CLARION DUALS OPEN WRESTLING HOME SEASON SUNDAY

            The 2007 Clarion University Wrestling team opens its home season on Sunday, December 17th as the Golden Eagles host the Clarion Duals.

            Six teams will be participating in the duals including Pitt-Johnstown, Drexel, East Stroudsburg, Lock Haven, Kent State and the Golden Eagles. Three duals meets will be wrestled simultaneously with the opening whistle set for 11am. Sunday’s first round shows Clarion squaring off against East Stroudsburg, with Drexel battling Lock Haven and Kent State taking on Pitt-Johnstown.

            The Golden Eagles will wrestle Drexel in the second round and Pitt-Johnstown in the third round. As soon as the first round has been totally completed, the second round will begin, with the same expected for the start of round three.

            Clarion enters the “Duals” with a 3-2 overall record under first year head coach Teague Moore. The season opened at the PA. State Duals at Lock Haven where the Eagles were 1-2 with a 47-0 loss to Penn State, a 32-18 loss to Lock Haven and a 23-22 win over Millersville. Last Sunday Clarion defeated Duquesne 21-18 and American International 36-6.

            “I am proud of the work ethic and character the team has shown thus far,” said coach Moore. “We hope to gain confidence as we go through the season maturing each match and learning from our experiences. We know we have a way to go, but we will face each challenge head on knowing that the goal is to be at our best in March.”

            Clarion will be led on Sunday by sophomores Greg Lewis (141- New Providence), A.J. Brooks (hwt.- Lewes, De.) and Sal Lascari (133- Gray), along with freshman Hadley Harrison (149- McKean).

            Lewis, a sophomore, is 3-2 in duals this season and put together an overall record last year of 14-13 including a 6^th place finish at EWL’s.

            Brooks, who is 4-1 in duals this season, was 14-18 as s true freshman last year and placed 4^th at EWL’s and PSAC’s. Brooks seems to have picked up where he left off a year ago when he won 11 of his final 17 bouts.

            Lascari, who is 1-1 in duals this season, transferred to Clarion from Slippery Rock where he was14-14 overall in 2006. He is a tri-captain for the Golden Eagles.

            Harrison, a promising freshman, was 2-0 at Duquesne last Sunday in impressive fashion. He placed 5^th at the PIAA’s last year representing General McLane High and was 41-4.

            Also expecting to hit the mats for the Golden Eagles his weekend will be either Toby Seger ((Jr. Glenshaw) or Patrick Feeley (Fr. Johnston, R.I.) at 125, Nick Billups (So. Princeton, Iowa) or Lucas Christopher (So. McMurray) at 157, Mario Morelli (Fr. DuBois), Dominic Ross (So. Sharon) or Brian Thomason (Fr. Wernersville) at 165, Scott Joseph (Fr. Export) at 174, A.J. Graves (Fr. Jeannette) at 184 and Dixon Jordan (Fr. Cheverly, Md.) at 197.

            Clarion will square off against East Stroudsburg at 11am, who is led this season by first year head coach Jason Kutz. The Warriors are 0-2 in duals to start the season including a 30-13 loss to Drexel and a 24-12 loss to Army. Top wrestlers include Sean Carr (7-2) at 141, Nate Nauroth (5-2) at 149, Shane Mallory (6-2) at 174 and Dave Sullivan (5-1) at 184.

            The Eagles will face a veteran Drexel team in its second match, led by head coach Jack Childs who is in his 31^st season with the Dragons. Drexel enters Sunday with a 4-2 dual meet record including wins over Bucknell (26-10), James Madison (37-3), East Stroudsburg (30-13) and Binghamton (30-15). Losses have come against Maryland (22-12) and Lehigh (30-10). Top wrestlers include Steve Mytych (10-1) at 125, Ryan Hluschak (9-0) at 157, Nick Kozar (8-3) at 174 and Jon Oplinger (8-4) at 197.

            Pitt Johnstown, who is led by head coach Pat Pecora, enters Tippin Gym with a 3-2 dual meet record against some outstanding competition. The Mountain Cats defeated West Liberty 37-0, York College (39-3) and Shippensburg (22-12), while losing to Lehigh (21-11) and Penn State (29-6). Pecora, in his 31^st season leading UPJ, features Brandon Reasy (133),  Joe Strittmatter (157), Albert Miles (165), Eli Garshnick (174), Mike Corcetti (184) and Mike Fowler (197), all of whon have wrestled at the D-II nationals. Reasy, Miles, Garshnick and Corcetti are D-II All-Americans.

            CLARION NOTES: Lock Haven comes to the duals with a 2-2 record this season under head coach Rocky Bonomo… LH defeated York College (27-10) and Clarion (32-18), while losing to Lehigh (33-9) and Edinboro (45-0)… Kent State is coached by Jim Andrassy… The Golden Flashes have wrestled only tournament action to date placing 24^th at the Las Vegas (Cliff Keen) invitational ans second to Oklahoma at the Oklahoma Invitational to open the season… Clarion is heading to the Reno Tournament to compete Wednesday Dec. 20^th before taking a holiday break… the next action is on the road at Buffalo Jan. 4^th… Next home match is against WVU on Jan. 21^st at 2pm.