(CLARION, PA.): Clarion's Bekzod Abdurakhmonov posted a fall at 165, and with the match on the line in the final bout, Eagle Joe Waltko won 8-5 at 133-pounds giving Clarion a 22-15 win over visiting Princeton in NCAA Division I wrestling on Friday night.

 

            Held at Waldo S. Tippin gym, Clarion raised its record to 2-0 and Princeton fell to 2-6.

 

            Friday night's match started at 141-pounds and the Eagles got off to a fast start when Cameron Moran notched a 10-2 major decision over Zach Bintliff. Moran led 5-0 in the first on a takedown and three-point near fall, and added an escape in and takedown in the second to lead 8-0. an escape and riding time ended the bout.

 

            Maybe the most exciting match was at 149-pounds as Clarion's Anthony White edged Brandon Rolnick 3-2. Rolnick had a first period takedown, while White escaped in the second to make it 2-1. The score stood at 2-1 with 8 seconds remaining and a re-start, but White shot a double leg takedown and scored with one-second remaining to win.

 

            Clarion's #8 ranked James Fleming was out with an injury at 157, and Princeton's Dan Kolodzik won a technical fall over sub Kyle Braddock to pull the Tigers to within 7-5.

 

            Eagle junior Bekzod Abdurakhmonov at 165 brought the Clarion crowd to its feet when he scored a takedown on a fireman's carry, then rolled Andy Lowy to his back for the fall at 37-seconds of the first period, giving Clarion a 13-8 lead.

 

            The lead evaporated when Scott Joseph lost a 6-2 decision to Ryan Callahan at 174, then Steven Cressley lost a 12-2 major decision to Travis Erdman. Clarion head coach Teague Moore argued a call and had a team point deducted during that bout and the team score was tied 12-12.

 

            Alex Thomas broke the tie for good with a 10-0 major decision over Dan Santoro at 197-pounds. Thomas had a first period takedown and used a crossface cradle for three back points to lead 5-0. A second period takedown, two third period stalling points and riding time accounted for his 10-0 win.

 

            Quintas McCorkle posted an 8-2 win over Charles Fox at heavyweight to give Clarion a 19-12 lead. McCorkle had three takedowns in the match.

 

            Princeton fought back with Garrett Frey defeating Tom Gowing 7-2 at 125. Gowing wrestled a spirited match against the nation's #13 ranked wrestler. Gowing had a third period takedown to narrow the score to 5-2 in the third and was trying for a fall when he gave up a reversal in the final seconds.

 

            With Clarion ahead 19-15 entering 133-pounds, the match was on the line when Joe Waltko battled Adam Krop. Tied 3-3 after the first period, Waltko had a second period escape and a takedown with two-seconds remaining in the second for a 6-3 lead. Krop escaped in the third, Waltko had a late takedown that secured his 8-5 win and put Clarion in the win column 22-15.

 

            CLARION: the Golden Eagles are now 2-0 against Princeton, having defeated the Tigers 38-6 last year… Clarion wrestles at Davidson next Saturday at 8am – then drives over to Chapel Hill to battle North Carolina at 3pm… Sunday the Eagles wrestle at #13 Virginia Tech… Waltko is 18-4, White 14-6, Fleming 19-4, Abdurakhmonov 15-4, Thomas 10-6, McCorkle 14-7.

 

141- Cameron Moran (CL) maj. Dec. Zach Bintliff (P) 10-2

149- Anthony White (CL) dec. Brandon Rolnick (P) 3-2

157- Dan Kolodzik (P) t. fall Kyle Braddock (CL) 17-0, 3:47

165- Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (CL) wbf Andy Lowy (P) 0:37

174- Ryan Callahan (P) dec. Scott Joseph (CL) 6-2

184- Travis Erdman (P) maj. Dec. Steven Cressley (CL) 12-2*

197- Alex Thomas (CL) maj. Dec. Dan Santoro (P) 10-0

285- Quintas McCorkle (CL) dec. Charles Fox (P) 8-2

125- Garrett Frey (P) dec. Tom Gowing (CL) 7-2.

133- Joe Waltko (CL) dec. Adam Krop (P) 8-5

*- Clarion Team Point deducted

Ref: Mike Millward

Clarion: 2-0

Princeton: 2-6