College Wrestling

EASTERN MICHIGAN 20 CLARION 15

            (CLARION, PA.): Eastern Michigan rallied from an early 12-0 deficit and defeated Clarion Friday night at W. S. Tippin Gym by a 20-15 final score in NCAA Division I college wrestling.

            Clarion dropped to 7-11 on the season, while Eastern Michigan raised its record to 5-6.

            Clarion opened with a 12-0 lead when Patrick Feeley received a forfeit at 125, and teammates Sal Lascari and Greg Lewis scored consecutive wins at 133 and 141-pounds respectively.

            Lascari notched a 9-3 decision over Chris Jenkins at 133, and Lewis came back with a 9-2 win over Zack Donofrio at 141. Lewis used a 5-point move in the first period to take a big lead and never looked back.

            Eastern Michigan started its comeback at 149 when Jermain Thompson edged Hadley Harrison by a 5-4 score. Thompson was ahead 5-3 early in the third period when Harrison was awarded a point on an unsportsmanlike conduct call against Thompson making it 5-4. But Harrison could get no closer and Thompson won a grueling match.

            After EMU’s Cory Mancuso won a 13-3 major decision over Lucas Christopher, Golden Eagle freshman Mario Morelli went against EMU talented senior Nick Conklin. The bout was 3-2 in favor of Conklin well into the third period when Conklin was able to reverse Morelli tohis back for a 5-point move and go on to win 8-3.

            Clarion had its chances at 174 and 184, but both matches went EMu’s way. At 174 Clarion’s Dominic Ross was tied in the third period with Josh Lewis, but had 1:03 in riding time on the board which could have been the winning point. With about 50seconds left however Lewis secured a big takedown and erased the riding point. Ross escaped to make it 5-4 and nearly had a takedown to win in the final seconds but ended up losing 5-4.

            At 184 Clarion’s Scott Joseph led John McClure 2-1 late in the third when McClure was awarded a tying stall point with two seconds remaining in regulation. In the overtime Joseph back tripped McClure nearly to his back, but McClure countered and won 4-2 with a takedown with 30 seconds left in overtime. McClure’s win gave EMU a 16-12 lead and the Eagles never looked back.

            Clarion’s A.J. Brooks won the final bout at heavyweight with a 4-2 victory over Charlie Walker.

            Clarion will travel to Cleveland State on Sunday for a 2pm match at Woodling Gym.

125- Patrick Feeley (CL) forfeit

133- Sal Lascari (CL) dec. Chris Jenkins (EM) 9-3

141- Greg Lewis (CL) dec. Zach Donofrio (EM) 9-2

149- Jermain Thompson (EM) dec. Hadley Harrison (CL) 5-4

157- Cory Mancuso (EM) maj. dec. Lucas Christopher (CL) 13-3

165- Nick Conklin (EM) dec. Mario Morelli (CL) 8-3

174- Josh Lewis (EM) dec. Dominic Ross (CL) 5-4

184- John McClure (EM) dec. Scott Joseph (CL) 4-2 ot

197- Tony Lyssiotis (EM) maj.dec. Dixon Jordan (CL) 10-2

HWT- AJ Brooks (CL) dec. Charlie Walker (EM) 4-2

Ref: John Mulgrave

Clarion: 7-11

EMU: 5-6