Clarion University’s NCAA Division I Wrestling team will continue the 2004 dual meet season on Tuesday, February 10^th, when the Golden Eagles visit Pitt for an Eastern Wrestling League dual meet. Match time is set for 7:30pm at Fitzgerald Field House.

The match can also be heard on WWCH-AM (1300) and on the internet at www.redzonemedia.com.

Clarion enters the match with a 2-6 dual and 0-3 EWL record under seventh year head coach Ken Nellis. 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). The Eagles started the new year losing a close 19-17 match at Buffalo on January 10^th, and that followed with a 23-12 loss at Bloomsburg 23-12 and a 31-7 loss at Rider 31-7. Clarion lost a 24-13 decision to Edinboro, and lost a 25-15 match at West Virginia, before placing 5^th at the PSAC Tournament. Nellis has a seven year dual meet record of 42-57-2.

Clarion will feature a lineup of Peter Derstine (Sr. 25-9; Coral Springs, Fl.) at 125, Louis Russo (So. 1-5; E. Hampton, N.Y.) at 133, #20 Frank Edgar (Jr. 31-4; Toms River, N.J.) at 141, T.J. McCance (Fr. 9-12; Butler) at 149, Chris Horning (So. 18-7; Syracuse, N.Y.) at 157, Jeremy Reitz (Sr. 19-12; Brookville) at 165, Aaron Wright (Jr. 14-11; Coudersport) or Marcus Surin (So. 2-4; Spring Valley, N.Y.) at 174, Kyle Cathcart (Fr. 8-12; Clarion) at 184, Charlie Cilinski (So. 2-14; Gainesville,Va.) at 197 and Matt Wilcox (Fr. 6-9; Guys Mills, Pa.) at heavyweight.

Pitt, led by head coach Rande Stottlemyer who has a 25-year dual record of 213-180-10 with the Panthers, has led his team to a 6-5 dual meet mark and a 3-1 EWL slate this season. Key EWL wins include a 26-11 victory over Virginia Tech, a 24-15 win over Cleveland State and a 41-3 win over Bloomsburg. The Panthers lost last Friday at West Virginia 21-13.

The Panther lineup will likely have Drew Headlee (Fr. 14-5; Waynesburg) at 125, Mike Ciotti (So. 3-3; Latrobe) at 133, #17 Ron Tarquinnio (So. 20-9; McDonald/W. Allegheny) at 141, Matt Kocher (Fr. 25-9; State College) at 149, Justin Nestor (So. 23-12; Transfer/Reynolds) at 157, #18 Zach Doll (Jr. 16-5; Quakertown) at 165, Francis Iorfido (So. 21-7, Johnsonburg) at 174, Mike Croyle (Jr. 10-10; N. Huntingdon/Norwin) at 184, Josh Birt (Sr. 16-8; Spokane, Wash.) At 197 and Travis Shirley (Sr. 16-13; W. Middlesex/Kennedy Christian) at heavyweight.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion lost last year’s match 23-16... The Eagles last win against Pitt came in 2001 in a 32-5 victory ... Edgar and Tarquinnio have wrestled several times in the last two years... Edgar won the dual last year 10-6, but Tarquinnio won at EWL’s 7-6 and at the NCAA’s 5-3... This year Tarquinnio owns a 3-2 win at Mat Town... Other matchups from this year - Reitz lost 8-2 to Zach Doll and Wright lost 4-1 to Iorfido also at Mat Town ... Clarion owns a 16-9-2 EWL series advantage against Pitt... Clarion closes the season with three home matches against Virginia Tech (Jan. 14^th 1pm), Cleveland State (J. 15^th - 1pm) and January 19^th - versus Lock Haven at 7:30.