First year head coach Troy Letters is preparing the golden Eagles for another tough NCAA Division I wrestling season.

            Letters, who was an assistant a year ago, promised a strong wrestling schedule for Golden Eagle wrestling fans when he came to Clarion. That promise continues to be kept.

            The Golden Eagles open a challenging season in 2012-13 on Sunday, November 11 at #28 ranked Rutgers with the match starting at 1pm. The season will feature 13 dual meet dates, 8 home dual meets, 7 top 30 ranked teams and include the Midlands, PSAC's and EWL tournaments.

            “We're excited to travel to #28 Rutgers and open the season,” said Letters. “We promised our wrestlers and fans quality wrestling and this is what it will take to restore Clarion to its rightful place in Division I wrestling. We will be young in spots this year, and will certainly need to stay away from injuries – but if we can stay healthy – we will have a very exciting, competitive team.”

            Clarion returns two NCAA Division I Qualifiers, 6 starters and 8 letterwinners on a very young team in 2012-13. Ready to lead the Golden Eagles are seniors James Fleming (West Mifflin) and Steven Cressley (Punxsutawney).

            Fleming, a 2012 NCAA Division I All-American by virtue of his 5^th place finish at nationals at 157-pounds, is ranked #4 in the nation in the pre-season by AWN and Intermat. In 2012 he posted a 33-4 season record, placed 3^rd at Midlands and won his second EWL title, placed second at PSAC's and posted 11 pins and 4 technical falls. A three-time NCAA Qualifier, James was 31-4 in 2011 and 1-2 at nationals. He was EWL and PSAC individual champion, EWL “Co-OW”, and placed 4^th at Midlands. He had 11 pins and 5 tech. falls. In 2010 he posted a 28-8 record at 149-pounds, was 2^nd at EWL's, 4^th at PSAC's, PSAC “Freshman of the Year” and was an NCAA Qualifier with an 0-2 record. He has a career record of 92-16 entering this season with 28 falls and 15 tech. falls.

            Cressley, a 2012 NCAA National Qualifier at 184-pounds, was 17-16 overall and qualified for nationals with a third place finish at EWL's. He was also second at PSAC's. Steve was 12-22 in 2011 mostly at 184-pounds, placing third at PSAC's. He was 5^th at EWL's at 174. In 2010 he was 17-23 overall placing fourth at EWL's and sixth at PSAC's. He enters the season with a career record of 46-61.

            Letterwinners returning from 2012 include Trey Hicks (Sr. Amityville, Pa.) at 125, Joe Waltko (Sr. Allison Park/North Allegheny) at 133, Tyler Bedelyon (Jr. Lewistown/Indian Valley) and Devin Cook (Jr. Bedford) at 149, Nick Milano (Jr. Erie/Cathedral Prep) at 165 and Ryan Darch (So. Batavia, N.Y.) at 174.

            Hicks, who has started for the Golden Eagles for three years, is hoping for his best season at 125. He was 7-18 last year, along with a 2-19 record in 2011 and a 9-13 mark in 2010. He was 5^th at PSAC's in 2010.

            Waltko, a talented returning veteran, was 17-16 at 133-pounds last year while placing 5^th at EWL's and third at PSAC's. He was 18-4 in 2011 and 2^nd at PSAC's, while going 15-16 in 2010 notching a 5^th place ending at EWL's. He has a career record of 50-36.

            Bedelyon had an impressive 18-17 overall record in 2012 at 141-pounds. He had several wins over ranked wrestlers, posted 8 falls and finished 4^th at EWL's and 2^nd at PSAC's. He was 15-11 at 141-pounds in 2010 while red-shirting 2011.

            Cook, who also wrestled at 141 last year, was 5-6 in limited action. He was 8-13 in 2011 while finishing 5^th at EWL's at 133-pounds.

            Milano, who wrestled early at 184, then moved to 174, had a season record of 8-15. He notched a 12-19 record at 165 in 2010 finishing 4^th at EWL's, and medical red-shirted the 2011 season.

            Darch finished the 2012 season with a record of 8-12 at 174-pounds and placed fourth at PSAC's.

            Also looking to supply strength to the lineup this year will be Tyler Fraley (Fr. Freehold, N.J.) at 125, John Pezze (R-Fr. North Huntingdon/Norwin) at 133, Sam Sherlock (So. West Mifflin) and John Matacic (R-Fr. North Jackson, Oh./Jackson-Milton) at 141, Justin Ortega (Sr. Oxford) at 197 and either Brandon Contreras (Jr. Rochester, N.Y.) or Phil Catrucco (Sr. Sharpsville) at 285.

            Fraley, who had a high school record of 154-17, was a New Jersey State finalist, placed second at Prep Nationals and was a 3-time Fargo National champion. Fraley is expected to battle to start at 125 immediately.

            Pezze, from Norwin high School, had a career record of 124-24. He was 8^th at the PIAA's his senior year as well as a 2-time WPIAL runner-up. He will challenge for time at 133.

            Sherlock transferred to Clarion from Penn State and has three years of eligibility. He was 3-3 a year ago at PSU, with a 1-1 mark in dual meet action. He red-shirted the 2011 season. A PIAA State champ at 125-pounds his junior year, he was injured as a senior and did not get to the PIAA's. He was 4^th at PIAA's as a sophomore and finished with a career record of 115-12.

            Matacic posted a career record of 151-27 at Jackson-Milton High in Ohio – and was a two-time Ohio State Champion at 130-pounds and a three-time placewinner. Matacic red-shirted last year and is expected to challenge Sherlock for the 141-pound starting spot this season.

            Justin Ortega is a transfer from Penn State, brought in to fill the void left by Alex Thomas who decided not to wrestle this season. Ortega is a strong, physical wrestler who was 19-7 a year ago at PSU. He is from Oxford High and was 89-12 in his career and a PIAA Qualifier.

            Contreras was the backup at heavyweight to Quintas McCorkle a year ago, and his hoping to start this season. He was 4-13 in 2012, but Letters feels he has solid potential at heavyweight. From Penfield High in New York, he was 53-3 his senior year and placed third at New York States.

            Catrucco, who was 2-5 as a freshman in 2010, sat out the last two seasons but is returning to battle for a spot. He was 41-1 his senior year at Sharpsville and was second in the State . He had a career record of 118-26.
 
#28 RANKED RUTGERS

            Led by fifth year head coach Scott Goodale,  the Scarlet Knight enter 2012-13 ranked #28 in the NWCA Pre-Season Poll, coming off a season where they posted a 13-8 dual meet record, finished 7^th at the EIWA championships and qualified five wrestlers to nationals.

            The starting lineup for Rutgers will have Sean McCabe or Joe Langell at 125, Maverick Passaro or Vicne Dellefave at 133, Trevor Melde at 141, #20 ranked Mario Mason at 149, #9 rated Scott Winston at 157, Nick Visicaro at 165, #12 ranked Greg Zanetto at 174, #13 Dan Rinaldi at 184, Dan Seidenberg at 197 and Billy Smith at 285.

            CLARION NOTES: Clarion hosts Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 18 at Tippin Gym at 2pm in the home opener … Other home duals include Pitt on Dec. 21, Michigan State an dNorth Carolina on Jan. 12; Bloomsburg Feb. 3; Bucknell Feb. 16; Lehigh Feb. 16 and West Virginia Feb. 24… Clarion will travel to the PSAC's at Kutztown on December 8 – and travel to Edinboro on Mar. 9