Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wrestlers Set to Grapple with Comets
12/18/2007 1:01:51 PM | Wrestling
Final match before Christmas holiday
Complete Release (PDF)
YPSILANTI, Mich. - After two tough losses last weekend to nationally ranked No. 14 Edinboro and No. 9 Northwestern, the Eastern Michigan University wrestling team will look to regain the swagger which led them to a 4-0 start. The Eagles will host Olivet Thursday, Dec. 20, at Bowen Field House with a start time of 7 p.m. before going on Christmas break. EMU will compete once more before year's end, Dec. 30, when it takes on No. 7 ranked Michigan, along with Lehigh and Buffalo in Ann Arbor.
COMETS COME TO TOWN: The Eagles will look to get back to their winning ways Thursday, Dec. 20, when they host Olivet College. Match time set for 7 p.m. at Bowen Field House.
CLAIR STILL PERFECT: Redshirt sophomore Sean Clair battled through the weekend against two of the best teams in the country in No. 14 Edinboro and No. 9 Northwestern. Clair was able to keep his dual record perfect with a 4-3 decision over Edinboro's Ricky Deubel at the "War at the Shore", and a 2-0 decision Sunday, Dec. 16 against Eric Metzler of No. 9 Northwestern.
ROUGH WEEKEND: The Eagles lost their first and second matches of the season last weekend after starting the year 4-0. No. 14 Edinboro picked up a 31-6 win at the Third Annual "War at the Shore" Dec. 14, and No. 9 Northwestern posted a 29-6 win two days later at Bowen Field House.
CONFERENCE BESTS: Two Eagle wrestlers picked up Mid-American Conference awards last week. True freshman Andrew Novak was named the MAC Wrestler of the Week after posting a 4-0 record during the first week of dual competition. Senior Charlie Pienaar picked up the MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week Award after posting a 2-2 mark. Pienaar, a physical education major carries a 3.84 GPA.
MR. PERFECT(S): Three Eagle wrestlers remain perfect on the season. Redshirt sophomores Sean Clair (4-0) and David Pienaar (3-0) and true freshman Andrew Novak (4-0) head into Friday’s match against the No. 15 ranked Fighting Scots of Edinboro with unblemished dual records.
LEAN ON ME: Heading into the final match of the day against Liberty, Dec. 8, EMU found itself down 16-9. After Andrew Novak and Sean Clair scored winning decisions, the stage was set for David Pienaar, who needed to score a major decision to win the match for the Eagles. Pienaar did just that, defeating Tim Harner 10-2, keeping the Green and White perfect on the year.
CAMPBELLSVILLE SWEEP: EMU tallied a 3-0 record to sweep the Campbellsville Duals, Dec. 8. The Eagles defeated Newberry 24-11, Campbellsville 33-6 and Liberty 17-16.
CONFERENCE OPENER: The Eagles avenged an 18-15 loss to Ohio a year ago with a 31-6 drubbing of the Bobcats, Dec. 6 in Bowen Field House. EMU took eight of 10 matches from OU in its season and MAC dual opener.
BUDDING RIVALRY: Last year’s match with the Bobcats saw the teams even at 15-15 heading into the final match of the night. Redshirt sophomore Josh Lewis would put forth a valiant effort, but came up just short in the 7-6 decision.
ROOKIE NO MORE: Head Coach Derek DelPorto begins his second season at the helm of the Green and White wrestling program. Last season, DelPorto led the Eagles to a 1-4 record in MAC competition. The lone win, against Buffalo (Feb. 3), was the first in conference competition for EMU since the 2005 season. DelPorto also improved the team’s finish at the season-ending conference tournament, registering a fifth place finish, the highest finish for an EMU team since
STRONG START: Redshirt sophomore and No. 19 ranked Sean Clair has gotten off to a strong start this season. He is the lone Eagle wrestler to place at both opens this season. At the EMU Open he posted a 4-1 record and collected third place honors in the 133 lbs. weight class. At Michigan State he went 4-2 on the day and took home fifth place honors. Clair’s 8-3 mark on the year is tops for Green and White wrestlers.
SIX PLACERS AT MSU: The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team had six wrestlers place at the MSU Open. Finishing in fifth place on the day were Wes Schroeder, Jake Wood, Josh Lewis and Sean Clair. Finishing sixth were Jacob Fairchild and Mike Maguire. The one day tournament attracted more than 300 wrestlers from around the country.
TWO FOR THE SHOW: Two EMU wrestlers enjoyed place finishes at the EMU Open, Nov. 3. No. 19 ranked redshirt sophomore Sean Clair posted a 4-1 record on the day and finished third in the 133 lbs. weight class. Redshirt freshman David Wade tallied a 4-2 mark and finished in fifth place in the heavyweight class.
FIRST TIME OUT: Six Eagle freshman recorded two or more wins in their first collegiate competition, Nov. 3 at the EMU Open. Derek Foore (165 lbs.), Justin Joseph (149 lbs.), Jordan McGuire (125 lbs.), and Wes Schroeder (285 lbs.) all posted 2-2 marks on the day. Corey Phillips (149 lbs.) tallied a 3-2 record and J.J. Johnson (149 lbs.) posted a rookie best, 6-2 mark.
AHEAD OF THE REST: Head Coach Derek DelPorto stayed busy during the recruiting period, signing 13 wrestlers to this year’s squad. The 2007 class, DelPorto’s first here at EMU, was ranked 23rd in the nation by InterMat Wrestling. This marks the first recruiting class to be nationally ranked in EMU wrestling history.
CLAIR NATIONALLY RANKED: Redshirt sophomore Sean Clair was ranked No.19 in the 133 lbs. weight class of the pre-season NWCA Divison I national rankings. Clair posted a 28-11 overall record and a 11-3 dual meet record during his freshman year for the Green and White.
TOUGH SCHEDULE: To be the best, you need to beat the best, and EMU will certainly have its chances this season. The Green and White will wrestle against four of the top 20 teams in the nation in No. 5 Michigan, No. 6 Northwestern, No. 10 Central Michigan and No. 16 Edinboro. Also recieving votes for the top 25 and on the EMU schedule this year is Lehigh.
