CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion wrestling team saw its three-match win streak snapped on Sunday, falling to a tough Michigan State team by a 23-9 score.  The match was held on the stage at Marwick-Boyd Auditorium, the first competition of its kind at the theater, in front of a devoted crowd of hundreds.  The Golden Eagles (4-7, 1-2 EWL) will be back in action on Feb. 2 against Lock Haven.
 
The Spartans claimed seven of the 10 bouts but the match was much closer between the lines than on the team scoreboard.  Three matches were decided by late scores to break deadlocks as the two teams were very evenly matched throughout the lineup.
 
Brock Zacherl claimed an impressive win over a ranked opponent at 141 pounds, downing 21st-ranked Javier Gasca III for Clarion's first win of the day.  Two of the nation's best at their weight class, they stayed at arm's length for much of the bout, with Zacherl leading 3-0 after two periods thanks to a late double-leg takedown.  Gasca put Zacherl on the proverbial ropes late but was unable to finish the takedown at Zacherl secured the win.
 
Dom Rigous notched the next win for Clarion, putting together a very impressive effort at 174 pounds to beat Logan Ritchie.  After Ritchie brought Rigous down midway through the first period, Rigous quickly countered and reversed it to tie the score.  Rigous opened the second period with another reversal in the second period to go ahead 4-2, and then tacked on a takedown late in the third to seal the deal.  The riding time advantage gave Rigous the 7-2 decision.
 
Rounding out the wins for Clarion was Dustin Conti, who outfoxed Matt Okaiye at 197 pounds.  An excellent counter-wrestler, Conti sidestepped a pair of shots by Okaiye and turned them into takedowns of his own.  He carried a 5-0 lead into the third period and effectively stayed out of harm's way for the remainder to take the win.
 
Michigan State 23, Clarion 9
125: Mitch Rogaliner (Michigan State) over Jake Gromacki (Clarion) (Dec 9-4)
133: Austin Eicher (Michigan State) over Roshaun Cooley (Clarion) (Dec 4-2)
141: Brock Zacherl (Clarion) over Javier Gasca III (Michigan State) (Dec 3-1)
149: Nicholas Trimble (Michigan State) over Jake Keller (Clarion) (MD 10-1)
157: Austin Thompson (Michigan State) over Taylor Cahill (Clarion) (MD 12-3)
165: Drew Hughes (Michigan State) over Evan Delong (Clarion) (Dec 1-0)
174: Dominic Rigous (Clarion) over Gary (Logan) Ritchie (Michigan State) (Dec 7-2)
184: Shwan Shadaia (Michigan State) over Scott Marmoll (Clarion) (Dec 4-2)
197: Dustin Conti (Clarion) over Matt Okaiye (Michigan State) (Dec 7-2)
285: Jacob Cooper (Michigan State) over Evan Delong (Clarion) (Dec 10-4)