EDINBORO, Pa. (Oct. 25, 2014) – Edinboro head coach Tim Flynn came away pleased with what he saw at the conclusion of the 2014 Wrestleoffs. The veteran coach lamented the fact that injuries did not give him the opportunity to see a number of wrestlers. Those he did see lead him to believe the Fighting Scots have a chance another successful campaign.
 
"It went well. The guys wrestled hard," he noted. "It always nice to see what they need to work on. I thought their shape looked good and the weight was pretty good. Overall it was a good day."
 

While many of the weight classes are pretty secure with Edinboro returning three All-Americans in A.J. Schopp (133 lbs.), Mitchell Port (141 lbs.), and Dave Habat (149 lbs.), plus three other national qualifiers. There are several weight classes, however, that are up in the air.
 
The most competition exists at 157 lbs., where no fewer than four quality wrestlers look to replace Johnny Greisheimer. Austin Matthews, a transfer from Clarion who was the EWL Freshman of the Year last season, laid claim to the starting role with an impressive showing.
 
Matthews won all three of his matches, including a fall over Ty Schoffstall and a 7-0 decision against Chase Delande. Delande defeated Kasey Burnett-Davis, the starter at 165 lbs. a year ago, by a 2-0 decision to earn the right to square off in the final against Matthews.
 
"Matthews is a gamer," grinned Flynn. "He definitely raised his level today. I think highly of Kasey and Chase and Ty."      
 
At 174 lbs., Zach Towers, who competed at 165 and 174 lbs. a year ago, also won three matches, including a pair of victories over incumbent, Patrick Jennings. He won a 3-1 decision the first they met, then boosted the margin to 10-4 in the second meeting. "Towers wrestled well that last one," Flynn commented. "He wrestled with more confidence that second match. That's what you have to do."
 

While not surprised by the result, much-heralded freshman Sean Russell, a four-time Georgia state champion, raised some eyebrows with a 6-5 decision over returning national qualifier Kory Mines at 125 lbs. Mines had the lone takedown of the match entering the third period and grabbed a 3-2 lead with an escape, but Russell would take down Mines twice in the final two minutes.
 
"We knew Russell was good. Mines had several shots early and he just has to finish shots. We have two good 125 pounders," he pointed out. 
 
At 197 lbs., Vince Pickett defeated Warren Bosch, the starter in 2012-13, and redshirt freshman Jake Hart. He won a 2-0 decision over Bosch, then after Hart got by Bosch 5-3, Pickett won an 8-1 decision over Hart.
 
The biggest question mark in the lineup may still be at heavyweight. Two-time Ohio state champion Billy Miller laid claim to replacing Ernest James with a fall over Gordon Truesdale and 7-1 decision over Forrest Christmann. In the latter match he trailed 1-0 before recording a takedown and three nearfall points.   
 
Edinboro will debut in 2014-15 in the Clarion Open on Sunday, November 2.
 
2014 WRESTLEOFF RESULTS
125 lbs.
Kory Mines dec. Anthony Rivera 7-3
Sean Russell dec. Anthony Rivera 8-2
Sean Russell dec. Kory Mines 6-5
 
133 lbs.
A.J. Schopp tech. fall Colby Ems 16-0 (2:44)
 
141 lbs.
Mitchell Port fall over Jensen Lorea 3:24
 
149 lbs.
Dave Habat fall over Brandon Washburn 4:39
 
157 lbs.
Austin Matthews fall over Dylan Hall 4:49
Ty Schoffstall maj. dec. Trevor Hartless 10-2
Kasey Burnett-Davis dec. Sam Ziff 11-4
Championship Bracket
Austin Matthews fall over Ty Schoffstall 4:57
Chase Delande dec. Kasey Burnett-Davis 2-0
Austin Matthews dec. Chase Delande 7-0
Consolation Bracket
Trevor Hartless dec. Dylan Hall 5-2
Kasey Burnett-Davis dec. Trevor Hartless 8-1
Ty Schoffstall maj. dec. Sam Ziff 13-5
Kasey Burnett-Davis dec. Ty Schoffstall 8-2
 
165 lbs.
Casey Fuller tech. fall Derrick Washington 3:24
 
174 lbs.
Zach Towers fall over Derrick Washington 1:52
Zach Towers dec. Patrick Jennings 3-1
Zach Towers dec. Patrick Jennings 10-4
 
197 lbs.
Vince Pickett dec. Warren Bosch 2-0
Jake Hart dec. Warren Bosch 5-3
Vince Pickett dec. Jake Hart 8-1
 
Hwt.
Billy Miller fall over Gordon Truesdale 3:40
Forrest Christmann dec. Terrence Cheeks 2-1 sv
Billy Miller dec. Forrest Christman 7-1
Terrence Cheeks dec. Gordon Truesdale 3-0