provide a great example to our younger wrestlers. Providing direction and support is what a young, developing team needs and I know they will do an excellent job."

The 2002 Golden Eagles have 23 wrestlers on the official roster. One senior, four juniors, seven sophomores and11 freshmen make up the Eagle squad.

Here’s a look at the Eagles by weight class:

125: Talented red-shirt sophomore Starlin Jimenez (Brentwood, N.Y.) is expected to be in the starting lineup since returning starter Peter Derstine (Coral Springs, Florida) will likely red-shirt this season. Jimenez is a very talented wrestler who coach Nellis believes could qualify for the NCAA’s. He placed third and sixth at New York States at 112 pounds as a senior and junior in high school. Derstine was a very good 15-15 overall last year as a true freshman placing 5^th at the PSAC’s and 6^th at the Sunshine Open. Also looking for time this year will be freshmen Matt Doerfler (Hooksett, N.H.) and Matt Donofrio (Cranberry Twp - Seneca Valley).

133: Junior Rad Martinez (West Jordan, Utah) returns to start in his familiar lineup spot. He was 29-10 last year as an NCAA Qualifier. Martinez, who transferred to Clarion last year from Northwest Community College (Wyoming), posted a 38-6 record at 133-pounds and placed 4^th at JUCO nationals in 2000 at 133.

Red-shirt sophomore Mike Diaz (DuBois) will provide quality depth here. Diaz was 1-21 as a starter in 2000, but that record was very deceiving.

141: Last year’s NCAA Qualifier Frank Edgar (So. Toms River, N.J.) will red-shirt the season. Ready to step in is red-shirt sophomore Jared Moss (Sharon). Moss, a very quick and explosive wrestler, was a three-time PIAA Qualifier at Sharon High and placed third at PIAA’s his senior year. Edgar notched an 18-19 record as a freshman while placing fourth at PSAC’s and EWL’s. Freshman Stephen Stremple (Pgh - Plum) will provide quality depth. Stremple was 54-12 at Plum.

149: Veteran NCAA Qualifier Dominic Surra returns to anchor this weight class. Last year Surra was 21-15 overall and 4^th at PSAC’s and EWL’s. Dom was 5-4 in 2000 and was 15-19 overall at 126-pounds in 1998 while placing 5^th at EWL’s and 6^th at PSAC’s. Battling Surra will be veteran Jim Perry (DuBois), who was 9-6 overall last year.

157: Perry will likely move up to 157 to cover this weight class in December. Waiting in the wings will be Penn State transfer Jeremy Reitz (Brookville). Reitz was 21-7 last year at Penn State placing fifth at the East Stroudsburg Open through December. He will become eligible in January. Reitz is from nearby Brookville High where he was a PIAA Champion in 1999. Also looking for time here will be freshman Jamie Durkin (Lawrene, Ma. Central Catholic HS), Jason Robinette (Grafton, Ohio) and Tim Lempka (Slate Hill, N.Y. - Minisink Valley).

165: Durkin and Robinette will likely move up to 165 to cover this weight class. Both are inexperienced and will learn on the job. Durkin is a two-time Massachusetts State Champion and attended Northfield Mount Hermon Prep School last year. He has a wrestling record of 211-28 in five years. Robinette from Elyria High in Ohio was coached by former Clarion All-American Erik Burnett.

174: Red-shirt freshman Todd Schuchert (N. Huntingdon/Norwin) returns and should be a strong wrestler at this weight class in January. He was injured last year and sat out the second semester after posting a 6-2 record in November. Schuchert was 5^th at PIAA’s in 2000. The season will likely start with either Ryan Pataky (Houtzdale - Moshannon Valley) or James Connelly (Sharon) in the starting lineup. Pataky, a PIAA Qualifier, and Connelly, who placed 4^th at PIAA’s as a senior, are both true freshmen. Connelly was 34-9 in his senior year and 79-37 in his career.

184: Red-shirt freshman Marcus Surin (Spring Valley, N.Y.) will start at 184. Marcus was 4^th at New York States his senior year at 160-pounds and worked to add strength last year. He will be backed up by James Connelly or David Hoare (Reynoldsville - DuBois). Hoare was a three-time District 9 Champion.

197: Eric Mausser, a two-time NCAA Qualifier at 197, returns to anchor this weight class. He was 29-11 last year and has a two-year slate of 54-27.

HWT: John Testa, also a two-time NCAA Qualifier, is the Eagle mainstay at heavyweight. Testa was 29-6 last year and has a two-year mark of 57-17. He was the PSAC "Freshman of the Year" in 2000.

CLARION NOTES: All the Golden Eagle dual meets will once again be heard on WCCR-FM or WWCH Radio in Clarion ... Rich Herman and former coach Bob Bubb provide play by play and color commentary ... The matches will also be heard on the internet through Red Zone Media ... Those interested can go to www.redzonemedia.com or to www. clarion.edu/athletics and click on the redzone link ... Four Golden Eagles are nationally ranked to start the year in the pre-season individual rankings ... Rad Martinez is ranked 12^th by AWN and 15^th by Intermat, Jeremy Reitz is rated 20^th by Intermat, Eric Mausser is 9^th by AWN and 14^th by Intermat and John Testa is 18^th by AWN ... The Eagles host the Clarion Duals on December 16^th ... Teams in the Duals this year are Kent State, Pitt-Johnstown, Lock Haven, Ohio U. and Ohio State ... Coach Nellis, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Shaler High, was a 4-time NCAA Division I National Qualifier at Clarion (1982-84, 86), 3-time PSAC Champion, 4-time EWL runner-up and compiled a career record of 113-28-5 ... Nellis is 9th on the all-time win list at Clarion ... Nellis is 25-32-2 in four years at Clarion and has coached 4 All-Americans... Nellis replaced Jack Davis as head coach...In 5 seasons Davis was 43-34-5 ... Clarion was 14th at the NCAA's in 1997, 12th in 96, and 15th in 1995 and 94... Legendary coach Robert "Bob" Bubb directed the Golden Eagles for 26-seasons and compiled a record of 322-121-4 and led Clarion to top 10 team finishes at the NCAA's in 1992 (8th), 1987 (6th), 1973 (4th) and 1972 (6th)...Since Clarion re-started wrestling in 1959-60, the Golden Eagles have an overall dual meet record of 451-199-11...Clarion has won 13 PSAC titles, 3 EWL crowns and placed in the top 20 at Division I Nationals 16 times...Individual wrestlers have won 99 PSAC titles, 45 EWL crowns, 8 Div.I National Champions and 40 All-Americans.