No. 14 Edinboro Grounds EMU, 31-6

ERIE, Pa. — The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team put its 4-0 record to the test tonight, Dec.10, at the third annual “War on the Shore”, dropping a 31-6 decision to the No. 14 ranked Edinboro Fighting Scots. The loss drops EMU’s season record to 4-1, 1-0 MAC.

“Tonight’s match really showed that the way you start the season isn’t necessarily the way the whole season will go,” said head coach Derek DelPorto. “Edinboro came out tonight and fought each match with the same intensity, which is what we need to do if we want to continue to have success this season.”

The match opened up with the 174 pound contest, where Edinboro’s Phil Moricone, the No. 12 ranked wrestler in the latest NWCA/Intermat Rankings, scored an 11-2 major decision over true freshman Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth). Foore trailed by only four points at the start of the final period but yielded a pair of takedowns and a near fall to Moricone, allowing him to secure the match early in the third period and give Edinboro the early 4-0 lead.

Senior Charlie Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Trafford) and opponent Dan Thompson had a little more in common then their weight class when they squared off on the mat tonight. Both previously wrestled for DelPorto while at Slippery Rock before transferring after the wrestling program had been cut. Pienaar was able to put EMU on the board with a 4-0 shutout decision. A reversal midway through the second and a late third period takedown helped the reigning MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week secure his third dual win of the season.

Edinboro would claim the next three matches to extend its lead to 14-3 over the Green and White.

In the 133 pound contest, redshirt sophomore Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) was able to retain his perfect dual record with a 4-3 victory over Ricky Deubel. Clair found himself in unfamiliar territory after one period of play; trailing 2-1. An escape followed by a takedown gave Clair the 4-2 lead after two periods. With :35 seconds remaining in the third period Deubel was awarded a point for Clair’s second stalling warning. Clair was able to hold off a late charge by Deubel, closing the gap to 14-6 in favor of the Fighting Scots.

Edinboro took charge, winning the remaining four matches, including three major decisions and one tech fall to close out the match, 31-6.

“I feel that we match up better against Northwestern then we did Edinboro, but if we come out Sunday and wrestle like we did tonight, the results will be the same,” said DelPorto.

Eastern Michigan will be in action next Sunday, Dec. 16, as they host Big Ten Conference power and No. 9 ranked Northwestern University. Match time is set for 3 p.m. in Bowen Field House.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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