CLARION, Pa. – Bonus points decided the outcome in an otherwise dead even match-up on Friday as the Clarion wrestling team dropped an 18-16 decision to Eastern Michigan at Tippin Gymnasium.  The Golden Eagles (0-3) will next be in action when they compete at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas in December.
 
The two teams split the night's bouts 5-5 but EMU was able to outdo the Golden Eagles in procuring extra points thanks to a win by fall.  Clarion got its own share of bonus points late in the match, with Evan DeLong scoring a major decision at 165 pounds to draw the Golden Eagles closer in the overall race.
 
The match started at 285 pounds, with Gage Hutchison pulling out a close decision over Clarion's Evan Daley to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.  Jake Gromacki made that deficit right up with a command performance at 125 pounds over Noah Gonser.  Gromacki led 3-1 entering the third period and strangled the life out of Gonser's comeback attempt, starting the period in the up position and dominating ride time in the final two minutes to take a 5-1 decision.
 
EMU built a 9-3 lead after a win by fall at 133 pounds before Brock Zacherl cut back into the deficit with another close match.  Zacherl and Kyle Springer kept things interesting throughout as neither could jump out to a large advantage, but Zacherl notched a takedown late in the third period to secure a 5-3 decision victory.
 
Clarion was kept off the scoreboard in each of the next two matches before DeLong and Dom Rigous added back-to-back wins at their respective weight classes.  DeLong toyed with J.J. Wolfe at 165 pounds before finally sealing the deal, getting a takedown and the tilt points to close out a 13-3 major decision victory.  Rigous survived a close shave with Jacob Davis in a match that went to two sudden victory points.  After the first exchange finished with neither individual scoring, Rigous maneuvered his way behind Davis and brought him down in the second sudden death period to take a 5-3 decision. 
 
Rounding out the victories for Clarion on the night was Dustin Conti, who himself went to sudden victory at 197 pounds.  He did not need as much time as his compatriot, though, quickly bringing Derek Hillman down in the first sudden victory period to take the 3-1 decision.
 
Eastern Michigan 18, Clarion 16
 
125: Jake Gromacki (Clarion) def. Noah Gonser (EMU) Dec. 5-1
133: Sa'Derian Perry (EMU) def. Roshaun Cooley (Clarion) Fall 1:39
141: Brock Zacherl (Clarion) def. Kyle Springer (EMU) Dec. 5-3
149: Nick Barber (EMU) def. Mike Bartolo (Clarion) Dec. 7-5
157: Zac Carson (EMU) def. Taylor Cahill (Clarion) Dec. 10-5
165: Evan DeLong (Clarion) def. J.J. Wolfe (EMU) MD 13-3
174: Dom Rigous (Clarion) def. Jacob Davis (EMU) Dec. 5-3 SV-2
184: Kayne MacCallum (EMU) def. Scott Marmoll (Clarion) Dec. 4-2
197: Dustin Conti (Clarion) def. Derek Hillman (EMU) Dec. 3-1 SV-1
**285: Gage Hutchison (EMU) def. Evan Daley (Clarion) Dec. 4-3
 
** - Match started at 285 and finished at 197