Wrestling Sweeps Campbellsville Duals, Now 4-0

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team remained perfect on the year with a combined 3-0 performance at the Campbellsville Duals held at Powell Gymnasium, Dec. 8, in Campbellsville, Ky. EMU defeated Newberry, 24-11, Campbellsville, 33-6, and Liberty, 17-16, on the day and has won 10 of its last 11 dual matches dating back to last season. The 4-0 start to the 2007-08 season marks the best start for an Eagle wrestling team in school history.

The Green and White started off the day against Newberry, the No. 9 ranked team in the latest USA Today/NWCA/Intermat Division II rankings. The Eagles were able to pull off the 24-11 win behind strong performances by redshirt sophomores Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley) in the 165 pound class and Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) in the 133 pound class.

Brandel shutout No. 9 ranked Alonso Azumendi, 9-0, earning the major decision while Clair shutout the No. 5 ranked Andrew Young 6-0. Also posting wins against Newberry was senior Cory Mancuso (Brockway, Pa.-Brockway Area), true freshmen Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) and Andrew Novak (New Boston, Mich.-Huron), and the Pienaar brothers, senior Charlie Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Trafford) and redshirt sophomore David Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Greensbarg Central Catholic).

“Our one-two-three punch of Novak, Clair and Pienaar came through. To have a true freshman have a 4-0 week is pretty impressive,” said head coach Derek DelPorto. “We’re really looking forward to seeing where Novak will be once he gets use to the weight class. This week was his first time down to 125 and he looks sharp and composed.”

In the second match of the day, the Eagles easily handled host Campbellsville, 33-6, taking eight of 10 matches from the Tigers. Redshirt sophomore Rece Cox (Canton, Mich.-Westland John Glenn) opened the match up with a 16-0 tech fall over Ryan Ross. Mancuso followed with an 11-3 major decision over George Sheppard to give EMU the early lead.

The Green and White would close out the match taking the final six matches from the Tigers. Scoring major decisions were Charlie Pienaar, 13-3 over Josh Deadrick, redshirt sophomore Jake Wood (Miamisburg, Ohio-Miamisburg), and Novak, 14-5 over Daniel Rucker. McClure and redshirt sophomore Zach Donofrio (Monroe, Mich.-Dundee) would post 4-3 and 8-2 decisions respectively in the 197 pound and 141 pound weight classes. Clair would earn his first pin of the season; needing just 25 seconds to complete the 133 pound match against Corey Striplin.

In the final match of the day, Eastern needed three straight wins to score the come-from-behind 17-16 win over Liberty. Novak, a 5-3 winner over Sean Katz and Clair, a 3-2 overtime winner against Christian Smith, set the stage for David Pienaar in the final match of the night. Pienaar needed to score a major decision to give the Eagles the win, and did just so with a 10-2 mark over Tim Harner in the 141 pound contest.

“The Liberty match was tougher than what we expected, but exactly what we needed,” said DelPorto. “We needed to challenge ourselves and come from behind and put pressure on the back-side of the line up. For David to have to get the major decision for us to win and do it against a solid kid was exciting.”

DelPorto and the Eagles will be in action again Friday, Dec. 14 as they travel to Edinboro, Pa. for the “War on the Shore” against the No. 15 ranked Edinboro Fight Scots. Match time is set for 8 p.m.

EMU 24 Newberry 11
125 lbs. - Andrew Novak (EMU) dec. Matt Oliver (NC) 8-5
133 lbs. - Sean Clair (EMU) dec. Andrew Young (NC) 6-0
141 lbs. - David Pienaar (EMU) maj. dec. Dec Miller (NC) 12-1
149 lbs. - Latra Collick (NC) dec. Rece Cox (EMU) 4-2
157 lbs. - Cory Mancuso (EMU) maj. dec. Christian Johnson (NC) 11-2
165 lbs. - Justin Brandel (EMU) maj. dec. Alonso Azumendi (NC) 9-0
174 lbs. - Derek Foore (EMU) dec. Bryant Blanton (NC) 11-4
184 lbs. - Charlie Pienaar (EMU) dec. Keeno Griffen (NC) 4-0
197 lbs. - Kelly Anundsen (NC) fall John McClure (EMU) :35
285 lbs. - Cy Wainwright (NC) dec. Jake Wood (EMU) 7-3

EMU 33 Campbellsville 6
125 lbs. - Andrew Novak (EMU) maj. dec. Daniel Rucker (CU) 14-5
133 lbs. - Sean Clair (EMU) fall Corey Striplin (CU) :25
141 lbs. - Zach Donofrio (EMU) dec. Kyle Norred (CU) 8-2
149 lbs. - Rece Cox (EMU) tech. fall Ryan Ross (CU) 16-0
157 lbs. - Cory Mancuso (EMU) maj. dec. George Sheppard (CU) 11-3
165 lbs. - Chris Branam (CU) dec. Justin Brandel (EMU) 5-4
174 lbs. - Johnny Sinchok (CU) dec. Derek Foore (EMU) 6-4 OT
184 lbs. - Charlie Pienaar (EMU) maj. dec. Josh Deadrick (CU) 13-3
197 lbs. - John McClure (EMU) dec. Glen Jackson (CU) 4-3
285 lbs. - Jake Wood (EMU) maj. dec. Chad Brown (CU)

EMU 17 Liberty 16
125 lbs. - Andrew Novak (EMU) dec. Sean Katz (LU) 5-3
133 lbs. - Sean Clair (EMU) dec. Christian Smith (LU) 3-2 OT
141 lbs. - David Pienaar (EMU) maj. dec. Tim Harner (LU) 10-2
149 lbs. - Zac McCray (LU) dec. Rece Cox (EMU) 9-4
157 lbs. - Cory Mancuso (EMU) dec. Shaun Smith (LU) 6-1
165 lbs. - Chad Porter (LU) maj. dec. Justin Brandel (EMU) 10-0
174 lbs. - Aaron Kelly (LU) dec. Derek Foore (EMU) 9-3
184 lbs. - Nick Knowles (LU) dec. Charlie Pienaar (EMU) 3-2
197 lbs. - John McClure (EMU) maj. dec. Jonathan Campbell (LU) 12-2
285 lbs. - Patrick Walker (LU) dec. Jake Wood (EMU) 3-1

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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