A.J. BROOKS 4TH AT HEAVYWEIGHT
CLARION PLACES 7TH AT EWL’S
(EDINBORO, PA): Edinboro, led by “OW” Shawn Bunch at 133, won its eighth EWL (Eastern Wrestling League) team championship in the last nine years as the Fighting Scots scored 120.5 points, besting West Virginia who was second with 110.5points. Pittsburgh ended third with 97 points, Bloomsburg fourth at 94.5, Cleveland State fifth with 82, Lock Haven sixth with 70.5 points and Clarion seventh with 29.5 points.
Bunch, a 4-time EWL champion, defeated Pitt’s Mike Ciotti 10-3 in the finals at 133. He was the only the fifth EWL wrestler to win 4 individual titles. Clarion’s Kurt Angle (1988, 90-92), West Virginia’s Greg Jones (2002-05) and Vertus Jones (1997-2000) and Bloomsburg’s Don Reese (1979-82) were the other 4-time winners.
Clarion finished with 5 placewinners over the weekend.
The top Golden Eagle finisher was freshman heavyweight A.J. Brooks who was fourth. Brooks who was 2-2, lost his third place match to Edinboro’s Jeremy Mosley 5-3. He reached the consolation finals with a 3-2 win over West Virginia’s Matt Holsopple 3-2. Brooks opened EWL’s with a 3-2 win over Pitt’s Lou Thomas, but was pinned in the semifinals by Bloomsburg’s Mike Spaid at 1:42. Brooks finished 14-16 overall, but was 11-6 in his last 17 matches.
Also finishing sixth for the Golden Eagles were freshman Rob LaBrake at 133, freshman Greg Lewis at 141, freshman Logan Downes at 197 and junior Dave Gardner at 174.
LaBrake was 1-3 at EWL’s. After losing a tech. fall to#1 ranked Shawn Bunch (E) 22-6, he pinned Lock Haven’s Casey Moore at 4:44. He lost 10-5 to WVU’s Seth Lisa and 3-1 tie breaker to Rick Donald of Bloomsburg. LaBrake finished his season with a 10-21 record.
Lewis was 0-3 at 141-pounds in placing sixth. He opened with a 7-5 loss to Brad Forbes (Bloomsburg), received a bye, lost 11-3 to Edinboro’s Rick McLaughlin then lost his fifth place match to Forbes again 3-1. Lewis finished his season 14-13 overall.
Downes, who wrestled all season at 165, moved up to 197 to cover the weight class and went 1-3 in finishing sixth. After an 8-1 loss to Tom Kocher (LH), he decisioned Ismal Williams (Cleveland State) 6-3. He lost a 5-2 decision to Jesse Hasseman (Bloomsburg) then lost his fifth place match to Kocher again 9-0. Downes finished the season with a 6-23 record.
Gardner posted a 1-3 record at 174 in finishing sixth. He lost 9-3 to LH’s Carlos Ponce, then bounced back with a 16-0 tech fall win over Anthony Mestek of Cleveland State. He was pinned by Jim Bertulis of Bloomsburg at 2:46, then lost again to Ponce 13-5. Gardner finished the season with a 15-17 record and now has a career mark of 33-57.
Also wrestling for the Golden Eagles at EWL’s were Derrick Smith (141), Lucas Christopher (157), Chris Goings (165) and Dominic Ross (184).
Smith was 0-2 and finished the year at 2-15. Christopher was 0-2 and ended 6-18, while Chris Goings was 0-2 at 165 and 0-5 on the season.
Ross also was 0-2 and ended his season 2-21.
For Clarion head coach Ken Nellis it ends his head coaching tenure after nine seasons and a total of 21 years of wrestling with his alma mater. He was a wrestler at Clarion from 1981-86, an assistant coach from 1991-97 and head coach from 1998-2006. Nellis announced his resignation nearly two weeks ago.
CLARION NOTES: 35 wrestlers from the EWL qualified for the NCAA D-I Nationals including the top 3 placewinners, plus 5 wild card selections … The NCAA’s are March 16-18 in Oklahoma City … Clarion did not have an NCAA Qualifier this year… It is the first time that Clarion has not qualified a wrestler for nationals since 1967 … Clarion has posted 51 career EWL champions but none in 2006… It is only the fourth time since the EWL started in 1976 that Clarion did not have a champion… The other years were 1983, 89 and 2000. .. WVU had 4 EWL champions, Edinboro 2, Lock Haven, Bloomsburg, Pitt and Cleveland State one each … Cleveland State will host the 2007 EWL Championships.
31st EWL Championships
March 4-5, 2006
Edinboro, Pa. – McComb Fieldhouse
Team Scoring
1. Edinboro 120.5
2. West Virginia 110.5
3. Pittsburgh 97.0
4. Bloomsburg 94.5
5. Cleveland St. 82.0
6. Lock Haven 70.5
7. Clarion 29.5
OW – Shawn Bunch (Edinboro)
FIRST PLACE
125- Obenson Blanc (LH) dec. Mike Sees (B) 7-3
133- Shawn Bunch (E) dec. Mike Ciotti (P) 10-3
141- Brandon Rader (WV) dec. Ron Tarquinio (P)10-6
149- Gregor Gillespie (E) dec. Josh Medina (LH) 7-3
157- Matt Lebe (WV) dec. Seth Martin (LH) 3-2
165- Justin Nestor (P) dec. Larry Hall (WV) 2-0
174- Kurt Brenner (WV) dec. Eric Ring (E) 5-2
184- Ron Howard (CS) dec. Alex Clemsen (E) 3-2
197- Jared Villers (WV) dec. Joe Fendone (E) 7-1
285- Mike Spaid (B) dec. Rashard Goff (CS) 3-2
THIRD PLACE
125- Brad Gentzle P) dec. Joe Wornoff (CS) 7-6
133- David Armstrong (CS) pinned Seth Lisa (WV) 4:50
141- Mike Hurley (CS) dec. Rick McLaughlin (E) 5-3ot
149- Dave Jauregui (WV) dec. Joey Ecklof (P) 3-2
157- Matt Hill (E) dec. Aric Fuhrman (B) 6-4
165- Deonte Penn (E) pinned Frank Beasley (B) 0:59
174- Jim Bertulis (B) dec. Nick Padezan (P) 10-3
184- Derrick Morgan (LH) dec. Chance Litton (WV) 10-5
197- Matt Heist (P) dec. Jesse Hasseman (B) 3-2tb
285- Jeremy Mosley (E) dec. AJ Brooks (CL) 5-3
FIFTH PLACE
125- Ricky Deubel (E) t. fall Scott Stuart (WV) 16-1; 3:13
133- Rick Donald (B) dec. Rob LaBrake (CL) 3-1tb
141- Brad Forbes (B) dec. Greg Lewis (CL) 3-1
149- Ryan Hurley (CS) dec. George Hickman (B) 11-5
157- Victer Crenshaw (CS) dec. Sean Richmond (P) 9-6
165- Tim Scarl (CS) maj. dec. Rory McCoy (LH) 11-2
174- Carlos Ponce (LH) dec. Dave Gardner (CL) 13-5
184- Nate Shirk (B) dec. Eric Deliere (P) 5-3
197- Tom Kocher (LH) maj. dec. Logan Downes (CL) 9-0
285- Lou Thomas (P) dec. Matt Holsopple (WV) 8-4
Top 3 placewinners automatically qualify for the NCAA Division I Nationals – Plus 5 wild card selections for a total of 35. The five wild cards as selected by the coaches are: 125- Ricky Deubel (E); 141- Brad Forbes (Bloomsburg), 149- Ryan Hurley (Cleve.State), 149- Joey Ecklof (Pitt), 157- Aric Fuhrman (Bloomsburg).
Second Round Consolations
125-pounds
Brad Gentzle (P) dec. Scott Stuart (WV) 8-4
Joe Wornoff (CS) dec. Ricky Deubel (E) 3-1
133-pounds
Seth Lisa (WV) dec. Rob LaBrake (CL) 10-5
David Armstrong (CS) dec. Rick Donald (B) 8-4
141-pounds
Rick McLaughlin (E) maj. dec. Greg Lewis (CL) 11-3
Mike Hurley (CS) dec. Brad Forbes (B) 3-2
149-pounds
Dave Jauregui (WV) dec. Ryan Hurley (CS) 7-5tb
Joey Ecklof (P) dec George Hickman (B) 3-2
157-pounds
Matt Hill (E) pinned Victer Crenshaw (CS) 2:08
Aric Furhman (B) dec. Sean Richmond (P) 2-0
165-pounds
Frank Beasley (B) maj. dec. Rory McCoy (LH) 12-2
Deonte Penn (E) maj. dec. Tim Scarl (CS) 8-0
174-pounds
Jim Bertulis (B) pinned Dave Gardner (CL) 2:46
Nick Padezan (P) dec. Carlos Ponce (LH) 2-0
184-pounds
Derrick Morgan (LH) dec. Nate Shirk (B) 2-0
Chance Litton (WV) dec. Eric Deliere (P) 3-0
197-pounds
Mike Heist (P) dec. Tom Kocher (LH) 5-3
Jesse Hasseman (B) dec. Logan Downes (CL) 5-2
285-pounds
Jeremy Mosley (E) dec. Lou Thomas (P) 5-2
AJ Brooks (CL) dec. Matt Holsopple (WV) 3-2
Semifinals
125-pounds
Mike Sees (B) pinned Joe Wornoff (CS) 3:37
Obenson Blanc (LH) dec. Brad Gentzle (P) 13-6
133-pounds
Shawn Bunch (E) maj. dec. Rick Donald (B) 12-3
Mike Ciotti (P) dec. Seth Lisa (WV) 8-1
141- pounds
Brandon Rader (WV) dec. Rick McLaughlin (E) 10-5
Ron Tarquinio (P) maj. dec. Brad Forbes (B) 13-0
149-pounds
Gregor Gillespie (E) dec. Joey Eckloff (P) 6-0
Josh Medina (LH) dec. Dave Jauregui (WV) 13-6
157-pounds
Matt Lebe (WV) dec. Aric Fuhrman (B) 8-6ot
Seth Martin (LH) dec. Matt Hll (E) 6-0
165-pounds
Larry Hall (WV) dec. Deonte Penn (E) 10-6
Justin Nestor (P) maj. dec. Rory McCoy (LH) 10-0
174-pounds
Eric Ring (E) dec. Carlos Ponce (LH) 6-2
Kurt Brenner (WV) dec. Jim Bertulis(B) 10-6
184-pounds
Ron Howard (CS) maj. dec. Kyle Deliere (P) 15-3
Alex Clemsen (E) dec. Derrick Morgan (LH) 6-2
197-pounds
Joe Fendone (E) dec. Jesse Hasseman (B) 2-1
Jared Villers (WV) dec. maj. Tom Kocher (LH) 9-0
285-pounds
Mike Spaid (B) pinned A.J. Brooks (CL) 1:42
Rashard Goff (CS) Jeremy Mosely (E)
Quarterfinals
125-pounds
Mike Sees (Bl) bye
Joe Wornoff (CS) maj. Scot Stuart (WV) 12-4
Brad Gentzle (P) dec. Ricky Deubel (E) 6-4
Obenson Blanc (LH) bye
133-pounds
Shawn Bunch (E) t.fall Rob LaBrake (CL) 22-6; 5:58
Rick Donald (B) dec. Casey Moore (LH) 7-2
Seth Lisa (WV) pinned David Armstrong (CS) 4:44
Mike Ciotti (P) bye
141-pounds
Brandon Rader (WV) pinned Brian Ellis (LH) 4:00
Rick McLaughlin (E) dec. Mike Hurley (CS) 6-4 ot
Brad Forbes (B) dec. Greg Lewis (CL) 7-5
Ron Tarquinio (P) bye
149-pounds
Gregor Gillespie (E) bye
Joey Eckloff (P) dec. Ryan Hurley (CS) 3-2
Dave Jauregui (WV) dec. George Hickman (B) 5-3
Josh Medina (LH) maj. dec. Derrick Smith (CL) 12-3
157-pounds
Matt Lebe (WV) bye
Aric Fuhrman (B) maj. dec. Victer Crenshaw (CS) 11-1
Matt Hill (E) maj. dec. Lucas Christopher (CL) 10-2
Seth Martin (LH) maj. dec. Sean Richmond (P)17-3
165-pounds
Deonte Penn (E) bye
Larry Hall (WV) dec. Frank Beasley (B) 6-3
Rory McCoy (LH) dec. Tim Scarl (CS) 8-4
Justin Nestor (P) pinned Chris Goings (CL) 5:53
174-pounds
Eric Ring (E) t. fall Anthony Mestek (CS) 16-0; 5:00
Carlos Ponce (LH) dec. Dave Gardner (CL) 9-3
Jim Bertulis (B) bye
Kurt Brenner (WV) maj. dec. Nick Padezan (P) 11-3
184-pounds
Ron Howard (CS) maj. dec. Dominic Ross (CL) 11-3
Kyle Deliere (P) dec. Nate Shirk (B) 4-3
Derrick Morgan (P) bye
Alex Clemsen (E) dec. Chance Litton (WV) 4-0
197-pounds
Joe Fendone (E) dec. Mike Heist (P) 5-0
Jesse Hasseman (B) bye
Tom Kocher (LH) dec. Logan Downes (CL) 8-1
Jared Villers (WV) t. fall Ismal Williams (CS) 17-2; 5:10
285-pounds
Mike Spaid (B) pinned Tim Meyers (LH) 2:24
AJ Brooks (CL) dec. Lou Thomas (P) 3-2
Jeremy Mosely (E) bye
Rashard Goff (CS) dec. Matt Holsopple (WV) 8-3
Consolation - 1st Round
125 –pounds
no bouts
133-pounds
Rob LaBrake, Clarion Fall Casey Moore, Lock Haven, 3:20
141-pounds
Mike Hurley, Cleveland State Fall Brian Ellis, Lock Haven, 2:41
149-pounds
George Hickman, Bloomsburg Dec Derrick Smith, Clarion, 8-4
157-pounds
Sean Richmond, Pittsburgh Fall Lucas Christopher, Clarion, 3:25
165-pounds
Tim Scarl, Cleveland State M-Dec Chris Goings, Clarion, 12-3
174-pounds
David Gardner, Clarion T-Fall Anthony Mestek, Cleveland State, 16-0 3:22
184-pounds
Nate Shirk, Bloomsburg Dec Dominic Ross, Clarion, 10-4
197-pounds
Logan Downes, Clarion Dec Ismal Williams, Cleveland State, 6-3
285-pounds
Lou Thomas, Pittsburgh Dec Tim Meyers, Lock Haven, 5-4