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Nov. 21, 2008
Clarion University's NCAA Division I Wrestling team is ready to roll out the mats on a new season featuring third year head coach Teague Moore and a young Golden Eagles squad. The Golden Eagles open their 2008-09 season on Friday, November 21st when Clarion hosts Eastern Michigan at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. Match time for the "Veterans Day Special" is 7pm. All veterans and active military personnel will be admitted free. Kids will be admitted free with a hand colored 8 ½ X 11 American Flag presented at the door. Each Clarion University Wrestlers will be sponsoring and honoring a veteran in pre-match ceremonies, with other special presentations being made by head coach Teague Moore. The match will also be on the internet at www.redzonemedia.com with Rich Herman and former head coach Bob Bubb calling the action. MOORE BEGINS 3RD SEASON 5TH CLARION COACH SINCE 1960 The Golden Eagle wrestling program embarked on a new era in wrestling with Teague Moore at the helm in 2007. He is only the fifth Clarion coach since the program was re-started in 1960 under Frank Lignelli. Lignelli coached from 1960-66, Bob Bubb from 1967-92, Jack Davis from 1993-97 and Ken Nellis from 1998-2005. A proud tradition of wrestling since 1960 and Division I wrestling since Bubb's arrival in 1967, Clarion has a dual meet record of 490-284-13 over 49 years with 8 Division I Nationals Champions, 43 D-I All-Americans, 51 EWL winners and 106 PSAC champs. Last year's Golden Eagles were 10-15-1 overall, placed third in the PSAC Championships and sixth at EWL's. Moore brought the Golden Eagles a 7-13 dual meet record in 2007 and now has a two-year record of 17-28-1, advancing the program a long way after taking over a team that went 0-17 in 2006. "We're excited about getting the season underway," said third year Clarion head coach Teague Moore. "I believe we're ready to take another step forward in 2009. We have wrestlers with great character, an unbelievable work ethic and our team chemistry is really strong. I believe we'll have a more competitive lineup, top to bottom, than we had a year ago." LASCARI & HARRISON TEAM CAPTAINS Senior 141-pounder Sal Lascari (Gray) and junior 157-pounder Hadley Harrison (McKean) will serve as the team's co-captains for the season. Lascari is in his third year as a Golden Eagle. He was 16-12 last year and placed second at the PSAC Championship. He was 22-14 in 2007 at 133-pounds finishing third at PSAC's and 6th at EWL's. Harrison, a two year starter at 149, is moving up to 157-pounds this season. Hadley was an NCAA D-I Qualifier last year and was winning both matches at nationals before losing in the final seconds. He was 23-12 overall and placed 3rd at EWL's and at PSAC's. In 2007 Harrison was 21-19 overall, 5th at PSAC's and 6th at EWL's. He has a two-year record of 44-31 CLARION ESTABLISHES STARTING LINEUP FOR EMU Clarion's likely starting lineup against Eastern Michigan will likely be Jay Ivanco (So. Monroeville - Gateway) at 125, Cameron Moran (R-Fr. - James City/Kane) at 133, Lascari at 141, Greg Lewis (Jr. New Providence/Lampeter-Strasburg) at 149, Harrison at 157, Dominic Ross (Sr. Sharon) at 165, Mario Morelli (Jr. DuBois) at 174, Clint Podish (Fr. Sycamore/Waynesburg Central) at 184, Jamie Luckett (Sr. St. Charles, Mo.) at 197 and Quintas McCorkle (Fr. Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) at heavyweight. Ivanco finished strong last year at 125 ending third at EWL's and narrowly missing going to nationals. He was 27-13. Moran was a three-time PIAA placewinner at Kane High and was as high as second. He had a 140-16 career record and red-shirted last year. Lewis sat out last year after recording a two year record of 29-27 at 141-pounds. He was 15-14 in 2007 placing third at PSAC's and was 14-13 in 2006 placing 4th at PSAC's and 6th at EWL's. Ross was 5-6 last year at 165, while Morelli has a two-year record of 28-33 at 174-pounds. He was 15-19 last year placing 6th at EWL's and 5th at PSAC's. He was 13-14 in 2007 as a true freshman taking 5th at PSAC's and 6th at EWL's. Podish, who has freshman eligibility, sat out last year. From Waynesburg Central High, he was 41-4 his senior year and ranked 4th in the PIAA at 171-pounds. He didnlt get to PIAA's since he was fourth at his Regional - with the top 4 ranked wrestlers in the state also in his region at 171-pounds. He had a career record of 100-24. Luckett, a senior who transferred into Clarion last year from Alfred State, was 11-8 overall and fourth at EWL's. McCorkle, a freshman heavyweight, was a Virginia State Champion with a career record of 131-28. Moore believes he will be an exciting heavyweight to watch this season. Eastern Michigan is opening the season at Clarion under third year head coach Derek Delporto. Last year's team was 15-8-1 overall including a 16-16 tie against the Golden Eagles at Eastern Michigan. Delporto's two-year dual record is 23-15-1 and his collegiate record, including two years at Slippery Rock is 47-40-1. EMU's lineup for Friday night will include Jordan McGuire (Fr. Miamisburg, Oh.) at 125, Chris Jenkins (Jr. Davison, Mi.) at 133, Corey Phillips (Fr. Canton, Mi.) at 141, J.J. Johnson (Fr. Rockford, Mi.) at 149, Nick Hendrick (So. Columbiaville, Mi.) at 157, Justin Brandel (Jr. Saginaw, Mi.) at 165, Tommy St. Louis (Fr. Neosho, Mi.) at 174, Derek Foore (So. Wadsworth, Oh.) at 184, John McClure (Sr. Holland, Mi.) at 197 and David Wade (So. Beavercreek, Oh.) at heavyweight. Jenkins was 10-15 last year, Brandel 14-19, Foore 14-18, McClure 15-19 and Wade placed fourth at hwt. at the MAC Championships. McGuire, Phillips, Johnson and St. Louis are all red-shirt freshmen who wrestled unattached last year. CLARION NOTES: A couple of interesting matchups to watch... In last year's 16-16 tie, Clarion's Ross decisioned Brandel 9-2 at 165, and Luckett defeated McClure 7-5 at 197 in matchups that are scheduled again. EMU hwt. David Wade majored Roman Husam 10-2, and Mario Morelli defeated Derek Foore 4-2 at 174. Foore is up to 184.... Clarion moves on to the Sprawl and Brawl Duals on Sunday, November 23rd in Binghamton, N.Y. - Clarion will wrestle Rutgers at 11:30am, Boise State at 1:15pm and Columbia at 4:30pm. |
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