#13 PITT RALLIES PAST CLARION WRESTLERS 26-15
 
                (CLARION, PA):  Clarion won four of the first five matches, with wins by Tyler Fraley, John Matacic, Tyler Bedelyon and James Fleming to take a 15-3 lead, but #13 ranked Pitt rallied for five straight wins to defeat the Golden Eagles 26-15 on Friday night at Waldo S. Tipping Gymnasium.
               
                Clarion's record dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the EWL, while Pitt is now 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the EWL.
 
                The Golden Eagles took a 3-0 lead when Tyler Fraley won a 6-0 decision over Godwin Nyama at 125.
 
                Pitt rallied to tie the match 3-3 when #11 Shelton Mack posted a hard-fought 8-5 decision over Joe Waltko at 133.
 
                Clarion roared back with three impressive wins starting at 141 when John Matacic decisioned Corey Bush 11-4 at 141. Matacic had three takedowns and two reversals to pace his win.
 
                Then Tyler Bedelyon brought the Eagle crowd to its feet with a cradle and pin of Pitt' Ronnie Garbinsky at 149 to push the Eagles to a 12-3 lead.
 
                Clarion's #3 ranked James Fleming had a tough match with Pitt's Donnie Tasser. No score entering the third period, even though there were several excellent flurries in the first two periods. Fleming chose top and turned Tasser for a three point nearfall, and rode him the rest of the period for a 4-0 win. Fleming pushed his season record to 17-1 and his career record to 109-17. Clarion led 15-3.
 
                Pitt started its rally when #10 rated Tyler Wilps notched a 12-4 major decision over Nick Milano at 165, followed by Nick Bonaccorsi's 13-4 major over Ryan Darch, bringing Pitt to within 15-11.
 
                The Panthers took their first lead of the night when P.J. Tasser pinned Clarion's Steven Cressley at 1:53 at 184-pounds, giving Pitt a 17-15 advantage.
 
                Another exciting bout at 197 saw Clarion's Justin Ortega come up short in his upset bid against #2 rated Matt Wilps, losing by a 4-3 final score. Ortega opened the scoring in the second period to led 1-0, then scored a takedown with about 35-seconds left in the second period for a 3-0 lead. Wilps escaped in the second, and to start the third to make it 3-2. With about 35-seconds left in the bout, and both wrestlers on the edge and in the same position for about 15 seconds, Wilps was awarded a takedown and won 4-3.
 
                Pitt's #7 ranked Zac Thomusseit pinned Phil Catrucco at heavyweight to give Pitt its 26-15 victory.
 
                Clarion will be wrestling at Midlands Dec. 29-30, then return home to host North Carolina at 2pm and Michigan State at 4pm on January 12.
 
#13 PITT 26 CLARION 15
125- Tyler Fraley (CL) dec. Godwin Nyama (P) 6-0
133- #11 Shelton Mack (P) dec. Joe Waltko (CL) 8-5
141- John Matacic (CL) dec. Corey Bush (P) 11-3
149- Tyler Bedelyon (CL) wbf Ronnie Garbinsky (P) 5:26
157- #3 James Fleming (CL) dec. Donnie Tasser (P) 4-0
165- #10 Tyler Wilps (P) maj. dec. Nick Milano (CL) 12-4
174- Nick Bonaccorsi (P) maj. dec. Ryan Darch (CL) 13-4
184- P.J. Tasser (P) wbf Steven Cressley (CL) 1:53
197- #2 Matt Wilps (P) dec. Justin Ortega (CL) 4-3
285- #7 Zac Thomusseit (P) wbf Phil Catrucco (P) 6:40
FINAL SCORE: #13 Pitt 26 Clarion 15
CLARION: 1-4; 0-2 EWL
PITT: 4-2; 2-0 EWL