CLARION, Pa. (Nov. 20, 2015)  – The Edinboro University wrestling benefited from a bit of the old and a bit of the new to open up the Eastern Wrestling League portion of its schedule with a 23-15 victory at Clarion. The win boosted the Fighting Scots to 3-1 on the young season. Clarion fell to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the EWL, as Edinboro made it four straight wins over the Golden Eagles and 17 of the last 18.

Seniors Casey Fuller and Vince Pickett led the way with victories at 165 and 197 lbs., respectively. Redshirt freshmen Sean Russell and Billy Miller came up with bonus point wins, and true freshmen Patricio Lugo and Spencer Nagy were also victors.
 

Clarion won two of the first three bouts to grab a quick 7-4 lead. The Fighting Scots then ran off three straight wins to go ahead 16-7. Back-to-back victories at 174 and 184 lbs. pulled Clarion to within a point at 16-15, but Edinboro pulled away thanks to wins in the final two weight classes.

Russell, ranked 20th by InterMat, got the match started with a 16-4 major decision at 125 lbs. as he improved to 7-1. Clarion would win the next two bouts against two of the four true freshmen in the Edinboro lineup. Tony Recco (1-6) fell to Michael Bartolo at 133 lbs., 7-4, and Brock Zacherl improved to 10-1 with an 8-0 major decision over Nate Hagan (8-6) at 141 lbs. Hagan was making his debut in the lineup, replacing another highly-regarded freshman, Tyler Vath.

True freshman Lugo gave Edinboro the lead for good as he remained undefeated at 9-0 with a fall just 26 seconds into the first period against Jacob Keller at 149 lbs. That gave the Fighting Scots a 10-7 lead.

Nagy, yet another true freshman in the lineup, picked up his team-leading 11th victory with 6-3 decision over Morgan Way at 157 lbs. Nagy has an 11-5 record.
Fuller kept his perfect record intact as he moved to 9-0 thanks to a 6-2 decision over former PIAA state champion Evan DeLong at 165 lbs. That gave Edinboro a 16-7 lead.

Clarion would pick up wins at 174 and 184 lbs. Michael Pavasko won a 7-4 decision over Patrick Jennings (5-3) at 174 lbs., and Dominic Rigous won by technical fall at 15-0 (7:00) over Chris Laird (2-7) in their 184 lb. match.

Those wins pulled Clarion to within a point 16-15, but Edinboro closed out the victory with a pair of wins. Pickett improved to 5-3 with a 4-1 decision over Dustin Conti at 197 lbs. Miller gave Edinboro a third undefeated wrestler with maybe the most impressive victory of the evening as he won a 13-5 major decision over Evan Daley, one of the top heavyweights in the EWL. Miller is now 7-0.

Edinboro returns to the mat on Sunday, November 22, facing its most difficult test yet of the young season at Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks are ranked tenth in the latest NWCA rankings.  

EDINBORO 23, CLARION 15
 
125 - #20 Sean Russell (EU) maj. dec. Patrick DeWitt (CU) 16-4                   
133 - Michael Bartolo (CU) dec. Tony Recco (EU) 7-4                       
141 - Brock Zacherl (CU) maj. Dec. Nate Hagan (EU) 8-0                 
149 - Patricio Lugo (EU) fall over Jacob Keller (CU) 0:26                   
157 - Spencer Nagy (EU) dec. Morgan Way (CU) 6-3                        
165 - Casey Fuller (EU) dec. Evan DeLong (CU) 6-2                                            
174 - Michael Pavasko (CU) dec. Patrick Jennings (EU) 7-4                            
184 - Dominic Rigous (CU) tech. fall Chris Laird (EU) 15-0, 7:00     
197 - Vince Pickett (EU) dec. Dustin Conti (CU) 4-1
Hwt. - Billy Miller (EU) maj. dec. Evan Daley (CU) 13-5
 
Records:  Edinboro 3-1, 1-0 EWL; Clarion 2-3, 0-1 EWL