HARRISON & MORELLI LEAD CLARION AT PSU OPEN
(University Park, Pa.): Clarion sent 13 wrestlers to the Penn State Open Wrestling tournament on Sunday at Rec Hall, a Tournament that attracted over 600 of the top wrestlers in the country.
Clarion freshmen Hadley Harrison (McKean/General McLane) at 149 and Mario Morelli (DuBois) at 165 posted winning records at their weight classes.
Harrison was 4-2 at 149 and was only 1 win away from placing, while Morelli was 3-2 overall at 165. Harrison opened with a fall over Brandon Baldini of Duquesne, lost a 7-4 match to John Cox (Navy), before dropping into the wrestle backs and winning three straight over Nate Patterson (Binghamton) 5-2, Grant Paswall (UNA) by fall at 2:59 and Dan Harrington (LHU Club) 3-1. He lost his next match to Mike Roberts (Boston U) 13-6.
Morelli was 3-2 at 165 having defeated LH’s Andy Martin 8-0 in his opener, then lost to Marcus Effner (Cleve. St.) 3-2. In the wrestle backs he defeated Bill Morosetti (unattached) 6-3, Mark Friend (Penn St.) forfeit before being pinned by Josh Evans (Millersville) at 2:55.
Also having solid performances were Sal Lascari (So. Gray) 2-2 at 141; Dominic Ross (So. Sharon) 2-2 at 165; and Scott Joseph (Fr. Export/Kiski) who was 2-2 at 174. Also competing were Toby Seger and Brett Skonieczny who were 0-2 at 125, Tyler Leljedal 0-2 at 133; Doug O’Meara (0-1) at 141; Lucas Christopher and Dane Fuhrman 0-1 at 157, and Dixon Jordan (1-2) at 197.
Wrestling unattached sophomore Rob LaBrake was 2-2 at 133.
Regulars not wrestling at Penn State included Greg Lewis (141), Nick Billups (157), Brian Thomason (165), Nick Weaver (184), Jake Kurant (197) and A.J. Brooks at heavyweight.
The Golden Eagles under first year head coach Teague Moore return to the mats on Sunday, December 10 when Clarion wrestles at Duquesne. Clarion will wrestle Americal International at noon, then Duquesne at 3pm.