Eagles Shutout Comets, 42-0

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team ended its two-match losing streak with a convincing 42-0 shutout win over Olivet College Thursday evening here at Bowen Field House. With the win, the Green and White improves to 5-2 on the season while the Comets drop to 2-4.

“You could tell how well conditioned we are out there, from one end of the lineup to the other,” said head coach Derek DelPorto. “Hopefully we can ride this win to December 30th when we face three tough teams including a national top 10 squad. But for now, these guys are going to go home and spend some well-deserved time with their families.”

Senior Cory Mancuso (Brockway, Pa.-Brockway Area) started the night with a 2-0 decision over Jason Brew in the 157-pound match. After a scoreless first period, Mancuso would take a 1-0 lead on an escape seconds into the second period. The score would stand at 1-0 through the second and third periods, with Mancuso tacking on a point for riding time, giving him the 2-0 win.

Redshirt sophomore Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley) was able to overcome a three-point deficit in the first period to score the 10-5 decision for EMU at 165 pounds. Two first-period takedowns put Olivet's Daron Cruickshank up 4-0 early on before Brandel would string together a series of escapes and a takedown to knot the match at four Cruickshank would re-take the lead at the start of the second period with an escape out of a bottom start while holding Brandel scoreless for the stanza. Brandel would tie the match at five before a flurry of scoring in the closing minute. A two-point takedown and three-point near fall secured the match for Brandel.

Up 6-0 after two matches, the Eagles would open the floodgates with two straight pins in the 174 and 184 pound matches. True freshman Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) at 174 and senior Charlie Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Trafford) wrestling at 184, both scored first-period pins, increasing the Green and White lead to 18-0.

In the 197-pound contest, John McClure (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) would earn a two-point reversal midway through the second period to take the 2-0 lead over Joe Yurisich. McClure would yield two escape points to Yurisich before adding a riding point time, winning the match by a 3-2 decision.

Redshirt sophomore David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) would strike first with a two-point takedown less than a minute into the opening period en route to an 8-2 decision at heavyweight. Wade would tack on a reversal in the second period and takedown in the third before earning one point for riding time to close out the match.

Redshirt sophomores Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) and David Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Greensbarg Central Catholic) would both earn pins in the 133 and 141-pound matches. Clair, the reigning Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week, would amass an 11-0 lead by the end of the second period. With just :30 seconds expired off the clock in the final round, Clair would finish off Adam Wilson for his seventh dual win on the year. David Pienaar would equal his brother Charlie tonight, scoring a first-round pin at 141 after being up 2-0.

Also posting winning decisions on the night were true freshman Andrew Novak (New Boston, Mich.-Huron) and redshirt sophomore Zach Donofrio (Monroe, Mich.-Dundee). Novak, an 11-5 winner in the 125 pound contest, would earn his fourth duel win of the year. Donofrio rounded out the night for the Eagles with a 5-3 decision in the 149 pound match.

The Eagles are now off for Christmas break and will pick up action again Sunday, Dec. 30, as they travel just down the road to the University of Michigan where they will square off against the No. 7 ranked Wolverines along with Lehigh University and Mid-American Conference rival Buffalo.

Eastern Michigan 42, Olivet 0
125	Andrew Novak (EMU) dec. Blair Mellish (OC), 11-5
133	Sean Clair (EMU) pinned Ben Wilson (OC), 6:30
141	David Pienaar (EMU) pinned Ben Hitchcock (OC), 1:59
149	Zach Donofrio (EMU) dec. Vince Lahar (OC), 5-3
157	Cory Mancuso (EMU) dec. Jason Brew (OC), 2-0
165	Justin Brandel (EMU) dec. Daron Cruickshank (OC), 10-5
174	Derek Foore (EMU) pinned Joe McAllister (OC), 1:37
184	Charlie Pienaar (EMU) pinned Dayne Fletke (OC), 1:22
197	John McClure (EMU) dec. Joe Yurisich (OC), 3-2
285	David Wade (EMU) dec. Sean Misko (OC), 8-2

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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