Edinboro Wins Fifth Straight EWL Championship
Penn Named Outstanding Wrestler as Three Fighting Scots Win Titles
March 4, 2007

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CLEVELAND, OH – After Saturday’s second session, Edinboro head coach Tim Flynn gave his Fighting Scots an earful. The veteran coach was not happy with the fact only four of Edinboro’s nine wrestlers in the 2007 Eastern Wrestling League Tournament semifinals advanced to the finals.

The Edinboro wrestling team captured the Eastern Wrestling League title again this year.

Deonte Penn was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2007 EWL Tournament.

Edinboro won the 2007 Eastern Westling League title for the fifth straight time. In the process, three Fighting Scots earned weight-class championships. Gregor Gillespie (149 lbs.) is second from right front row, Deonte Penn is back row, first on left, and Alex Clemsen is back row, third from left.

His team took his word to heart on Sunday, with the result a fifth straight EWL championship for the Fighting Scots. The last time a team won five titles in a row was 1982-92, when Penn State won 11 in a row.

Edinboro finished with three champions and a total of 113 points. West Virginia was second with 104.5 points, with Lock Haven third with 98 points. Pittsburgh edged Bloomsburg for fourth place, with the Panthers finishing with 95.5 points and the Huskies 94.5 points. Cleveland State (77.5 points) was sixth and Clarion (35) was seventh. Cleveland State hosted the event at Woodling Gym.

As important as having three of the four wrestlers in the finals was, Flynn noted that it was the wrestlers in the consolation bracket that actually gave Edinboro the title.

“I challenged those guys last night,” Flynn related. “I got on them. We weren’t happy with how we wrestled yesterday. I told the wrestleback kids ‘you win the tournament for us’. We won the first five matches in the wrestlebacks. That set the tone.”

Deonte Penn, ranked eighth nationally, came away with plenty of hardware at the conclusion of the tournament. The senior was named the Tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler after winning the 165 lbs. crown with three straight falls. The total time of his pins were 8:51, and boosted him to 33-2 for the season. He also set the school record for season falls with his 19th in the finals against Pittsburgh’s Sean Richmond. That match ended at 2:44. Penn was also recognized as the winner of the Most Points in EWL Duals award winner.

Penn will make his third trip to Nationals, and is now a two-time EWL champion. He previously won the championship at 149 lbs. in 2004. A year ago he earned All-American honors at 165 lbs. with a fourth place finish.

Gregor Gillespie joined Penn as a two-time champion, as the sophomore won for the second straight year at 149 lbs. He avenged an earlier loss to David Jauregui of West Virginia in the final with a 6-3 decision. That gives Gillespie, an All-American a year ago, to 29-2 for the season. He is ranked fifth by Amateur Wrestling News and sixth by InterMat,

Flynn credited Gillespie’s victory for getting Edinboro off on the right foot in the finals, as Edinboro pulled away from West Virginia for the team title.

“That kind of took the pressure off of us,” Flynn commented. “It was a great win for Gregor. He needed to get that against a tough kid. He needed a tough bout and to dig deep. I think he’s back now.”

After Penn’s pin put the team title out of reach, Alex Clemsen took the mat at 184 lbs. and brought home his first EWL title. It will mark the senior’s fourth trip to Nationals, thanks to a 4-1 decision over Bloomsburg’s Nate Shirk. Clemsen had previously finished second as a sophomore and junior, along with a third place finish as a freshman. He is now 32-2, and ranked seventh by InterMat and tenth by Amateur Wrestling News.

Jim Gibson’s run at a championship finally came to an end as he suffered a 4-2 loss to West Virginia’s Jared Villers in the finals at 197 lbs.

In addition to the finalists, the Fighting Scots had two wrestlers finish third and three more fourth, as all five of Edinboro’s wrestlers in the consolation bracket reached the third place match. Daryl Cocozzo, a true freshman, placed third at 141 lbs., while Phil Moricone won by technical fall to taked third place at 174 lbs. Eric Morrill (125 lbs.), Matt Hill (157 lbs.), and Joe Fendone (hwt.) brought home fourth place finishes.

Edinboro's four finalists earned trips to Nationals. In addition, four more wrestlers were accorded wild card berths, giving Edinboro eight national qualifiers. Those four are Cocozzo at 141 lbs., Hill at 157 lbs., Moricone at 174 lbs., and Fendone at heavyweight. The top two in each weight class plus 12 wild card selections comprise the EWL's contingent of 32 national qualifiers.

Next up for the Fighting Scots is the NCAA Division I National Championships at Auburn Hills, MI on March 14-17. A year ago Edinboro enjoyed an incredible run and finished eighth, the third-highest finish in school history. The Fighting Scots are looking to cap another record-setting campaign. They finished with a 17-1 record, a school record for wins, and finished with an undefeated record in EWL duals for the second straight year. Edinboro was ranked sixth in the latest USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Coaches Poll, the highest ranking in school history.

Here’s a look at how the Edinboro wrestlers fared on Sunday:

• 125 lbs. – Eric Morrill
  Consolation Semifinals – won by decision over Ryan Riggs (CSU), 10-1

  After a slow start, Morrill dominated the last two periods for the major decision and a berth in the third place match. Morill recorded the only points of the first period with the first of four takedown. In the second period came up with an escape and his second takedown. The third period began with another takedown, and after a quick escape by Riggs, Morrill put the match away with his final takedown with just over a minute to go. He ended with a 2:32 advantage in riding time while improving to 15-14.

  Third Place– lost by decision over Brad Gentzle (UP), 5-4

  Morrill had defeated Gentzle, 3-2, two weeks ago, but Gentzle captured the one-point win to finish third. The Panther took the lead with a takedown with just 18 seconds left in the first period. The only scoring in the second period was a Morrill escape. With riding time in hand, Morrill released Gentzle to start the third for a 3-1 lead. That lead went to 5-1 with a takedown with 35 seconds to go. Morrill would escape and moved closer with a takedown with three seconds to go. Morrill concludes his freshman season with a 15-15 record.

• 141 lbs. – Daryl Cocozzo
  Consolation Semifinals – won by decision over Joe Ciampoli (UP), 9-0

  The second of Edinboro’s freshman tandem moved into the third place match with the major decision. The match was tight until the final thirty seconds when Cocozzo, leading 2-0 at the time thanks to a first-period takedown, came up with an escape with 23 seconds left. That was followed by a takedown with five seconds to go, and three back points at the buzzer. The takedown also gave Cocozzo the riding time point for the 9-0 win. He is now 16-12.

  Third Place– won by decision over Zack Kell (LHU), 9-2

  Cocozzo made a case for a wild card berth with a third place finish to boost his record to 17-12. He opened the match with the first of three takedowns at the 2:19 mark of the first period. Cocozzo began in the down position for the second period, and reversed Kell for a 4-0 lead. A Kell escape made it 4-1, but Cocozzo countered with a takedown with 26 seconds left for a 6-1 advantage after two periods. Kell would score on an escape midway through the final period, but Cocozzo got a takedown with a second left and had 3:23 in riding time.

• 149 lbs. – Gregor Gillespie
  Finals – won by decision over David Jauregui (WVU), 6-3

  Gillespie made it two straight EWL championships with a hard-fought win over Jauregui. The win also avenged one of his two losses this season, as Jauregui had defeated Gillespie, 10-9, two weeks ago. Gillespie opened with a quick takedown for a 2-0 lead with 19 seconds gone in the match. Jauregui would escape a minute later, and then finished the period with a quick move for a single-leg takedown. There was no scoring in the second period, as Gillespie just missed on a takedown attempt at the edge of the mat midway through the period. The third period began with Gillespie in the down position, and gained the tying point for the escape 12 seconds into the period. He notched the winning takedown after a wild scramble with 55 seconds left in the match. A 1:23 advantage in riding time accounted for the final 6-3 decision. Gillespie makes his second trip to Nationals with a 29-2 record, and is now 69-6 for his career.

• 157 lbs. – Matt Hill
  Consolation Semifinals – won by decision over Victer Crenshaw (CSU), 10-7

  Battling a leg injury, Hill gutted out the win over Crenshaw in a battle of two 2006 national qualifiers. Crenshaw started the scoring with a takedown in the first forty seconds, but Hill countered with a reversal and nearly won by fall, coming up with three back points and the 5-2 lead. The first period ended with a Crenshaw escape making it 5-3. Hill had all the scoring in the second period, coming up with an escape, gaining a point for an illegal hold, and then his lone takedown of the bout for a 9-5 lead after two periods. Crenshaw chose the neutral position to start the third, and came up with a takedown with 1:14 remaining. He cut Hill, but could not come up with another takedown. Hill, ranked 12th by Amateur Wrestling News and 14th by InterMat, improves to 30-4 and 103-39 for his career.

  Third Place– lost by decision to Zac Fryling (WVU), 3-1

  Fryling got the better of Hill for the second time in two weeks with another tight match. He gained the lead with a takedown with 23 seconds left in the opening period. Fryling gave up the escape to Hill to start the second period, with no further scoring in the period. Hill needed to gain riding time in the third period with Fryling in the down position, but the Mountaineer escaped 27 seconds into the period. Fryling and Hill had a grueling meeting two weeks ago, with Fryling winning 3-2 in two tiebreakers. Hill is now 30-5 in 2006-07 and 103-40 in his career.

• 165 lbs. – Deonte Penn
  Finals – won by fall over Sean Richmond (UP), 2:44

  Penn made it three straight falls by a total time of 8:51 with another dominating outing. The whistle had barely blown to start the match and Penn was in on Richmond for a single-leg takedown. He rode Richmond the rest of the match, nearly rolling him for back points several times before finally getting him on his back. Seconds later it was over and Penn had his second EWL crown. He is now 33-2 and boosted his season total to 19 falls, a new season record, and 52 career falls. That is also the record at Edinboro. Penn has a 110-41 career record, tying Cory Ace for 15th place in career wins. He also has now won his eighth straight match by fall, with the exception of a forfeit win against Pittsburgh, and enters Nationals riding a 24-match win streak.

• 174 lbs. – Phil Moricone
  Consolation Semifinals – won by decision over Andrew Jordan (BU), 4-0

  Moricone won for the third time this season against Jordan with a dominating performance from the top position. The third-year sophomore came up with a takedown just 17 seconds into the match, then rode Jordan out the rest of the period. He escaped early in the second period, with neither wrestler able to come up with a takedown. With Jordan down in the third period, Moricone again rode him out for the entire period to finish with 4:34 in riding time and his final point. Moricone is now 23-9 and moves into the third place match.

  Third Place– won by technical fall over Mike Metzger (LHU), 19-3 (5:40)

  Moricone boosted his record to 24-9 by capturing third place in impressive fashion against Metzger. He dominated the match from the start, taking a 13-2 lead after just one period. After a takedown 22 seconds into the match, he registered a pair of three-point near-fall moves for an 8-0 advantage. Metzger reversed Moricone for two points, but the third-year sophomore had a quick escape and then registered his second takedown with 25 seconds left. He picked up two more back points at the buzzer. He added an escape and takedown in the second, with Metzger also picking up a point for an escape. The end came on a takedown forty seconds into the final period.

• 184 lbs. – Alex Clemsen
  Finals – won by decision over Nate Shirk (BU), 4-1

  After finishing second twice and third another time, Clemsen picked up his first EWL crown with the win over Shirk. The two had met earlier in the year with Clemsen prevailing, 2-1. The first period was scoreless, and Shirk gained the lead with an scape to start the second period. Clemsen posted the only takedown he needed at the 1:24 mark. He opened the third with a quick escape, and gained a point with 1:23 in riding time for the decision. Clemsen ties Sean O’Day for tenth place in career wins with a 116-33 record. He is 32-2 for the season and will make his fourth trip to Nationals.

• 197 lbs. – Jim Gibson
  Semifinals – won by decision over Chris Hahn (CSU), 6-2

  Gibson avenged an earlier 5-2 loss to Hahn to earn his first trip to Nationals. The senior is now 21-8 thanks to an impressive showing in the semifinals. He opened with a takedown with 51 seconds left, with a Hahn escape with five seconds to go making it 2-1 after one period. The lone scoring in the second period was an escape by Hahn, tying the score at 2-2. With Gibson owning riding time, Hahn let the Boro wrestler out to start the third. Gibson then cemented the win over the second seed with a takedown with three seconds showing. He added the riding time point.

  Finals – lost by decision to #19/#18 Jared Villers (WVU),

  Gibson’s run at EWL’s ended with a disappointing result against Villers. Gibson battled the defending EWL champion, but could not overcome a first period takedown. Villers registered the takedown at the 1:24 mark, with Gibson escaping to make it 2-1 after one period. Gibson knotted the match with an escape in the second period, but not before Villers had built up the required minute for riding time. Villers started the third period in the down position, and a quick escape made it 3-2. He would hold off several attempts by Gibson for takedowns, add a point for riding time, and come away with the win.

• Hwt. – Joe Fendone
  Consolation Semifinals – won by fall over Ben Hepburn (LHU), 6:25

  Fendone moved into the third place match after wearing down Hepburn for his eighth fall. The first period was scoreless. Hepburn chose down in the second period, and Fendone rode him the entire period, turning him twice for two and three near-fall moves. Fendone took the top to start the third, and again turned Hepburn twice to make it 9-0. He finally put him on his back for the fall at 6:25. Fendone is now 25-9.

  Third Place – lost by decision to Rashard Goff (CSU), 3-2

  In a rematch of a first round bout, Fendone lost for the first time in three meetings to Goff to finish in fourth place. The match was scoreless for the first two periods before Fendone put Gioff on his back for two back points early in the third period. Goff evened the match at 2-2 with 1:10 remaining with a reversal, and gained the winning point with a 2:26 advantage in riding time.

Final Team Scores

1. EDINBORO 113
2. West Virginia 104.5
3. Lock Haven 98
4. Pittsburgh 95.5
5. Bloomsburg 94.5
6. Cleveland state 77.5
7. Clarion 35

125 lbs.

• Championship – Obe Blanc (LHU) dec. Mike Sees (BU), 4-2
• Third Place –Brad Gentzle (UP) dec. Eric Morrill (EU), 5-4
• Fifth Place – Ryan Riggs (CSU) dec. Scott Stuart (WVU), 7-2

133 lbs.

• Championship – Drew Headlee (UP) fall over Mark Anderson (WVU), 4:18
• Third Place – Ricky Donald (BU) dec. David Armstrong (CSU), 1-0
• Fifth Place – Nick Hyatt (LHU) dec. Sal Lascari (CU), 8-5

141 lbs.

• Championship – Brandon Rader (WVU) maj. dec. Darren Kern (BU), 16-5
• Third Place – Daryl Cocozzo (EU) dec. Zack Kell (LHU), 9-2
• Fifth Place – Joe Ciampoli (UP) dec. Mike Hurley (CSU), 6-4

149 lbs.

• Championship – Gregor Gillespie (EU) dec. David Jauregui (WVU), 6-3
• Third Place – Ryan Hurley (CSU) dec. Matt Moley (BU), 3-1 sv
• Fifth Place – Donnie Ament (LHU) injury default over Hadley Harrison (CU)

157 lbs.

• Championship – Seth Martin (LHU) dec. Matt Kocher (UP), 9-3
• Third Place – Zac Fryling (UP) dec. Matt Hill (EU), 3-1
• Fifth Place – Victer Crenshaw (CSU) fall over Dennis Bermudez (BU), 3:33

165 lbs.

• Championship – Deonte Penn (EU) fall over Sean Richmond (UP), 2:44
• Third Place – Marcus Effner (CSU) dec. Rickey Schmelyun (BU), 7-4
• Fifth Place – Landis Wright (LHU) injury forfeit over Mario Morelli (CU)

174 lbs.

• Championship – Keith Gavin (UP) dec. Kurt Brenner (WVU), 6-3
• Third Place – Phil Moricone (EU) tech. fall over Mike Metzger (LHU), TF 19-3 (5:40)
• Fifth Place – Dominic Ross (CU) dec. Andrew Jordan (BU), 8-6

184 lbs.

• Championship – Alex Clemsen (EU) dec. Nate Shirk (BU), 4-1
• Third Place – Chance Litton (WVU) dec. Kyle Deliere (UP), 3-0
• Fifth Place – Tom Kocher (LHU) medical forfeit over David Gilkey (CSU)

197 lbs.

• Championship – Jared Villers (WVU) dec. Jim Gibson (EU), 4-2
• Third Place – Jeremie Cook (LHU) dec. Chris Hahn (CSU), 5-2
• Fifth Place – Mike Heist (UP) dec. Dixon Jordan (CU), 4-0

Hwt.

• Championship – Mike Spaid (BU) dec. A.J. Brooks (CU), 5-3
• Third Place – Rashard Goff (CSU) dec. Joe Fendone (EU), 3-2
• Fifth Place – Dustin Rogers (WVU) fall over Ben Hepburn (LHU), 6:42