Clarion's NCAA Division I Wrestling team is ready for its "second season" as the Golden Eagles prepare to compete in the 29^th annual EWL (Eastern Wrestling League) Championships, which also serves as the NCAA Division I Qualifying Tournament for league members.

The 2004 EWL=s will be hosted by Bloomsburg University at Nelson Field House. Session 1 is set for 11am Saturday March 6th and will feature quarterfinal action. Session 2 starts at 6pm on Saturday and features semifinal matches and round 1 of consolations. Session 3 starts Sunday March 7^th at 10am and will have the consolation semi=s, followed immediately by the consolation finals. Session 4 will feature the championship final matches starting at 2pm. A total of 37 wrestlers will qualify for the NCAA Tournament from the EWL=s including the top three finishers at each weight class and seven wild card selections.

Tickets will be available at the door. All-Session passes will be $30 at the door, while individual session prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students for the first three sessions and $15 for adults and $10 for students for the championship finals. Tickets will be available at the door.

"We’re really looking forward to the challenges the EWL tournament brings," said Clarion seventh year head coach Ken Nellis. "I believe we’re ready mentally and physically to have a quality tournament. The competition will be very strong, but if we wrestle to our capabilities, we can send a quality contingent to nationals, and that’s our goal entering the tournament."

Clarion enters the EWL’s with a 4-8 overall record and a 2-5 mark in the EWL. Clarion’s EWL wins came against Virginia Tech (24-15) and Lock Haven (25-18), while losses have been to Edinboro (24-13), West Virginia (25-15), Pitt (19-13), Bloomsburg (23-12) and Cleveland State (20-14). Two additional wins came against Drexel (29-13) and Pitt-Johnstown (16-15)

The 2003 EWL Tournament, hosted by West Virginia, saw Edinboro win the team title with 129.5 points and West Virginia second with 123.5. Cleveland State finished a distant third with 80.5, Lock Haven fourth with 75.5, Pitt fifth with 75, Clarion sixth with 63.5, Virginia Tech seventh with 44.5 and Bloomsburg eighth with 44.

The 2002 EWL Tournament was won by West Virginia with 114.5 points, Edinboro second with 104.5, Lock Haven third with 104, Pitt fourth with 87.5, Cleveland State fifth with 67, Clarion sixth at 66, Virginia Tech seventh with 48.5 and Bloomsburg eighth with 41 points. The 2002 EWL’s were hosted by Lock Haven.

The 2001 EWL tournament was won by Edinboro with 123.5 points, with Lock Haven finishing second at 95, Pitt third with 94.5 and Clarion fourth with 87 points.

Edinboro has won five of the last six EWL team titles including titles in 2003, and a strong of four straight from 1998-2001. West Virginia, who is expected to battle Edinboro for the team title, won a title in 2002, while Lock Haven won in 1997, West Virginia in 1996 and Clarion won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 95.

This year’s favorite to win the team title? Edinboro has to be the favorite to repeat after defeating West Virginia convincingly in their dual matchup last week by a 25-13 margin.

Edinboro, who won the regular season EWL title with a 7-0 league mark, finished the year with an overall dual record of 10-3. They won their last six dual meets in a row, along with a PSAC team title under seventh year head coach Tim Flynn. He has a career dual record of 70-26-2 with the Scots.

West Virginia, under 26^th year head coach Craig Turnbull, was 6-1 in the EWL and an overall record of 9-5. The Mountaineers had won the two previous EWL regular season crowns. Turnbull has a career record with WVU of 221-148-6

Pittsburgh, with an EWL record of 5-2 and an overall slate of 8-6, could also make a challenge at the top spot. Coach Rande Stottlemyer, in his 25^th season, has a career dual meet record of 215-181-10. The Panthers were third in 2001 and a team high second in 1997 and 1989.

Cleveland State and Bloomsburg both finished with 3-4 slates in the EWL. Cleveland State, under sixth year coach Jack Effner looks for another high EWL finish. Last year the Vikings were third.

Bloomsburg, under second year coach Dan Wirnsburger, led the Huskies to a 9-8 overall record. Bloomsburg has some quality young wrestlers who could make a strong showing.

Virginia Tech and Lock Haven, who were 1-6 this year in the EWL, expect to qualify some individual wrestlers to nationals. Virginia Tech is coached by 8^th year mentor Keith Mourlam, while Lock Haven’s Bald Eagles are directed by second year head coach Rocky Bonomo.

Clarion’s 2004 EWL lineup will likely have Peter Derstine (Sr. 29-9; Coral Springs, Fl.) at 125, Louis Russo (So. 4-9; E. Hampton, N.Y.) at 133, #17 Frank Edgar (Jr. 34-5; Toms River, N.J.) at 141, T.J. McCance (Fr. 10-15; Butler) at 149, Chris Horning (So. 21-8; Syracuse, N.Y.) at 157, Jeremy Reitz (Sr. 20-15; Brookville) at 165, Aaron Wright (Sr. 17-12; Coudersport) at 174, Kyle Cathcart (Fr. 10-14; Clarion) at 184, Charlie Cilinski (So. 2-17; Gainesville,Va.) at 197 and Matt Wilcox (Fr. 9-11; Guys Mills, Pa.) at heavyweight.

Veterans returning to the EWL’s looking to make a trip to the 2004 nationals are Derstine, Edgar, Horning, Reitz and Cilinski.

Derstine, a senior, enters the EWL’s with a 29-9 overall record at 125. He placed fourth a year ago and was the second alternate wild card selection to go to nationals. He enters the EWL’s with a career record of 84-48. He was third this year at PSAC’s, Reno and the Penn State Open.

Edgar, a junior, is ranked #17 by Amateur Wrestling News and has put together a quality 34-5 record at 141. He was 5^th at EWL’s in 2003 and went as a wild card, while also earning an NCAA wild card berth in 2001 when he placed 4^th at EWL’s. This season Edgar won the PSAC’s and Penn State Open, placed second at E. Stroudsburg and third at Reno and Mat Town. He has a career record of 78-42.

Horning, only a sophomore, enters the EWL’s with a 21-8 overall record. He was second at PSAC’s and 4^th at Reno this season at 157. Last year he participated at EWL’s at 165-pounds and did not place. Chris has a career record of 37-27.

Reitz, a senior, has also had a solid season posting a 20-15 overall record while placing 1^st at E. Stroudsburg, 2^nd at PSAC’s, 4^th at Mat Town and 6^th at Reno at 165 pounds. In 2003 he was 27-17 overall at 157 pounds, placed 6^th at EWL’s and was not selected for nationals. In 2002, also at 157-pounds, he was 19-14 overall, placed 4^th at EWL’s and was a wild card selection to the NCAA’s. In three years at Clarion Jeremy has a career record of 66-46.

Making their first appearance at EWL’s will be Russo, McCance, Wright, Cathcart, Cilinski and Wilcox.

Russo, a sophomore, is 4-9 this season at 133 pounds.

McCance, a red-shirt freshman, enters the EWL’s with a 10-15 overall record at 149.

Wright, a senior and transfer from Penn State, will make his EWL debut. He was 17-12 in the regular season at 174-pounds and placed 2^nd at PSAC’s, 4^th at Reno and 4^th at East Stroudsburg.

Cathcart, a red-shirt freshman, is 10-14 mostly at 184-pounds. Kyle has posted a 6^th place finish at the Penn State Open.

Cilinski, a sophomore, posted a 2-17 record at 197-pounds this season.

Wilcox, a true freshman, is 9-11 at heavyweight and could make some noise at EWL’s. He missed PSAC’s with an injury, but is healthy and ready for action.

WEIGHT CLASS PREVIEW: Ranking in parenthesis is the highest rating by either Amateur Wrestling News or by Intermat.

125: The first weight class looks like a contest between Pitt freshman Drew Headlee (17-5), Clarion senior Peter Derstine (29-9), Bloomsburg’s Brian Sellers (16-19), Lock Haven’s Jimmy Collins (15-11), WVU’s Casey Brewster (14-10) and Cleveland State’s DeAngelo Penn (14-11). Headlee is the favorite after going undefeated in the EWL regular season. Derstine was 4^th last year, Collins 6^th. Collins won the 2004 PSAC title. Headlee defeated Derstine 6-2 in the dual meet.

133: the 133-pound weight class features 12^th rated Dave Hoffman (19-2) from Virginia Tech. Hoffman was 6^th in 2002 and didn’t compete last year. Edinboro’s Jacob Gray (29-7) was the runner-up at 125 last year and third at 125 in 2001 and should challenge. West Virginia’s Seth Lisa (7-6) was third at 125 last year and will battle to place high along with Lock Haven’s Dave Predko (12-8), Pitt’s Mike Ciotti (5-4) and Bloom’s Bryan Hart (19-11). Clarion will have Louis Russo (4-9) here.

141: A talented weight class, 141-pounds appears to be a battle between Clarion’s #17 ranked Frank Edgar (34-5), Pitt’s #16 rated Ron Tarquinnio (22-10), WVU’s #17 rated Joe Clarke (22-8), Bloomsburg’s Scott Heckman (23-14), Edinboro’s Ron Doppelheuer (25-13) and Cleveland State’s Anthony Coleman (18-10). How close is this weight class, Edgar has dual wins this year over Tarquinnio, Clarke and Doppelheuer, but losses to Heckman and Coleman. Tarquinnio was 4^th and Edgar fifth here last year. Edgar was 4^th at 141 in 2001. Coleman was 3^rd at 149 last year and Doppelheuer 4th. At least 1 and maybe 2 wild cards will come out of this weight class.

149: Lock Haven’s 2-time All-American Mike Maney (29-5) will be the top seed. Maney, ranked 11^th, was runner-up at 141 in 2001 and 2003. He could receive a challenge from VT’s Reed Carpenter (23-8) who was 5^th here last year. WVU’s Mike Torriero (15-9), Edinboro’s Deonte Penn (24-11), Pitt’s Matt Kocher (27-10), Cleveland State’s Matt DePolo (27-16) and Bloom’s Brad Forbes (14-9) are all capable of placing high. A lot of balance here. Clarion will have T.J. McCance (10-15).

157: WVU’s 8^th rated Matt Lebe (26-6) will be the #1 seed at 157. Lebe placed second a year ago. Ready to challenge ate Lock Haven’s Charlie Brenneman (30-7) and Clarion’s Chris Horning (21-8). Lebe has defeated Brenneman and Horning by identical 6-3 scores. Brenneman was 4^th at 165 in 2002. Also ready to place are Pitt’s Justin Nestor (24-13), Cleveland State’s Jason Effner (12-13), Edinboro’s Eric Ring (11-13) and Bloom’s Josh Loew (7-8). Nestor was third here last year and Ring fourth.

165: Defending champion and #3 rated Matt King (35-1) is the favorite in another talented weight class. King also finished second in 2002. Ready to challenge is VT’s #18 ranked Chris Stith (28-10). King defeated Stith 6-1 in the dual. Also ready here are Pitt’s Zach Doll (18-6), Clarion’s Jeremy Reitz (20-15), Lock Haven’s Jason Gilligan (16-8) and WVU’s Zac Fryling (17-9). Stith was 5^th at 157 last year, Doll was third at 157 in 2002 & 2001, Reitz meanwhile was 6^th at 157 last year and 4^th in 2001 and Gilligan was third in 2003 and fifth in 2002 and 2001.

174: Edinboro’s #7 rated Nate Yezter (31-3) leads this weight class and will be the favorite. He was 4^th last year at EWL’s. Pitt’s Francis Iorfido (23-8) and Clarion’s Aaron Wright (17-12) figure to battle to get to the finals. Yetzer defeated Wright in the PSAC finals 4-3 earlier this year. Iorfido was 5^th at 165 last year. Also expected to place are CSU’s Matt Kallai (13-7), Bloom’s Jim Bertulis (13-12) and Virginia Tecch’s Steve Borja (18-15).

184: West Virginia’s #1 rated Greg Jones (18-0) is moving up to 184. He won at 174 last year and in 2002 when he won an NCAA title as a freshman. Edinboro’s #17 Alex Clemsen (20-3) figures to get to the finals as well. Clemsen was third a year ago. Jones defeated Clemsen in the dual by an 8-3 score. Also hoping to place high are Lock Haven’s Mike Greenberg (17-13), Pitt’s Mike Croyle (10-11), Bloom’s Nate Shirk (17-12) and Clarion’s Kyle Cathcart (10-14). Greenberg was 4^th last year.

197: Nothing stands out as a favorite at 197. West Virginia’s Matt Daddino (17-6), Bloomsburg’s Chad Hoare (18-13), Edinboro’s Mike LaBella (15-13), Pitt’s Josh Birt (19-8) and Cleveland State’s Joe Phillips (18-7) and VT’s Canaan Prater (13-9) could all win here. Hoare was 6^th at 184 last year, Prater was 6^th in 2002 and Phillips 4^th at 184 in 2002. LaBella defeated Daddino 6-2 in the dual last week, Birt and Hoare have defeated LaBella, and Daddino decisioned Birt. Got that? Clarion’s Charlie Cilinski (2-17) will try and score here.

HWT: Clarion’s three-time champion John Testa has graduated. Ready to take the title is Cleveland State’s #9 rated Russ Davie (22-5). Edinboro’s #17 rated Joe Hennis (25-9) is also likely to final. Davie defeated Hennis 3-0 in the dual. Davie took third last year defeating Hennis 2-1 at EWL’s. Also ready to place here are WVU’s Lanfer Simpson (5-3), VT’s Kris Wiedegreen (13-15), Pitt’s Travis Shirley (17-15), Clarion’s Matt Wilcox (9-11), Bloom’s Ryan Chaluda (16-13) and Lock Haven’s Steve Itterly (11-14). Itterly was 5^th at heavyweight last year.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion has crowned 48 EWL champions since the league started in 1976... The Golden Eagles have crowned at least one individual champion in every year except 1983, 1989 and 2000 ... Clarion has three team titles including 1980, 94 and 95 ... Kurt Angle won 4 titles (1988. 1990-92) ... Charlie Heller (1980-82), Sheldon Thomas (1994, 96, 97) and John Testa (2001-2003) are the only other Clarion wrestlers to win three EWL individual titles since the league began in 1976... The NCAA=s are in St. Louis, Missouri from March 18-20.