Nov. 21, 2008
(Clarion, Pa.): A special Veterans Night Crowd of 1,500 saw Clarion open its NCAA Division I Wrestling season tonight with a 21-12 win over Eastern Michigan.
Clarion won 7 of the 10 bouts wrestled on Friday night at Waldo S. Tippin Gym, a night dedicated to the men and women in the Armed Forces of the USA, who were honored in pre-match ceremonies.
"What a great night at Tippin Gym," said Clarion third year head coach Teague Moore after the match. "The win was very satisfying, but it paled in comparison to honoring our service men and women in the pre-match. I had a lump in my throat. Honoring them was very special to all of us here at Clarion University and especially for all of us in the Clarion wrestling family."
Eastern Michigan led 9-3 when Corey Phillips defeated Clarion senior Sal Lascari 8-4 at 141, but the Golden Eagles rallied to win six straight bouts and take home the victory.
Greg Lewis (Jr. New Providence) started the rally with a 6-5 come-from-behind win over J.J. Johnson at 149. He hit a standing cradle for four points in the third period to get a 6-4 lead and won the bout 6-5.
Junior captain Hadley Harrison (McKean) kept the momentum going with an exciting 4-2 win over Nick Hendrick. Ahead 1-0 late n the third, Hendrick scored a takedown with about 20-seconds left n the match. Harrison escaped to tie the match and scored his match winning takedown on the edge with 5 seconds remaining.
Dominic Ross (Sr. Sharon) gave the Eagles a 12-9 team lead, a lead they'd never relinquish, at 165-pounds when he decisioned Justin Brandel 13-6. Ross had two first period takedowns, and took Brandel to his back for another four points in the second. Another takedown and riding time made him a 13-6 winner.
Clarion's Scott Joseph (Jr. Export) scored a late third period takedown and held on to win a 3-2 decision over Tommy St. Louis at 174, then Eagle freshman Clint Podish (Syacamore/Waynesburg Central) brought the crowd to its feet with a 5-2 win over Derek Foore.
Tied 2-2, Podish rode Foore the entire second period, then escaped to start the third period to lead 3-2. With 15-seconds left in the match, Foore looked like he might have a takedown on the edge, but a nice counter by Podish gave him a takedown with 5-seconds left and a 5-2 win.
Jamie Luckett (Sr. St. Charles, Mo.) finished the six match run by Clarion with a 5-2 win during the tie-breaker over John McClure. Tied 1-1 in the tie breaker, McClure registered an escape after choosing down. Luckett chose down, escaped, and locked up a cradle for a takedown before the horn sounded.
Clarion freshman Quintas McCorkle (Alexandria, Va.) lost a 2-1 decision to EMU's Dave Wade at heavyweight.
The night started strong for Clarion as freshman Jay Ivanco (So. Monroeville) decisioned Jordan McGuire 8-3 at 125-pounds.
EMU's Chris Jenkins caught Cameron Moran (James City/Kane) in the first period and pinned the Eagle freshman at 1:47.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion travels to Binghamton, N.Y. Sunday for the Sprawl and Brawl Duals ... Clarion takes on Rugters at 11:30am, Boise State at 1:15 and Columbia at 4:30pm...
125- Jay Ivanco (CL) dec. Jordan McGuire (EM) 8-3
133- Chris Jenkins (EM) pinned Cameron Moran (CL) 1:47
141- Corey Phillips (EM) dec. Sal Lascari (CL) 8-4
149- Greg Lewis (CL) dec. J.J. Johnson (EM) 6-5
157- Hadley Harrison (CL) dec. Nick Hendrick (EM) 4-2
165- Dominic Ross (CL) dec. Justin Brandel (EM) 13-6
!74- Scott Joseph (CL) dec. Tommy St. Louis (EM) 3-2
184- Clint Podish (CL) dec. Derek Foore (EM) 5-2
197- Jamie Luckett (CL) dec. John McClure (EM) 5-2tb
Hwt- David Wade (EM) dec. Quintas McCorkle (CL) 2-1
FINAL SCORE: Clarion 21 Eastern Michigan 12
Clarion: 1-0
EMU: 0-1
