Seven Panthers Wrestlers Move Into EWL Semifinals
3/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Seven Panthers Wrestlers Move Into EWL Semifinals
3/6/2004
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. ? The Pittsburgh wrestling team enjoyed a stellar first session at the Eastern Wrestling League Championships, held at Bloomsburg University. Seven of the Panthers? 10 grapplers were victorious to move on to the semifinals of their respective weight classes.
The Panthers sit in second place with a total of 41.5 points, just 1.5 points behind the overall leader, Edinboro. West Virginia is in third with 36.5 points, followed by Clarion (30), Virginia Tech (24), host Bloomsburg (23), Lock Haven (21) and Cleveland State (17).
At 125 pounds, true freshman Drew Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) made quick work of Virginia Tech?s Ryan Broughman in his first EWL Championships bout. Headlee won his 18th match of the season and seventh by fall at the 2:18 mark of the first period. He will face West Virginia?s Casey Brewster in the semifinals for the first time this season. Brewster missed the dual meet in February.
Pittsburgh?s first loss came at 133 pounds, when sophomore Mike Ciotti (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) was defeated by Bryan Hart of the host Huskies by an 8-0 score. Ciotti moved into the consolation brackets, where he will face Clarion?s Louis Russo in tonight?s second session.
The top seed at 141 pounds, Ronald Tarquinio (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) improved to 23-10 for the season with a 17-2 technical fall victory over Lock Haven?s Casey Moore. The final points came at the 6:09 mark in the third period to move Tarquinio into a semifinal bout with Edinboro?s Ron Doppelheuer, whom he defeated in the season?s final dual meet.
The Panthers kept up their winning ways at 149 pounds with freshman Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College Area) gaining revenge on West Virginia?s Mike Torriero. Kocher edged the Mountaineers? grappler by a final count of 6-5 to move on to the semifinals. Kocher will meet the tournament?s No. 1 seed, Mike Maney of Lock Haven, who had to forfeit due to illness at this year?s dual meet between the schools.
Also gaining revenge from an earlier loss was sophomore Justin Nestor (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) at 157 pounds with a 2-0 decision win over Jason Effner of Cleveland State. Effner topped Nestor, 4-2, back in January but it will be Nestor moving on to face West Virginia?s Matt Lebe in the semifinals.
At 165 pounds, Zachariah Doll (Quakertown, Pa./The Hill School) was able to pin Zac Fryling of West Virginia in his first match, getting the win at 4:02 to earn a rematch with Matt King of Edinboro, who defeated Doll on Feb. 19 in the dual bout. It was Doll?s fourth pin of the season and 20th of his career, moving him into sole possession of ninth place in the Panthers? annals.
Sophomore Francis Iorfido (Johnsonburg, Pa./Johnsonburg) made it five in a row for the Panthers with a 9-1 major decision over Lock Haven?s Ryan Summers. Iorfido improved to 24-8 this season and is now 40-18 in his career. He will meet Clarion?s Aaron Wright in tonight?s semifinals.
Mike Croyle (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) lost his first match at 184 pounds, a 7-2 decision to Bloomsburg?s Nate Shirk. Croyle, now 10-12 for the season, will meet Ron Howard of Cleveland State in the consolation quarterfinals. Howard was beaten by West Virginia?s Greg Jones, last year?s champion at 174 pounds.
Senior Josh Birt (Spokane, Wash./North Idaho JC/East Valley) earned a berth in the semifinals with a 6-0 decision over Lock Haven?s Carlos Ponce. Birt won his 20th match of the season and will meet Virginia Tech?s Canaan Prater this evening for a spot in tomorrow afternoon?s finals.
In the final bout of the first session for Pittsburgh, senior heavyweight Travis Shirley (West Middlesex, Pa./Kennedy Christian) was pinned by Clarion?s Matt Wilcox at the 1:13 mark of the first period. Shirley (17-16) will square off against Virginia Tech?s Kris Wiedegreen in the consolation quarterfinals tonight.