The 2002-2003 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 host the Clarion Duals at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium on Sunday, December 15^th to open the season.

Clarion will square off against Drexel at 1pm, then wrestle Kent State at 3pm and Findlay at 5pm. There will be three mats running at the same time for the 1pm, 3pm and 5pm matches. Also participating this year will be Lock Haven and American University and tickets will be available at the door.

Head coach Ken Nellis begins his sixth season directing the program having posted a five-year dual meet record of 31-43-2. Last year the Golden Eagles posted a 6-11 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the Eastern Wrestling League. Clarion placed third at PSAC’s, sixth at the EWL Tournament and 41^st at the NCAA Division I National Championships.

In 2001 the Eagles were 11-3 overall 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 looking forward to the 2003 season," said Clarion’s coach Nellis. "We’ve set some high goals for this season and we’re going to work hard every day to try and reach them. We have a team with great leadership from its veterans and some young wrestlers that are talented and working hard to compete at the Division I level. Our fans will see an aggressive, hard nosed lineup that has the ability to score some points. We believe we have a chance to challenge for the EWL title and finish in the top 15 at nationals. That’s what we want to accomplish this season."

Leading the returnees are five NCAA Division I Qualifiers in heavyweight John Testa (Sr. Newark, De./St. Mark’s), 197-pounder Eric Mausser (Sr. Sharon), 133-pounder Rad Martinez (Sr. West Jordan, Utah), 141-pounder Frank Edgar (So. Toms River, N.J.) and 157-pounder Jeremy Reitz (Jr. Brookville).

Testa, a senior and three-time NCAA Division I Qualifier, narrowly missed All-America status last season. Testa was 34-7 overall, won PSAC and EWL individual titles, and won his first two matches at nationals, including a huge 2-1 tie breaker win over 2001 NCAA Champion John Lockhart (Illinois) in the quarterfinals. But a 6-2 loss to Garrett Lowney (Minnesota) and a 6-2 loss in the final minute to Kevin Hoy of Air Force kept him short of A-A status. A three-time PSAC individual champion, Testa can become only the 12^th wrestler in PSAC history to be a four-time champion. He was 29-6 plus won EWL’s in 2001 and was 28-11 in 2000. He started the year with a career record of 91-24 and has vaulted over the 100 career win mark with a 13-1 record already this season.

Mausser, also a three-time NCAA Qualifer, had a stellar 2002 campaign posting a 34-9 record with EWL and PSAC titles to his credit. He also missed by seconds an All-America placing. After losing at the NCAA’s to Iowa State phenom Cael Sanderson, he won three matches to the A-A round. He lost to Missouri’s Scott Barker on two controversial calls in the final 20 seconds. Eric was 29-11 in 2001 and 25-16 in 1999 while placing second at PSAC’s and EWL’s. Mausser started the season with an overall record of 88-36, but has also topped the 100 win mark with a 12-3 start.

Martinez, a senior, has made a strong impact in his two seasons as a Golden Eagle. Last year Rad notched a 28-7 overall record, placed second at the PSAC’s and EWL’s. He was 0-2 at the NCAA’s. In 2001 he was 29-10, placed second at PSAC’s and fourth at EWL’s. The two-time NCAA Qualifier started the season with a career record of 57-17. He is currently 13-2.

Edgar, a red-shirt sophomore, had a strong freshman season in 2001 at 141-pounds. He was 18-19 overall, placed 4^th at PSAC’s and EWL’s and qualified for nationals. He was 1-2 at the NCAA’s and used last season to improve his strength and skill. He returns to anchor 141.

Reitz, a junior, also had a strong season at 157-pounds last year. Jeremy was 19-14 overall, placed third at PSAC’s and fourth at EWL’s and was selected for nationals. Jeremy went to the NCAA’s and posted a 1-2 record and is ready for his best season. He has already started this season with an 11-3 record. From nearby Brookville, he was a PIAA champ in 1999, attended Penn State and was 21-7 in 2001 before transferring to Clarion.

"Our leadership has been great this season and that, plus a quality work ethic, has helped develop a positive attitude in the practice room. We’re ready for the season to start."

The 2003 Golden Eagles have 22 wrestlers on the official roster including four seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and 10 freshmen.

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

125: Junior Peter Derstine (Coral Springs, Florida) is ready for a breakout year in 2002 at 125. He was 17-13 overall last year while placing 3^rd at PSAC’s. Also 15-15 at 125 as a freshman in 2000, Peter placed 5^th at PSAC’s and 6^th at EWL’s. He has a two-year record of 32-28. Backing him up will be freshman Louis Russo (East Hampton, N.Y.; Longwood HS). Russo posted a career hgh school mark of 153-24 and has impressed the coaches in the pre-season. Sophomore Matt Doerfler (Manchester, N.H.) will red-shirt this season. Matt was 5-6 last year.

133: Senior Rad Martinez (West Jordan, Utah), a two-time NCAA Qualifier returns to start in his familiar lineup spot. He starts the year with a 57-17 record. Martinez transferred to Clarion from Northwest Community College (Wyoming) in 2001. He was 38-6 record at 133-pounds and placed 4^th at JUCO nationals in 2000.

141: 2001 NCAA Qualifier Frank Edgar (So. Toms River, N.J.) returns after red-shirting last year. Edgar notched an 18-19 record as a freshman while placing fourth at PSAC’s and EWL’s.

gh - Plum) will provide quality depth. Stremple was 54-12 at Plum.

149: With veteran Dom Surra graduated, senior Jim Perry (DuBois) will drop into this weight class to start. Perry posted 7-17 overall record last season after moving up to 165 pounds. In 2001 he was 9-6 overall at 157 and placed 5^th at PSAC’s. Also battling for time at 149 are sophomore Stephen Stremple (Pgh. - Plum), Joe Ferrara (Fr. Bear, De., St. Mark’s), T.J. McCance (Fr. Butler) and Ben Lackey (Fr. Eagle Bridge, N.Y. - Mt. Anthony Union, Vermont). Stemple was 4-9 last year and competed at PSAC’s at 149. A knee injury shortened his season but he has come back in Fall workouts very strong. Ferrara was a two-time Delaware State Champ and placed 5^th at Cadet nationals. He could moved to 157 if needed. McCance hails from Butler where he was a PIAA Qualifier and two-time section champion with a career record of 103-20. Lackey was a four-time Vermont State Champ and two-time All-New England winner with a 194-16 career record.

157: Junior Jeremy Reitz returns to start at 157. Reitz was 19-14 overall last season and qualified for Division I Nationals where he was 1-2. Coach Nellis feels Reitz is ready for his best wrestling season since he won the PIAA title in 1999. Freshman Chris Horning (Syracuse, N.Y.) can back up here, or move up to 165.

165: Sophomore Jamie Durkin (Lawrence, Ma.) and freshman Horning will likely battle for a starting spot here. Durkin gained valuable experience last year while sporting a 4-14 overall record. Durkin was a two-time Massachusetts State Champion and attended Northfield Mount Hermon Prep School in 2001. He had a wrestling record of 211-28 in five years. Horning was a three-time New York placewinner including second as a senior and sophomore and third as a junior. He set a team record with 169 wins in high school.

174: Freshman David Gardner (N. Huntingdon - Norwin) will hold down the spot at 174. Gardner placed fourth at PIAA’s last year with a 38-5 overall record at 160-pounds. He posted a career record of 109-23 with 60 falls.

184: Sophomore Marcus Surin (Spring Valley, N.Y.) is out for the season with shoulder surgery. He placed sixth at EWL’s last year. Locked in a battle to earn a starting spot early in the season will be Charlie Cilinski (Fr. Gainseville, Va.) and Eric Spence (Fr. Columbus, Ohio - Upper Arlington). Cilinski was 6^th at Virginia States at 189-pounds and posted a 36-5 record last year. He won district and regional titles. Spence meanwhile is an aggressive and strong wrestler at 184. He wrestled at 171 in high school. The second semester will see transfer Garrett Hurd (So. Brookville) become eligible. Hurd is transferring from Corning Community College where he was Region III Champ. At nearby Brookville high he was a PIAA Runner-up at 160 in 1999.

197: Eric Mausser, a three-time NCAA Qualifier at 197, returns to anchor this weight class. He was 34-9 last year and has a three-year slate of 88-36.

HWT: John Testa, also a three-time NCAA Qualifier, is the Eagle mainstay at heavyweight. Testa was 34-7 last year and has a three-year mark of 91-24. He was the PSAC "Freshman of the Year" in 2000.

CLARION NOTES: Martinez, Mausser and Testa wil captain this year’s team ... Testa won at WVU and Penn State Opens, while Mausser has won at WVU and East Stroudsburg to start the year ... 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 ... Clarion is ranked #24 as a team by Intermat ... The individual rankings show AWN ranking Mausser 7^th, Testa 8^th and Martinez 19^th, while Intermat has Mausser 7^th and Testa 7^th and no ranking for Martinez... Clarion’s next dual action will be four matches at the Ohio State Duals on January 4^th ... Opening the day against Eastern Illinois at 11am, the Eagles wrestle Duke at 2:10; Indiana at 3:45 and UT-Chattanooga at 5:30 ... 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 457-210-11...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 101 PSAC titles, 47 EWL crowns, 8 Div.I National Champions and 40 All-Americans.