CLARION WRESTLERS DROP 40-3 MATCH TO #15 EDINBORO SUNDAY
 
                (Clarion, Pa.): Clarion freshman Austin Matthews (Greenville/Reynolds) posted a big decision at 157 for the Golden Eagles, but #15 ranked Edinboro proved to powerful as the Fighting Scots defeated Clarion 40-3 on Sunday afternoon in NCAA Division I and EWL wresting.
 
                Held at Clarion's Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, Clarion's record fell to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in the Eastern Wrestling League, while Edinboro raised its record to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the EWL.
 
                Matthews, a true freshman, won his exciting bout against the Scots Johnny Greisheimer 14-8, avenging a 9-8 loss in the finals at the PSAC Championships last Saturday.

               Matthews jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two periods. He had a first period takedown, and in the second had a reversal and three-point near fall for a 7-0 lead. Greisheimer used a takedown, followed by a 4-point move to narrow the lead to 8-6. Another takedown for Greisheimer brought him to within 9-8, but Matthews quickly reversed the Scot to his back and with riding time won 14-8, raising his season record to 10-2 at 157-pounds.
 
                Another great matchup came at 149-pounds with Clarion's #18 Justin Arthur (FR. Huntington, WV) trying to upset #8 rated David Habat. Habat led 2-1 entering the second period, but Arthur rode Habat the entire period and nearly had a near fall count. In the third Arthur escaped, Habat scored a takedown and Arthur escaped again to make the score 4-3 Habat. Arthur accumulated 1:25 riding time so his riding point tied the match at the end of three periods (4-4), and the two went to overtime. Off the whistle Arthur tried to surprise Habat going after a quick opening offensive shot, but got countered by Habat for the bout winning takedown about 12-seconds into overtime.
 
                Also close was the bout at 174 between Clarion's Ryan Darch (Jr. Batavia, N.Y.) and Patrick Jennings of Edinboro. Darch scored a first period takedown and led 2-1 after the first. Darch escaped and led 3-1 late in the second, when the Eagle got in a bad position and ended up yielding a reversal and back points for a 6-3 deficit. Jennings reversed in the third, Darch escaped and scored a takedown but couldn't add any additional points and lost 8-6.
 
                Edinboro's #2 ranked A.J. SChopp and #2 ranked Mitchell Port at 133 and 141 both won by fall. Schopp pinned Sam Sherlock at 6:25, and Port pinned John Pezze (subbing for Tyler Bedelyon – who is out with an injury) at 2:03.
 
                Clarion will return to the mats on Saturday, December 21 when the Golden Eagles host Rider at 6pm.
 
#15 EDINBORO 40 CLARION 3
125- #17 Kory Mines (ED) dec. Jonathan Mele (CL) 8-4
133- #2 A.J. Schopp (ED) wbf Sam Sherlock (CL) 6:25
141- #2 Mitchell Port (D) wbf John Pezze (CL) 2:03
149- #7 David Habat (ED) dec. #18 Justin Arthur (CL) 6-4 ot
157- Austin Matthews (CL) dec. Johnny Greisheimer (ED) 14-8
165- Kasey Burnett-Davis (ED) dec. Steven Nelson (CL) 8-5
174- Patrick Jennings (ED) dec. Ryan Darch (CL) 8-6
184- #8 Vic Avery (ED) wbf Dustin Conti (CL)3:19
197- Vince Pickett (ED) wbf Daniel Sutherland (CL) 1:54
285 – Ernest James (ED) maj. dec. Evan Daley (CL) 13-1
CLARION: 4-5; 0-1 EWL
EDINBORO: 1-2; 1-0 EWL
Ref: John Hnath