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CLARION HOSTS 37^TH ANNUAL EWL CHAMPIONSHIPS MARCH 4
CLARION'S CAMPBELL, ROHN, SINTOBIN & TESTA HEADED FOR EWL “HALL”

            Clarion University will host the 37^th Annual EWL (Eastern Wrestling League) Championship on Sunday,  March 4^th, with a total of 8 teams participating. The Tournament is also the NCAA Division I National Qualifier.
 
            The EWL is comprised of seven league members including Bloomsburg, Clarion, Cleveland State, Edinboro, Lock Haven, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. An eighth team, Millersville, was assigned by the NCAA to compete at the EWL Championships after the NCAA East Regional was eliminated due to the lack of teams.
 
EWL CHAMPIONSHIP HAS 2 SESSIONS
            The 2012 EWL's will be hosted at Clarion's Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium with Session 1 starting at 10a.m. That round will feature quarterfinal action, followed by semi-finals and Round 1 consolations. Session 2 starts at 5pm and will have the consolation semi=s, followed at 7pm by the championship finals and matches for third and fifth places. A total of 24 wrestlers will qualify for the NCAA Tournament from the EWL=s via the new selection system. Following the tournament, the new national qualifying system will then identify the next best wrestlers at each weight class who did not qualify across the country to fill out the national bracket of 33 per weight class.
 
            Tickets will be available at the door. All Session Adult passes are $30, while All-Session Senior and Student passes are $15.  Individual session tickets will also be available.
 
4 CLARION WRESTLERS INDUCTED INTO THE EWL “HALL OF FAME” SUNDAY
            Four Clarion wrestlers will be inducted into the EWL “Hall of Fame” on Sunday and they will be former wrestling greats Jack Campbell, Don Rohn, Rob Sintobin and John Testa. The Hall of Fame ceremonies will begin at 6:45pm on Sunday, prior to the start of the Championship Finals. (Hall Capsules Under Clarion “HALL” Notes)
 
CLARION 6-7 OVERALL AND 3-3 IN EWL IN 2012 SEASON
            The Golden Eagles, under first year head coach Matt Dernlan, finished the regular season with a 6-7 dual meet record and a 3-3 mark in the EWL.
 
            “We're really looking forward to the EWL's,” said Clarion first year head coach Matt Dernlan. “We started the year with a plan, and that plan was to peak at the end of the season and qualify as many wrestlers to nationals as possible. We feel we've made steady strides forward this season, but this is where all that dedication and sacrifice are meant to pay off. We want to be at our best on Sunday.”
 
            Clarion won five of its final 6 dual meets including wins over Bloomsburg (22-18), Cleveland State (45-5), Princeton (36-9) and Franklin & Marshall (42-4), a loss to #13 Kent State (30-16) and then a 19-18 win via tie breaker over Lock Haven in the season finale.
 
Clarion opened the year traveling to #8 Lehigh losing 27-12, and also 34-13 to #7 Illinois. After a 37-12 loss to #21 Edinboro in December, the Golden Eagles traveled to EMU in early January and defeated Indiana Tech 46-3, while losing 25-12 to Eastern Michigan. Clarion lost a 28-10 decision at #9 Pitt and a 23-20 decision at West Virginia in the final bout before starting their win streak.
 
            Clarion's lineup this weekend will be Trey Hicks (7-18; Jr. Amityville, N.Y.) at 125; Joe Waltko (15-14; Jr. Allison Park, Pa.) at 133; Tyler Bedelyon (16-15; So. Lewistown) at 141; Cameron Moran (12-16, Sr. James City) at 149; #4 James Fleming (24-2; Jr. West Mifflin) at 157; #5 Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (28-4, Sr. Tashkent, Uzbekistan) at 165; Nick Milano (8-13, So. Erie) at 174; Steven Cressley (14-13; Jr. Punxsutawney) at 184; Alex Thomas (22-14; Jr. Seaford, De.) at 197 and Quintas McCorkle (22-10, Sr. Alexandria, Va.) at hwt.
 
2012 EWL TEAM RACE
            Pitt, under 33^rd year head coach Rande Stottlemyer, enters the tournament as the clear favorite to win the team title. Pitt finished the year ranked #9 in the country as a dual meet team with a record of 14-2 and an EWL mark of 6-0. The Panthers won their third straight EWL regular season title in 2012, and won their first EWL tournament title in 2011.
 
            If a challenge comes for the team title it would likely come from Edinboro or West Virginia. The “Fighting Scots”, under 15^th year head coach Tim Flynn, had an outstanding season with a very young team. The Scots finished 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the EWL, losing to Pitt (26-10) and West Virginia in the final week of the season. The Scots possess a very balanced team that is capable of winning.
 
            West Virginia, under 34^th year head coach and former Clarion wrestler Craig Turnbull, finished the season with a 9-4 dual meet record and a 4-2 mark in the EWL. WVU closed the EWL campaign with an 18-17 upset win over then #10 ranked Edinboro, only a little over a week ago.
 
            The next three teams battling for team points will be host Clarion, Bloomsburg and Lock Haven. Clarion first year head coach Matt Dernlan was 6-7 overall, 3-3 in the EWL, and took West Virginia to the final bout before losing 23-20. Bloomsburg, under seventh year head coach John Stutzman, had a solid season with a 16-7 dual meet record and a 3-3 mark in the EWL. Clarion defeated Bloomsburg 22-18. Lock Haven, under third year head coach Robbie Waller, was 4-11 overall and 1-5 in the EWL.
 
            Cleveland State, coached by 4^th year mentor Ben Stehura, was 6-14 overall and 0-6 in the EWL this year, while Millersville, under coach Todd Roberts, was 2-14 overall.
 
WEIGHT CLASS PREVIEW:
Rankings are the best between Intermat and AWN Magazines:
 
125 (Top 2 Qualify)- Two time EWL Champion #15 Anthony Zanetta (Pitt) returns to lead this weight class, while WVU's Shane Young, a two-time runner-up, is looking for his first title. Zanetta was 6-0 in EWL matches this year, defeating Young 2-0 in the dual meet. He defeated Young 3-0 in the finals last year and 4-2 in 2010. Bloomsburg's Sean Boylan was third here last year, CSU's Ben Willeford was fourth and both return. Edinboro's Kory Mines, LH's bobby Rehm and Clarion's Trey Hicks will all look to place.
 
133 (Top 3 Qualify) - The battle for the ttitle will likely come down to three wrestlers in #8 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro), #17 Shelton Mack (Pitt) and Nathan Pennesi (WV). Schopp, who has the higher ranking, was 5-1 in the EWL but lost to Mack in the dual 5-2. Schopp owns a 1-0 win over Mack early in the year. Pennesi was 4-2 in EWL action and has close losses to Schopp and Mack. Pennesi was second last year and Mack third. Bloomsburg's Nick Wilcox was 6^th here last year, while Clarion's Joe Waltko was 5^th at 125-pounds in 2010. Cleveland state's Nick Flannery, LH's Jonathan Childress and Millersville Josh Ruppert will look to place.
 
141 (Top 2 Qualify) - Edinboro's #18 Mitchell Port and WVU's #20 Mike Morales will be favored to reach the finals. Port was 5-1 in the EWL, but lost 8-6 to Morales. Morales is also 5-1, but his only EWL loss was to Bloom's Derek Shingara who is not participating. Lock Haven's Matt Bonson was 3-2 in EWL action this year and was second here a year ago. Clarion's Tyler Bedelyon, who has defeated two top 20 ranked wrestlers this year, is capable of making the finals as well. Pitt's Travis Shaffer was 3-3 in the EWL, while CSU's Josh Palivoda and Bloomsburg's Matt Hicks will look to score.
 
149 (Top 2 Qualify) - Pitt's #9 Tyler Nauman will try to become a four-time champion in 2012. He has won three titles at 141-pounds. Ready to challenge is Edinboro's #10 David Habat. Habat lost to Nauman 7-5 in their dual matchup. The rest of the field seems wide open with Bloom's Bryan Busler, LH's Billy Randt, Clarion's Cameron Moran, WVU's George Scheffel and CSU's Lawrence Cavello all looking to score.
 
157 (Top 2 Qualify) - Clarion's defending champion and co-OW, #4 James Fleming, is heading a very talented weight class. Fleming was 6-0 in EWL competition and defeated Bloomsburg's #5 Frank Hickman 5-3 in their dual meeting, but lost to Hickman 6-1 in the PSAC finals. Hickman was 4-2 in the EWL this year, losing to Pitt's Donnie Tasser 7-3. Hickman was second last year and Tasser fourth in 2011 and fifth in 2010. Also looking for place points will be Casey Fuller (Ed), Aaron Fry (LH), Brandon Sommers (CS), Dominic Prezzia (WV) and Zac Wawryzniak-Bush.
 
165 (1 Qualifier - Champion) - Clarion's #5 Bekzod Abdurakhmonov was 6-0 in EWL duals this year and is looking for his first EWL individual title after finishing third last year.  Pitt's Tyler Wilps was 5-1 in the EWL and lost 13-3 to Abdurakhmonov. Bloom's Kevin Hartnett, Edinboro's Jesse Swink, CSU's Corey Carlo, WVU's Kyle Eason and Millersville's Brandon Vernalli all have a chance to place. No other placewinners return at this weight other than Bekzod.
 
174 (Top 3 Qualify) - Defending champion #19 Mike Dessino (Bloom) and defending 165-pound champion #19 Ethan Headlee (Pitt) will likely battle for the individual title. Dessino was 5-1 in EWL matches, losing 3-0 to Headlee in the dual. Headlee was third in 2008 and 2009 and is a 3-time NCAA Qualifier. WVU's Lance Bryan was 4-2 in the EWL this year and placed 4^th at EWL's as a freshman in 2009. Chris Hrunka (Ed), Nick Milano (CL), aaron McKinney (LH) and Aric Thurn (CS) all could place at 174. Hrunka was 4^th here last year, Milano was 4^th at EWL's at 165 in 2010.
 
184 (Top 3 Qualify) - This could be the most wide open weight class of the tournament. WVU's #17 Matt Ryan was 5-1 in EWL matches this year, while Edinboro's Vic Avery was also 5-1 and Pitt's Andy Vaughn was 4-1. Ryan was third at 184 last year, and defeated Vaughn this year 3-1, but lost 3-2 to Avery. Avery meanwhile lost 9-2 to Vaughn. Cleveland State's Corbin Boone was 6^th at 184 last year, while Clarion's Steven Cressley was 5^th at 174 in 2011 and 4^th at 174 in 2010. LH's Fred Garcia, Millersville's Shane Smith and Bloomsburg's Sam Shirey will look to score.
 
197 (Top 3 Qualify) - Two time EWL champion #2 Chris Honeycutt (Edinboro) and 2010 EWL champ at 197 #3 Matt Wilps (Pitt) will likely go head to head for the title. Honeycutt won at 184-pounds in 2009 and 2011. In head to head this year Honeycutt defeated Wilps 11-5 in the dual and also in tournament action. The battle for third will likely come down to Clarion's Alex Thomas and Bloom's Richard Perry. Both were top 20 ranked during the season. Perry was 4-2 in EWL action and Thomas 3-3. Perry defeated Thomas in the dual 18-9, while Thomas won in the semi's at the PSAC's 7-2. Thomas was second at EWL's in 2010 and 4^th in 2011. Perry was 5^th last year. CSU's Nick Anthony was 6^th here in 2011. Mac Mancuso (WVU), Matt Parlier (LH) and Joel Suter (Mill) will try and place high.
 
HWT (Top 3 Qualify): WVU heavyweight #17 Brandon Williamson was 6-0 this year in the EWL and will be the favorite to win the title at 285. The remainder of the field has been ranked in the top[ 20 throughout the year and they include Edinboro's Ernest James, Clarion's Quintas McCorkle, LH's Harry Turner and last year's runner-up Zac Walsh (Bloom). James was 5-1 in the EWL, and is 1-1 against McCorkle. McCorkle was 3-2, and Turner 4-2 in EWL matches. Turner and McCorkle are 1-1 against each other this year. McCorkle was third here last year and 4^th in 2010. James fourth at hwt last year, while Turner was fifth. In 2011 and 6^th in 2010. Walsh was second last year and fifth at heavyweight in 2010 and 2009. Millersville's Brad Ladd, Pitt's Joel Yahner and CSU's Garry Yarborough will try and score.
 
            2012 EWL HALL OF FAME NOTES ON CAMPBELL; ROHN; SINTOBIN & TESTA:
Clarion heavyweight Jack Campbell wrestled at Clarion from 1977-1980 under coach Bob Bubb. He compiled a career record of 84-30 with 32 pins. In 1979 Campbell earned NCAA D-I All-America status with a 4^th placde finish at nationals. He was a two-time EWL Champion (1979, 80) and a two time PSAC Champion (1977, 80). He also had a career dual meet record of 41-14.... Don Rohn wrestled at Clarion from 1973-76 under coach Bob Bubb ... He won an NCAA Division I National title at 134-pounds in 1973, and became a 3-time All-American when he placed 4^th at 134 in 1974 and 6^th at 142 in 1976.... He had a career record of 124-9-2 with 38 pins, was a 4-time PSAC champion (1973-76) and an EWL Champion in 1976, the league's first season. He had a career dual meet record of 55-2-1 and scored 243 dual meet points .... Rob Sintobin, currently the high school coach at Clarion Area, started his career at 177, moved up to 190 and then his final two years at heavyweight. Competing from 1990-94 under coaches Bob Bubb and Jack Davis, Rob placed 4^th at the NCAA Division I Nationals in 1994 at hwt, and won the prestigious Gorrarian Award for most falls in least aggregate time... He also qualified for nationals in 1993... He was a two-time EWL champion (1993, 94) and a two-time PSAC Champion (1993, 94). He ranked 6^th at Clarion in career falls and had a career mark of 71-46... John Testa wrestled at heavyweight for Clarion from 2000-2003 under coach Ken Nellis ... Testa had an outstanding career putting together a record of 134-29 with 26 pins and a dual meet record of 56-6. John earned All-America honors in 2003 placing 8^th at nationals, and was a 4-time NCAA National Qualifier. He won 3 EWL individual titles (2001, 2002, 2003) and four PSAC crowns (2000 - 2003). His top season was a 43-5 mark in 2003 when he was 17-0 in dual meets.
 
CLARION EWL NOTES: Clarion has crowned 52 EWL champions since the league started in 1976... The Golden Eagles have crowned at least one individual champion in every year except 1983, 1989, 2000, 2006-2010 ... Clarion has three team titles including 1980, 94 and 95 ... Kurt Angle won 4 titles (1988. 1990-92) ... Charlie Heller (1980-82), Sheldon Thomas (1994, 96, 97) and John Testa (2001-2003) are the only other Clarion wrestlers to win three EWL individual titles since the league began in 1976... The NCAA=s are in St. Louis, Missouri on March 15-17.  ... The new qualifying system has already established qualifiers across the country in each weight class - all weight classes had 29 qualifying spots... the brackets are limited to 33 - so 4 wrestlers will be added to each weight class by the next best wild card entries left available via the season ranking system. Those will be determined in the days following the completion of all national qualifiers.
 
PREVIOUS EWL TOURNAMENT RECAPS FROM 2001-2011:
            Bloomsburg hosted the 2011 EWL tournament and Pitt won its first team title scoring 132.5 points, with West Virginia second at 116.5, Bloomsburg third with 102.5 and clarion fourth at 99.5. Rounding out the seven team field were fifth place Edinboro (95.5), sixth place Lock Haven (70.5) and seventh place Cleveland State 26.5 points.
 
            The 2010 EWL's were hosted at the West Virginia Coliseum, Edinboro took the team title with 135.5 points, Pittsburgh was second with 125.5, and Clarion a strong third with 111 points. Rounding out the seven team field were Bloomsburg in fourth with 84.5, West Virginia fifth with 78, Lock Haven sixth at 58 and Cleveland State seventh with 37.
 
            The 2009 EWL's were hosted at Lock Haven with Edinboro taking the team title with 126.5 points, WVU second with 95.5, Bloomsburg third with 88.5, Pitt fourth with 84.5, Lock Haven fifth with 80, Cleveland State sixth with 62 and Clarion seventh with 60.5 points.
 
            The 2008 EWL's were wrestled at Pittsburgh and Edinboro won the team title with 133 points, Pitt was second with 111.50, West Virginia third with 103.5, Bloomsburg fourth with 86, Lock Haven fifth with 70.5, Clarion sixth with 55 and Cleveland State seventh with 53 points.
 
            The 2007 EWL's were hosted by Cleveland State and Edinboro won the team title with 113 points, West Virginia was second with 104.5 and Lock Haven was third with 98 points. Rounding out the seven team field were Pitt in fourth with 95.5 points, Bloomsburg fifth with 94.5, Cleveland State sixth with 77.5 and Clarion seventh with 35 points.
            In 2006 at Edinboro, the Fighting Scots finished first with 120.5 points, West Virginia was second with 110.5, Pitt third with 97, Bloomsburg fourth with 94.5, Cleveland State fifth with 82, Lock Haven sixth at 70.5 and Clarion seventh 29.5 points.
 
            The 2005 EWL's were hosted at Clarion's W.S. Tippin Gym. Edinboro won the team title with 113 points, with Lock Haven second at 104 and Pittsburgh third with 98. Rounding out the field were fourth place West Virginia with 93, Bloomsburg fifth with 81 and Clarion and Cleveland State tied for sixth with 62 points.
 
            The 2004 EWL Tournament, hosted at Bloomsburg, saw the most closely contended title race in league history. When the dust settled, West Virginia and Edinboro tied for first place with 99.5 points, while Pittsburgh was third with 97 points, Cleveland State fourth with 80.5, Bloomsburg fifth with 79, Clarion sixth with 70, Lock Haven seventh with 57.5 and Virginia Tech eighth with 44.5
 
            The 2003 EWL Tournament, hosted by West Virginia, saw Edinboro win the team title with 129.5 points and West Virginia second with 123.5. Cleveland State finished a distant third with 80.5, Lock Haven fourth with 75.5, Pitt fifth with 75, Clarion sixth with 63.5, Virginia Tech seventh with 44.5 and Bloomsburg eighth with 44.
 
            The 2002 EWL Tournament was won by West Virginia with 114.5 points, Edinboro second with 104.5, Lock Haven third with 104, Pitt fourth with 87.5, Cleveland State fifth with 67, Clarion sixth at 66, Virginia Tech seventh with 48.5 and Bloomsburg eighth with 41 points. The 2002 EWL's were hosted by Lock Haven.
 
            The 2001 EWL tournament was won by Edinboro with 123.5 points, with Lock Haven finishing second at 95, Pitt third with 94.5 and Clarion fourth with 87 points.
 
            EWL TOURNAMENT FACTS: Edinboro has won or tied for first place in 12 of the last 14 EWL Tournaments including titles in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, the tie in 2004, a win in 2003, and a string of four straight from 1998-2001. West Virginia tied for first in 2004 and won the title in 2002, while Lock Haven won in 1997, West Virginia in 1996 and Clarion won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 95. Pitt won its first team title in 2011.