Fighting Scots Impressive in 33-6 Win Over Cleveland State
Hill Picks Up Wins 100th Career Win
February 9, 2007

EDINBORO, PA – One night after posting a 24-10 win over Bloomsburg in a match that was much closer than the final score indicated, the Edinboro University wrestling team showed why it currently holds down its highest ranking ever. The Fighting Scots dominated a solid Cleveland State team at McComb Fieldhouse, coming away with a 33-6 win that featured four wins by bonus points.

Senior Matt Hill became the 19th Edinboro wrestler, and third this year, to reach 100 career wins. The Fighting Scots are off until next Friday when they host Fittsburgh in another EWL match. File photo

The Fighting Scots, ranked sixth in the latest USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Coaches Poll, improve to 15-1 with their tenth straight win, and are now 4-0 in EWL competition. Edinboro has won 28 of its last 29 dual matches. Cleveland State falls to 9-4 and 2-2, respectively. Edinboro’s 15 wins is one shy of the school record of 16 set in 1987-88 and again in 1994-95.

Cleveland State jumped to a brief lead as Ryan Riggs won a 4-0 decision over Greg Sill (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) at 125 lbs. A takedown with 20 seconds remained sealed the win as Sill fell to 2-9.

Edinboro proceeded to win the next seven bouts, beginning with a 4-3 decision at 133 lbs. by Ricky Deubel (Chagrin Falls, OH/Kenston) over David Armstrong in one of three matchups between 2006 national qualifiers. Deubel grabbed the early lead with a takedown and led 3-2 after one period. It was 4-2 after a Deubel escape in the third, and Armstrong was unable to come up with a takedown after a third-period escape. Deubel has now won nine of his last ten matches and improves to 22-9.

Improving freshman Daryl Cocozzo (River Edge, NJ/River Dell Reg.) came up with one of his biggest wins of the season as the 141-pounder was a 5-4 winner over Mike Hurley, another national qualifier. Cocozzo fell behind 2-1 after one period, and trailed 3-1 after a Hurley escape in the second period. He knotted the match with a takedown with 20 seconds left in the period, then posted the winning takedown with 30 seconds showing in the third period. Hurley escaped just before the buzzer. Cocozzo is now 12-11, while Hurley drops to 18-8.

One night after needing a late takedown to avoid an upset against Bloomsburg, Gregor Gillespie (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) showed that he is just fine with a dominating effort against CSU’s Ryan Hurley at 149 lbs. The sophomore, ranked fifth nationally, defeated Hurley by technical fall for the second time this year. This time the score was 18-1, with the end coming at 4:37. While recording his ninth win by technical fall, Gillespie posted a pair of takedown and was awarded back points on five occasions. He improves to 26-1 this season, with nine straight wins, and is 66-5 for his career.

Matt Hill (Freedom, PA/Freedom) was another wrestler who struggled on Thursday evening, but with the home crowd rooting him on, the senior became the 19th Edinboro wrestler, and third this year, to reach 100 career wins. Facing Victer Crenshaw, who led the Vikings with 24 wins, at 157 lbs., Hill posted a 14-7 win. A wild first period saw Hill emerge with a 5-4 lead thanks to a takedown and two back points. He blew the match open in the second period, starting with a quick escape, followed by a takedown and two separate moves for three near-fall points each time. He led 14-5 after two periods, and missed out on the major decision when Crenshaw registered a late takedown. Hill, ranked tenth in Division I, is now 100-37 for his career and 27-2 on the season.

Deonte Penn (Solon, OH/Solon) had barely been introduced when he put an end to his match against Shaun Mitchell. The senior needed just 22 seconds to record his 48th career fall and 15th this season. He holds the career record for falls and is now tied for fourth in season falls. Ranked eighth at 165 lbs., Penn has now won his last four matches by fall, and five of his last six. He has won 19 straight bouts and is 28-2 for the season and 105-41 for his career.

Phil Moricone (Derry, NH/Pinkerton) picked up his sixth straight win with a fall over Nate Kmetz at 5:57 in the 174 lb. match. The sophomore was leading big at 14-1 when the end came. He picked up four takedowns and five near-fall points. Moricone is now 22-6 and is ranked 20th.

Alex Clemsen’s (Moberly, MO/Moberly) match with David Gilkey turned into a brawl at 184 lbs., with the Boro senior prevailing by major decision, 10-2. Clemsen registered a takedown 20 seconds into the match and led 2-1 after one period. It was 4-1 after two periods, with Clemsen coming up with an escape and a point for stalling. In the third period, Gilkey closed to 4-2 with an escape with just under a minute left, but Clemsen closed with a rush. A late takedown led to three back points and a near pin as the match ended. Clemsen, ranked seventh by InterMat and 10th by Amateur Wrestling News, is now 28-2 this season and 112-33 for his career. He is one win shy of being tied for 11th place, and has now won 11 straight matches.

Cleveland State ended the string of seven straight Edinboro wins as Chris Hahn came away with a 5-2 decision over Jim Gibson (Hermitage, PA/ Kennedy Catholic) at 197 lbs. Hahn, who is now 12-4, came up with a takedown midway through the first period. Gibson’s escape early in the second period made it 2-1, but a Hahn reversal 15 seconds into the third period proved too much for Gibson. The Boro senior is now 18-7.

The night was capped by a comeback win for Joe Fendone (Salem, NH/Central Catholic (Mass.)) over Rashard Goff at heavyweight. Facing a 2006 national qualifier for the second night in a row, and still making the transition to heavyweight after qualifying for Nationals at 197 lbs. last year, the sophomore found himself trailing 2-0 in the third period. Goff’s reversal gave him the lead, but with just under 30 seconds remaining Fendone reversed Goff. He still needed to score with Goff enjoying the riding time advantage, and did so with three back points as the match ended. The 5-3 decision gave Fendone a 22-7 record. Goff falls to 22-13.

Edinboro returns to action next Friday, February 16, hosting Pittsburgh in its home dual match. That match gets underway at 7:30 p.m. at McComb Fieldhouse.

RANKINGS: InterMat/Amateur Wrestling News
RECORDS: Edinboro 15-1, 4-0 EWL; Cleveland State 9-4, 2-2 EWL
NOTE: Matt Hill wins 100th career match and is now 100-37.
NEXT EDINBORO MATCH: Friday, February 16 vs. Pittsburgh at McComb Fieldhouse, Edinboro, PA