Sixth-Ranked Fighting Scots Pick Up 24-10 Win at Bloomsburg
Hill Wins 99th Match, Penn Makes it 47 Career Falls
February 8, 2007

EDINBORO, PA – The Edinboro University wrestling team (4-1 overall and 3-0 in the EWL, fresh off its highest ranking in school history, came away with a 24-10 win at Bloomsburg in a match that was much closer than the final score. The Eastern Wrestling League victory boosted the sixth-ranked Fighting Scots to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in the EWL, while the Huskies are now 10-8 and 3-2, respectively.

Edinboro won seven of ten bouts, including six straight after Bloomsburg had taken an early lead. The Fighting Scots picked up one win by fall, that a school-record 47th by Deonte Penn, but four of their wins came by a point.

While Edinboro was ranked sixth in the USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Division I Top 25, Bloomsburg entered the match among “Others Receiving Votes”. The Fighting Scots have now won 27 of their last 28 dual matches.

Bloomsburg won two of the first three matches to take an early 7-3 lead. Mike Sees, ranked tenth, won by major decision over Greg Sill, 12-4, at 125 lbs. Sill was filling in for injured starter Eric Morrill. He falls to 2-6.

Ricky Deubel improved to 21-9 with a 4-3 sudden victory win over Ricky Donald of Bloomsburg at 133 lbs. Deubel has won eight of his last nine matches. Donald is also 21-9. In a rematch of the recent PSAC Championships final at 141 lbs., Boro freshman Daryl Cocozzo lost a tough 6-4 overtime decision to Darren Kern. Kern captured a 4-1 decision at the PSAC’s. Cocozzo falls to 11-11, while Kern improved to 22-11.

After missing the PSAC Championships due to illness, fifth-ranked Gregor Gillespie boosted his record to 25-1 with tight 6-5 decision over Matt Moley (21-9) at 149 lbs. Edinboro finally gained the lead at 9-7 with another one-point win at 157 lbs., as Matt Hill moved to within one win of 100 for his career. The senior is now 26-2 this season and 99-37 for his career after an 8-7 decision over Dennis Bermudez, who falls to 20-14. The two earlier met in the PSAC finals, with Hill prevailing 5-4. Hill is ranked tenth.

Penn boosted Edinboro’s lead to 15-7 with his 47th career fall, the end coming at 4:17 over Rickey Schmelyun (26-11) in another PSAC title rematch. Penn, ranked eighth, also defeated Schmelyun by fall at the PSAC’s. He is now 27-2 for the season, with four of his last five wins by fall, and 104-41 for his career.

Phil Moricone made it four straight wins and an 18-7 advantage with a 9-3 decision over Andrew Jordan. The sophomore, ranked 20th, improved to 21-6. He defeated Jordan, 8-2, in the PSAC finals.

A year ago Alex Clemsen edged Nate Shirk, 3-2. This time it was another one-point win for the Boro senior, as he improved to 27-2 with a 2-1 decision at 184 lbs. Clemsen, ranked seventh by InterMat and 10th by Amateur Wrestling News, has a 111-33, tying Kevin Welsh for 13th in career wins.

Jim Gibson gave Edinboro its sixth straight win and a 24-7 lead with a 4-2 win over P.J. Distefano at 197 lbs. Gibson improved to 18-6. In the final bout, Joe Fendone suffered his sixth loss to a nationally-ranked wrestler as he fell by a 4-0 decision to 11th-ranked Mike Spaid. The two hooked up in the PSAC finals with Spaid winning 9-0. Fendone is 21-7, while Spaid is now 27-5.

Edinboro is right back in action on Friday, February 9, hosting Cleveland State in another EWL match. The contest gets underway at 7:30 p.m. at McComb Fieldhouse.

#6 EDINBORO 24, BLOOMSBURG 10