(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion area wrestling fans have a chance to enjoy an exciting wrestling weekend at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium  as the 2013 Clarion University wrestling team hosts Bucknell on Friday, Feb. 15  at 7pm and Lehigh on Saturday at 2pm.
 
Friday's matchup against Bucknell and Saturday's dual versus Lehigh will both be broadcast on WWCH-AM (1300) and on the internet at redzonemedia.com with Rich Herman and John Stroup calling the action.
 
                The Golden Eagles are 4-8 overall and 2-3 in the EWL under first year head coach Troy Letters. Last weekend Clarion lost to Ohio University on Friday by a 24-18 margin, then bounce back on Sunday to defeat Cleveland State 23-9.  During the season Clarion has also posted wins against Eastern Michigan (21-10), Michigan State (25-16) and Lock Haven (18-16), while losses have come against #14 Bloomsburg (21-9),  #28 Kent State (29-10), North Carolina (21-19), #20 Edinboro (28-12), #10 Northwestern (26-9), #13 Pitt (26-15) and #18 Rutgers (26-6). The Golden Eagles also placed second at the PSAC's championships in December.
 
                Clarion's lineup for the weekend will feature - #3 ranked James Fleming (Sr. West Mifflin) at 157-pounds. The Golden Eagle senior has a season record of 26-2 and a career record of 118-18 – 12^th on the all-time win list at Clarion. Next up for Fleming is former Clarion great and MMA Champion Frank Edgar, who had 120 career wins (120-55) from 2001 – 2005.  
 
            The Clarion lineup will likely have Tyler Fraley (Fr. 12-9; Freehold, N.J) at 125; Joe Waltko (Sr. 12-16; Allison Park) at 133; Devin Cook (Jr. 8-9; Bedford) or Sam Sherlock (So. 9-9; West Mifflin) at 141; Tyler Bedelyon  (Jr. 16-11; Lewistown) at 149; #4 ranked James Fleming (Sr. 26-2; West Mifflin)  at 157; Nick Milano (Jr. 3-15; Erie, Pa.) at 165; Ryan Darch (So. 8-13; Batavia, N.Y.) at 174; Steven Cressley (Sr. 9-15; Punxsutawney) at 184; Justin Ortega (Gr. 16-11; Oxford) at 197 and Phil Catrucco (Sr. 17-18; Sharpsville) at 285.
 
                Bucknell, led by 8^th year head coach Dan Wirnsberger, brings the Bisons to Clarion with a 6-11 dual meet record and a 2-3 mark in the EIWA. Wins have come against Gardner-Webb (27-15), Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (25-15), Buffalo (20-16), Columbia (24-14) F & M (30-10) and George Mason (21-12). Key losses have come against Indiana (18-15), #5 Iowa (34-9), #2 Oklahoma State (37-6), #9 Central Michigan (35-3), #19 Virginia (31-6), Lock Haven (23-16) and #10 Cornell (37-3).
 
                Bucknell has one ranked wrestler, 165-pounder Corey Lear (20-5), who is ranked #10. The remainder of the lineup has no entry at 125, Paul Petrov (16-10) at 133, Derrik Russell (9-18) at 141, Adam Healey (10-17) at 149, Vince Favia (12-14) at 157, Robert Schlitt (4-14) at 174, Robert Marchese (5-21) at 184, Tyler Lester (19-12) at 197 and Joe Stolfi (26-12) at 285.
 
                Lehigh, who has a proud tradition of wrestling, is led into Clarion by fifth year head coach Pat Santoro with a team record of 7-7 overall and 3-4 in the EIWA. The Mountain Hawks have defeated Binghamton (23-16), Bloomsburg (18-12), Hofstra (34-7), Navy (19-15), American (30-12), #16 Oklahoma (21-14) and Brown (27-16). Losses are to Penn State (29-6), Penn (24=12), Iowa (26-9), Cornell (20-13), Rutgers (17-16), Oregon State (20-14) and Harvard (25-16).
 
                Santoro has led Lehigh to 8^th place NCAA Division I tournament finishes in 2012 and 2011. He also was the head coach at Maryland for the previous five years and spent nine as the Lehigh assistant coach prior to Maryland. A four-time Pitt all-American and two-time NCAA Champion, he had some memorable matches against former Clarion great and two-time All-American Mike Cole.
 
                The Lehigh lineup has four nationally ranked wrestlers including #3 ranked Joey Napoli (13-2) at 157, #3 Robert Hamlin (17-2) at 184, #15 Nathaniel Brown (13-5) at 174 and #18 Shane Welsh (14-5) at 149. Napoli was injured and had knee surgery several weeks ago. His status for Saturday's much anticipated match against Clarion's James Fleming  is questionable. Also in the Mountain Hawk lineup will be Alex Abreu (8-14) at 125, Randy Cruz (24-9) at 133, Anthony Salupo (7-7) at 141, Ben Haas (3-10) at 165, John Bolich (10-11) at 197 and Max Wessell (12-4) at 285.
 
                CLARION NOTES:  Fleming is ranked #3 by AWN and #4 by Intermat … Intermat has Napoli third and Fleming fourth … Clarion and Bucknell have only wrestled once in their history, with Clarion winning 32-7 in the 1991-92 season …. Clarion is 0-4 against Lehigh, including a loss at Lehigh a year ago by a score of 27-12… Clarion also lost dual meets to Lehigh in 2008 (21-15), 1997 (28-9) and 1996 (24-19)… Clarion will host West Virginia on Sunday, Feb. 24 which will also be Senior Day at Clarion. That match will begin at 2pm.