FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 28, 2004

Nine PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) teams and 90 athletes will travel to Edinboro this weekend searching for PSAC "Gold" at the 61st Annual Wrestling Championships.

Action gets underway at 5pm Friday, January 30^th at Edinboro’s McComb Field House. Session two featuring the semifinals and two rounds of consolations are set for Saturday at 11am, with the championship finals and place matches slated for 5pm Saturday night. All Session and Individual Session passes for Adults and Students will be available at the door.

A championship steeped in great tradition, the 61st PSAC Championship will feature the return of 5 individual champions and five runners-up from the 2003 PSAC Championship.

Edinboro, the pre-tournament favorite, won the 2003 title (hosted by Millersville) with 134.5 points, edging Lock Haven who had 127.5. Bloomsburg finished third with 98.5 points and Clarion was fourth with 97.5, while Slippery Rock finished fifth with 83.5. Rounding out the nine teams were sixth place East Stroudsburg with 67.5, seventh place Millersville with 45, eighth place Shippensburg 31.5 and Kutztown ninth with 29.5

Edinboro has won four of the last five PSAC titles including 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 and 1998. Lock Haven won the team crown in 2001. In the 1990's Clarion, Edinboro and Lock Haven won three PSAC titles each, with Bloomsburg getting one. In the history of the PSAC’s Lock Haven leads with 19 team titles, Clarion and Bloomsburg have 13 each, Edinboro 7, East Stroudsburg and Millersville 2 each and Slippery Rock one. West Chester won 3 team crowns but no longer has wrestling.

Kutztown hosted the 2002 PSAC’s and Edinboro won the team title with 147 points, while LH was a close second with 141 and Clarion third at 101.5.

In the 2001 PSAC’s hosted at Clarion’s Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, Lock Haven took the team title scoring 153.5 points, Edinboro was second with 126, Bloomsburg third at 119 and Clarion fourth with 100.5 points.

The 2004 race appears to be Edinboro’s to lose. The Fighting Scots under seventh year head coach Tim Flynn enters the tournament with a 6-3 dual record including wins over Lock Haven (23-12) and Clarion (24-13) only a week ago. The Scots are ranked 23^rd in Division I by the NWCA’s latest poll and 25^th by Intermat.

The most interesting battle at this year’s championship could end up being for second place between Clarion, Lock Haven and surging Bloomsburg.

Bloomsburg, led by second year head coach Dan Wirnsberger, has led the Huskies to a 6-6 dual meet record. The Huskies are riding a four-match win streak including victories over Clarion (23-12), Virginia Tech (22-18), Slippery Rock (33-15) and Millersville (22-15).

Lock Haven, under second year head coach Rocky Bonomo, has a 3-5 dual meet record and includes a PSAC win over Millersville (41-12) and a loss to Edinboro (23-12).

Clarion, under seventh year head coach Ken Nellis, leads the Golden Eagles into the PSAC’s with an 2-6 dual meet record against a quality D-I schedule. 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), while losing a close 19-17 match at Buffalo on January 10^th. Two weeks ago the Eagles lost to Bloomsburg 23-12 and Rider 31-7, and last weekend posted losses to Edinboro (24-13) and West Virginia (25-15). Nellis has a seven year dual meet record of 42-57-2.

Clarion will feature a lineup of Peter Derstine (Sr. 24-7; Coral Springs, Fl.) at 125, Doug Surra (Fr. 8-12; Kersey, Pa.) at 133, Frank Edgar (Jr. 25-4; Toms River, N.J.) at 141, T.J. McCance (Fr. 8-9; Butler) at 149, Chris Horning (So. 15-6; Syracuse, N.Y.) at 157, Jeremy Reitz (Sr. 19-11; Brookville) at 165, Aaron Wright (Jr. 13-10; Coudersport) or Marcus Surin (So. 2-5; Spring Valley, N.Y.) at 174, Kyle Cathcart (Fr. 9-11; Clarion) at 184, Charlie Cilinski (So. 2-10; Gainesville,Va.) at 197 and Matt Wilcox (Fr. 6-8; Guys Mills, Pa.) at heavyweight

Clarion’s core group hoping for high places will be Derstine, Edgar, Horning, Reitz and Wright. Derstine missed last year with an injury and placed 3^rd at PSAC’s in 2002 and 5^th in 2001. Derstine has a career record now of 79-46. Edgar was 5^th at 141 last year and 4^th in 2001 and has pushed his career record to 67-39. Horning, who finished third at 165 last year as a freshman, has a career record of 31-25. Reitz, in his third year as a starter, was runner-up at 157 in 2003 and placed third at PSAC’s in 2002. He has a Clarion career record of 65-42. This will be the first PSAC appearance for Surra, McCance, Cathcart, Cilinski and Wilcox.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion won 3 PSAC titles in the 1990's (1991, 92 & 94), placed 2^nd three times (1990, 95, 96), finished third three times (1997, 98, 99) and fourth in 1993, 2000 and 2001... Clarion posted 31 individual champions in the 1990's, more than any other PSAC team... Of Clarion’s 13 team titles the first came in 1965 under coach Frank Lignelli, then 11 under coach Bob Bubb in 1972, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 81, 83, 86, 91 &92, and one under Jack Davis (1994)... Clarion heavyweight John Testa was voted the "Outstanding Wrestler" of the 2003 PSAC Championship - Testa defeated Lock Haven's Steve Itterly 8-4 in the finals to win his fourth PSAC title... He was only the 12^th wrestler in PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) history to win four individual titles and the first to win four titles at heavyweight... Clarion’s other 4-time PSAC Champions were Wade Schalles (1971-74), Bill Simpson (1971-74), Don Rohn (1973-76) and Jim Beichner (1983-86) ... Clarion’s 3-time PSAC champions include Chuck Coryea, Randy Miller, Ken Nellis, Mike Cole, Kurt Angle, Dan Payne, Sheldon Thomas and Mark Angle... Mark won his third in 2000 and was the PSAC’s "OW" at the 2000 tournament... Clarion wrestlers have won 103 individual PSAC crowns... The 12 wrestlers to win PSAC titles in order of their accomplishment is: LH’s Steve DeAugustino (1947-50), LH Ralph Clark (1957-60), LH Gray Simons (1959-62), LH Fred Powell (1961-64), LH Bill Blacksmith (1963-66), Clarion Wade Schalles (1971-74), Clarion Bill Simpson (1971-74), Clarion Don Rohn (1973-76), Clarion Jim Beichner (1983-86), LH Mike Rogers (1994-97), ED Josh Koscheck (1999-2002), Clarion John Testa (2000-2003).

Here’s a weight by weight look at the PSAC’s (Ranked wrestlers with highest ranking according to either AWN or Intermat - records in parenthesis):

125: The top seed at 125 would appear to go to Clarion’s Peter Derstine (24-7), who was third here two years ago, but missed 2003 with an injury. LH’s Jimmy Collins (12-6) was third here last year, Kutztown’s Vince Rufo (11-6) was 6^th last year. Also expected to challenge will be Bloomsburg’s Brian Sellers (9-15), Shipp’s Jamie Thomas (7-2), and Edinboro’s Chris Pruden (7-11).

133: Edinboro’s Jacob Gray (22-7), who won at 125 a year ago, is moving up to 133 and will be the top seed. Battling to get to the finals will be Bloomsburg’s Bryan Hart (13-8). Others looking to place include Dan Roberts (6-13) of Millersville who was 5^th last year, Dan Gonzalez (7-8) of East Stroudsburg, Doug Surra (8-12) of Clarion and Dave Predko (5-6) of Lock Haven.

141: Three-time champion Mike Maney has moved to 149. This year’s battle at 141 may be the best weight class at the tournament with #20 ranked Frank Edgar (25-4) of Clarion looking to step up. Edgar was 5^th last year and 4^th in 2001. Millersville’s Derek Sola (19-5) was 4^th last year (5^th in 2002) but defeated Edgar 9-6. Edinboro’s Ron Doppelheuer (20-10) was third at 149 last year and lost to Edgar last week (5-1), while Bloomsburg’s Scott Heckman (21-12) defeated Edgar 16-11 two weeks ago. Lock Haven’s Ian McGoldrick (3-5) will look to place here.

149: LH’s Mike Maney will look to become the 13^th wrestler in PSAC history to win four individual titles (see Clarion Notes for PSAC list of first 12 to win four PSAC Crowns) - and will be the favorite to accomplish that milestone this weekend. #7 ranked Maney (23-3) won his first three titles at 141. His top challengers will likely be Edinboro’s Deonte Penn (18-10), Bloom’s Brad Forbes (6-5) who was 2^nd at 149 last year, Kutztown’s Craig Kunsman (14-2) and Shippensburg’s Zack Leathers (7-2). Clarion’s T.J. McCance (8-9) will try and place here.

157: A quality battle is brewing for the title at 157 between Brad Cieleski (17-4) of Slippery Rock, who won last year at 149, Lock Haven’s Charlie Brenneman (23-4) and Clarion’s Chris Horning (15-6). Cieleski also was 2^nd at 149 in 2002, while Brenneman was 5^th last year and Horning 3^rd at 165. Also ready to challenge is East Stroudsburg’s Keith Kleckner (14-11) who was 5^th at 149 last year, along with Edinboro’s Eric Ring (8-9), Kutztown’s Jamie Gill (10-5) and Bloomsburg’s Josh Loew.

165: Edinboro’s #3 ranked Matt R. King (28-1) will be the heavy favorite at 165 to repeat his titles from 2003 and 2002. The battle for high places should be a tough one between Clarion’s Jeremy Reitz (19-11), LH’s Jason Gilligan (7-6), Ship’s Mark Murphy, East Stroudsburg’s Keith Smith, Bloomsburg’s Ryan Garner (10-11) and Millersville’s Craig Pequignot (12-6). Reitz was second at 157 last year and third at 165 in 2002. Gilligan meanwhile lost to King 7-2 in the finals last year and was 3^rd at 157 in 2001. Pequignot was 4^th at 157 last year. Murphy meanwhile is ranked #7 in D-II.

174: Last year’s runner-up, Nate Yetzer (25-3) of Edinboro, is the favorite to win here. Yetzer is ranked #7 in the nation. Clarion’s Aaron Wright (13-10), East Stroudsburg’s John Carr (13-7), SR’s Charles Pienaar (12-5) and Millersville’s Curtis Yeager (14-4) are ready to battle to get to Yetzer. Carr was third last year and Yeager 6^th the last two years. Bloom’s #18 ranked Justin Johnson is injured and likely not ready to wrestle here. Bloom will likely enter Jim Bertulis (8-10).

184: Edinboro’s #17 rated Alex Clemsen (14-2) is the defending champion and expected to repeat his title. East Stroudsburg’s Brandon Mihalko, who was 2^nd at 165 in 2002 could get to the finals, as could Shipp’s Corey Jacoby (12-3) who was 3^rd last year, LH’s Mike Greenberg (10-10), who was 5^th last year and Bloom’s Nate Shirk (15-10). Also ready are Mike Knock (8-5) of Millersville and Clarion’s Kyle Cathcart (9-11).

197: This weight class is wide open, with Edinboro’s Dave Shunamon and Clarion’s Eric Mausser having graduated after waging fierce battles here the last three years. Bloomsburg’s Ryan Chaluda (13-11) could be the top seed along with Kutztown’s Brent Wade (14-5), Mike LaBella (11-10) of Edinboro and Jared Dubbs (6-4) of Shippensburg. Anyone could jump up here and stake a claim for the title. Clarion will likely have Charlie Cilinski (2-10) looking for a place.

HWT: Graduated from this weight class is 4-time champion and last year’s "OW" John Testa (Clarion). Ready to jump up and try and win the title are #20 rated Joe Hennis (19-9) of Edinboro, Lock Haven’s Steve Itterly (8-9), East Stroudsburg’s Stan Foster (16-7) Millersville’s Mike Davidowich (11-7) and Kutztown’s Andy Freas (13-7). Hennis was 5^th last year, while Itterly was second, losing to Testa in the finals by an 8-4 score. Hennis defeated Itterly 6-2 in the dual last week. Clarion’s Matt Wilcox (6-8) could place here, but he hs missed the last two weeks with a foot injury.