Clarion University’s NCAA Division I Wrestling team will continue the 2004 dual meet season on Saturday, Feburary 14^th and Sunday February 15^th as the Golden Eagles continue their Eastern Wrestling League schedule.

The Golden Eagles will host Virginia Tech on Saturday at 1pm and then host Cleveland State on Sunday, also at 1pm. The Sunday match will also serve as Senior Day with Clarion’s three seniors including Peter Derstine (Sr. Coral Springs, Florida), Jeremy Reitz (Sr. Brookville) and Aaron Wright (Sr. Coudersport) honored in pre-match ceremonies.

Both matches can be heard on WCCR-FM (92.7) and on the internet at www.redzonemedia.com.

Clarion enters the match with a 2-7 dual and 0-4 EWL record under seventh year head coach Ken Nellis.

Clarion lost at Pitt on Tuesday night by a 19-13 margin. The Eagles are looking to break a six match losing streak which includes losses to Buffalo (19-17), Bloomsburg (23-12), Rider (31-7), Edinboro (24-13), West Virginia (25-15) and Pitt. The Golden Eagles opened their dual meet season on December 14^th with wins over Pitt-Johnstown 16-15 and Drexel 29-13 and a loss to #14 ranked Ohio State (25-18). Nellis has a seven year dual meet record of 42-58-2.

Clarion will feature a lineup of Peter Derstine (Sr. 25-10; Coral Springs, Fl.) at 125, Louis Russo (So. 1-6; E. Hampton, N.Y.) at 133, #20 Frank Edgar (Jr. 32-4; Toms River, N.J.) at 141, T.J. McCance (Fr. 9-13; Butler) at 149, Chris Horning (So. 19-7; Syracuse, N.Y.) at 157, Jeremy Reitz (Sr. 19-13; Brookville) at 165, Aaron Wright (Sr. 14-12; Coudersport) at 174, Kyle Cathcart (Fr. 9-12; Clarion) at 184, Charlie Cilinski (So. 2-15; Gainesville,Va.) at 197 and Matt Wilcox (Fr. 7-9; Guys Mills, Pa.) at heavyweight.

Derstine, a 4-year starter, enters the weekend with a career record of 80-49. Reitz, a three-year starter, has a Clarion record over that time of 65-43. Wright transferred from Penn State and sat out last year.

Virginia Tech, led by eighth year head coach Keith Mourlam, has a season record of 7-8 and an EWL mark of 1-4. The Hokies visit Edinboro tonight (Friday), then travel to Clarion on Saturday. In EWL matches the Hokies have defeated Lock Haven (22-19) and lost to Bloomsburg (22-18), Pitt (26-11), West Virginia (39-9) and Cleveland State (28-9).

The likely lineup for Virginia Tech will be Ryan Broughman (6-16) at 125, #10 ranked David Hoffman (18-2) at 133, Aaron Brown (5-9) at 141, Tyde Prater (7-5) at 149, Andrew Donofrio (7-13) at 157, #17 ranked Chris Stith (26-9) at 165, Steve Borja (18-11) at 174, Shaun Guttridge (6-14) at 184, Tomas Ovalle (0-2) at 197 and Kris Wiedegreen (12-12) at heavyweight.

Cleveland State comes to Clarion on Sunday with an overall record of 8-8 and an EWL mark of 2-3 under sixth year head coach Jack Effner. The Vikings have losses in the EWL against Edinboro (24-15), Pitt (24-15) and Bloomsburg (23-17) , with wins over Lock Haven (18-15) and Virginia Tech (28-9).

The Vikings have a very solid lineup and will likely feature DeAngelo Penn (12-11) at 125, Tom O’Brien (0-12) at 133, Anthony Coleman (16-9) at 141, Matt DePolo (25-15) at 149, Jason Effner (11-11) at 157, Matt Klinger (15-12) at 165, Matt Kallai (12-6) at 174, Ron Howard (4-15) at 184, Joe Phillips (16-6) at 197 and #16 ranked Russ Davie (19-5) at heavyweight.

CLARION NOTES: Against Virginia Tech, Clarion leads the series 4-1... Last year the Eagles defeated the Hokies 32-10 and also won in 2002 by a 32-14 margin... The Hokies lone win came in 2000 with a 35-9 triumph... Clarion also has a winning record against Cleveland State with an 18-8 EWL record and an overall mark of 20-10 against the Vikings... Last year Clarion lost 21-10 to CSU, bute defeated the Vikings 19-15 in 2002 and 37-3 in 2001... Clarion hosts Lock Haven on Thursday, Feb. 19^th for its final dual meet of the season.