CLARION OPENS HOME DUAL SEASON SUNDAY VS EASTERN MICHIGAN

            (Clarion, Pa.): First year Clarion head wrestling coach Troy Letters will be seeking his first win as the Golden Eagles mentor when Clarion takes to the mat on Sunday, November 18 to battle Eastern Michigan.

            Match time at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium is set for 2pm. The match can be heard on the radio on C-93 (WCCR-FM, 92.7) in Clarion and on the internet at redzonemedia.com with Rich Herman doing the play by play and Hall of Fame coach Bob Bubb doing the color commentary.

            The Golden Eagles opened the 2012-13 season at #28 ranked Rutgers last Sunday and lost a 26-6 decision to the Scarlet Knights.

            “We are looking forward to wrestling in front of our home crowd,” said Letters.  “EMU has a very tough team and this will be an excellent dual meet for area wrestling fans. We want to make sure we wrestle our style and stay aggressive throughout the seven minutes of each match.”

            Clarion will have a lineup that will feature #4 ranked James Fleming (Sr. West Mifflin) at 157-pounds. He placed fifth at the NCAA D-I Nationals last year and has been a three-time NCAA D-I Qualifier. Last year he was 33-4 overall and is already 6-0 this season.

            The Clarion lineup will likely be – Tyler Fraley (Fr. Freehold, N.J.) at 125, Joe Waltko (Sr. Allison Park)  at 133, Sam Sherlock (So. West Mifflin) or John Matacic (R-Fr. North Jackson, Oh./Jackson-Milton) at 141, Tyler Bedelyon (Jr. Lewistown/Indian Valley) at 149, Fleming at 157, Nick Milano (Jr. Erie/Cathedral Prep) at 165, Ryan Darch (So. Batavia, N.Y.) at 174, Steven Cressley (Sr. Punxsutawney) at 184, Justin Ortega (Sr. Oxford) at 197 and either Brandon Contreras (Jr. Rochester, N.Y.) or Phil Catrucco (Sr. Sharpsville) at 285.

            Eastern Michigan is coached by seventh year mentor Derek Delporto who led the Eagles to a 13-6 record last year. The Eagles are currently 0-1 in dual meets having lost in their home opener to Michigan State on Friday night 25-11.

            Pacing the EMU lineup are #19 ranked Jared Germaine at 125 and #19 rated Aaron Sulzer at 157. Also in the EMU lineup will be Vincent Pizzuto at 133, Nicholas Barber (at 141, Justin Melick at 149, Jacob Dorulla at 165, Jacob Davis at 174, Phillip Joseph at 184, Khodor Hoballah at 197 and Chris Eggert at 285.

            CLARION NOTES: Clarion has a record of 2-5-1 against EMU all-time… clarion lost last year's dual at EMU by a final of 25-12… those results are included below… Clarion lost 33-10 here at Tippin two years ago – but won in 2010 at EMU by a score of 19-13.

Jan. 15, 2012 @ EMU
EASTERN MICHIGAN 25 CLARION 12
125 – Jared Germaine (EM) wbf Trey Hicks (CL) 6:16
133 – Andrew Novak (EM) dec. Joe Waltko (CL) 6-2
141 – Corey Phillips (EM) dec. Tyler Bedelyon (CL) 5-3
149 – Cameron Moran (CL) maj. dec. Jaylyn Bohl (EM) 13-0
157 – James Fleming (CL) maj. dec. Aaron Sulzer (EM) 11-2
165 – Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (CL) maj. dec. Lester France (EM) 17-5
174 – Philip Joseph (EM) maj. dec. 14-4 Nick Milano (CL) 14-4
184 – Khodor Hoballah (EM) dec. Steven Cressley (CL) 6-0
197 – Nick Whitenburg (EM) dec. Alex Thomas 6-3
285 – Wes Schroeder (EM) dec. Quintas McCorkle 4-0