Edinboro Wins Two of Three Matches at Pennsylvania Duals
Fighting Scots Split With Eastern Powers Lehigh, Penn State
November 19, 2006

EDINBORO, PA – The Edinboro University wrestling team made its first appearance at the Pennsylvania Duals, hosted by Lock Haven, on Sunday, and the Fighting Scots came away with two wins in three matches while facing a pair of Eastern powers. The one setback snapped Edinboro’s 18-match winning streak, but the Fighting Scots picked up a split in its matches against nationally-ranked Lehigh and Penn State.

Edinboro entered the weekend ranked 13th in the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat Division I Coaches Poll. After picking up a 40-3 win over Millersville, the Fighting Scots made it 18 straight wins and 18-0-1 in their previous 19 matches with a 26-9 victory over 21st-ranked Lehigh. The winning streak finally came to an end when eighth-ranked Penn State handed the Boro a 27-9 defeat. It marked Edinboro’s first loss since the 2004-05 campaign.

Edinboro had three wrestlers win all three of their bouts, with Gregor Gillespie and Matt Hill going to 11-0 at 149 and 157 lbs., respectively. Gillespie is ranked third, while Hill is 17th. Alex Clemsen, third-ranked at 184 lbs., also won all three of his matches to improve to 10-1. Four other Fighting Scots won two of three matches – Ricky Deubel at 125 lbs., Deonte Penn at 165 lbs., Phil Moricone at 174 lbs., and Joe Fendone at heavyweight.

Deubel and Fendone picked up wins by fall, while Gillespie and Moricone won by technical fall as Edinboro easily disposed of Millersville.

The highlight of the Edinboro-Lehigh match was the bout at 149 lbs., with Gillespie taking on ninth-ranked Trevor Chinn. The two previously met at Nationals, with Gillespie winning by fall. The sophomore dominated once again, prevailing by a 15-0 technical fall at 4:26.

Sophomore Moricone, meanwhile, came up with the biggest win of his young career with a 2-1 upset of eighth-ranked David Helfrich. Fendone also recorded an upset, decisioning Paul Weibel, 13-8, in the heavyweight match. Penn recorded his 37th career fall, pinning Mike Galante at 4:44.

Edinboro won just three matches against Penn State. Gillespie boosted his career record to 51-4 with a 5-0 win over Dan Vallimont, while Hill was a 3-1 winner over Nathan Gallaway. The senior is now 84-35 for his career.

Trailing 10-6, Edinboro’s hopes for a rally were put to rest as the Nittany Lions won the next two matches. Mark Friend upset Penn, who is ranked fourth, pinning the Boro senior at the six minute mark. That left Penn with an 86-41 career ledger. James Younshonis, ranked third at 174 lbs. denied Moricone a second straight upset with a 5-1 decision. Clemsen was the other Boro victor, winning a 6-2 decision over Phil Bomberger.

Phil Davis, ranked number one at 197 lbs., won by fall over Jim Gibson at 3:20.

Edinboro returns to action on Friday, December 1, facing its third straight ranked opponent. The Fighting Scots will face Michigan State in the War at the Shore at the Erie Civic Center.

• 125 Eric Morrill(E) dec. Mike Acedo-Malaney(M), 8-3
• 133 Ricky Deubel(E) fall over John Lester(M), 1:22
• 141 Cody Becker(M) dec. Daryl Cocozzo(E), 2-0
• 149 #3 Gregor Gillespie(E) tech. fall Robert Zavalla(M), 19-0
• 157 #17 Matt Hill(E) dec. Jarett Hostetter(M), 6-2
• 165 #4 Deonte Penn(E) maj. dec. Matt Veres(M), 8-0
• 174 Phil Moricone(E) tech. fall Jeremy Brooks(M), 4:42
• 184 #3 Alex Clemsen(E) maj. dec. Steve Funk(M), 13-5
• 197 Jim Gibson(E) maj. dec. Mike Langor(M), 8-0
• Hwt Joe Fendone(E) fall over Josh Haron(M), 6:12

• 125 Patrick Berger(L) dec. Eric Morrill(E), 8-2
• 133 Ricky Deubel(E) dec. Seth Ciasulli(L), 11-4
• 141 Jeff Santo(L) dec. Daryl Cocozzo(E), 7-4
• 149 #3 Gregor Gillespie(E) tech. fall #9 Trevor Chinn(L), 15-0 (4:26)
• 157 #17 Matt Hill(E) dec. Dave Nakasone(L), 4-2
• 165 #4 Deonte Penn(E) fall over Mike Galante(M), 4:44
• 174 Phil Moricone(E) dec. #8 David Helfrich(L), 2-1
• 184 #3 Alex Clemsen(E) dec. David Craig(L), 4-3 ot
• 197 Matt Cassidy(L) dec. Jim Gibson(E), 3-2
• Hwt Joe Fendone(E) dec. #16 Paul Weibel(L), 13-8

• 125 Mark McKnigyht(PSU) maj. dec. Eric Morrill(E), 14-6
• 133 #8 Jake Strayer(PSU) dec. Ricky Deubel(E), 8-2
• 141 Bryan Heller(PSU) dec. Daryl Cocozzo(E), 6-1
• 149 #3 Gregor Gillespie(E) dec. Dan Vallimont(PSU), 5-0
• 157 #17 Matt Hill(E) dec. Nathan Gallaway(PSU), 3-1
• 165 Mark Friend(PSU) fall over #4 Deonte Penn(E), 6:00
• 174 #3 James Yonushonis(PSU) dec. Phil Moricone(E), 5-1
• 184 #3 Alex Clemsen(E) dec. Phil Bomberger(PSU), 6-2
• 197 #1 Phil Davis(PSU) fall over Jim Gibson(E), 3:20
• Hwt Aaron Anspach(PSU) dec. Joe Fendone(E), 8-6