CLARION, Pa.— Redshirt junior Chris Jenkins (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) made quick work of Cameron Moran with a pin at 1:47 and redshirt freshmen Corey Phillips (Canton, Mich.-Canton) and redshirt sophomore David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) each recorded decisions, but it would not be enough as the Eastern Michigan University wrestling team was dropped by Clarion University, 21-12, Friday evening, Nov. 21, here at the Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. Prior to the match, over 40 United States Armed Forces veterans were honored for serving their country.
With the loss, the Eagles fall to 1-3, while Clarion earned the victory in their first match of the season, putting them at 1-0.
The match began with Clarion’s Jay Ivanco defeating redshirt freshman Jordan McGuire (Miamisburg, Ohio-Miamisburg), 8-3, in the 125 lb. weight class.
Down 3-0, the Eagles would respond with two straight victories thanks to Jenkins’ pin (1:47) at 133 and Phillips’ 8-4 decision over Sal Lascari at 141 to take a 9-3 lead after three bouts.
Clarion would then open the floodgates on the Eagles. Despite several close and intense bouts, the Golden Eagles took the next six in-a-row, all by way of decision, and poured-on 18 unanswered points to take a commanding 21-9 lead heading into the final segment of the competition.
At 149, redshirt freshman J.J. Johnson (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford) fell to Greg Lewis in a see-saw match, 6-5. Johnson led 4-2 after two periods but then surrendered four points and could not recover.
Redshirt sophomore Nick Hendrick (Columbiaville, Mich.-Powers Catholic) dropped his fifth straight bout to Hadley Harrison, 4-2, at 157. Hendrick took a 2-0 lead into the final 20 seconds of play, but then allowed Harrison an escape followed by a takedown with just five seconds remaining.
In the 165 lbs. division, it was Dominic Ross who knocked-off redshirt junior Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley), 13-6. Redshirt freshman Tommy St. Louis (Neosho, Mo.-Neosho) just missed his fourth victory of the season, dropping a 3-2 nail-biter to Scott Joseph at 174. Joseph recorded a takedown in the closing moments of the final frame to break the tie.
Sophomore Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) lost to Clint Podish, 5-2, at 184. Podish tallied three points in the third period to break a 2-2 tie.
Jamie Luckett bested senior John McClure (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) in the tie-breaker, 5-2, at 197. Tied 1-1 after regulation time, McClure pulled ahead 2-1 with an escape. Luckett responded with an escape of his own and added a takedown for a total of three points in the overtime to claim the victory.
The Eagles would salvage three team points in the final bout of the day, as Wade staved-off Quintas McCorkle in the heavyweight division, 2-1.
The match ended with Clarion on top, 21-12, a result which could have easily been tilted in the visiting team's favor. In five out of ten bouts the Eagles either led their opponent or were deadlocked headed into the final minute. Coach Derek DelPorto said of his team's misfortunes, "We outwrestled Clarion for six minutes and 50 seconds. Unfortunately, a match is seven minutes long."
The Eagles will stay on the road for their next match Wednesday, Nov. 26, when they square-off against their first Mid-American Conference foe of the season, the University at Buffalo, in Buffalo, N.Y. The action is set to get underway at 1 p.m.
EMU 12 vs. CLARION 21
125 lbs.- Jay Ivanco (CL) dec. Jordan McGuire (EMU) 8-3
133 lbs.- Chris Jenkins (EMU) pin Cameron Moran (CL) 1:47
141 lbs.- Corey Phillips (EMU) dec. Sal Lascari (CL) 8-4
149 lbs.- Greg Lewis (CL) dec. J.J. Johnson (EMU) 6-5
157 lbs.- Hadley Harrison (CL) dec. Nick Hendrick (EMU) 4-2
165 lbs.- Dominic Ross (CL) dec. Justin Brandel (EMU) 13-6
174 lbs.- Scott Joseph (CL) dec. Tommy St. Louis (EMU) 3-2
184 lbs.- Clint Podish (CL) dec. Derek Foore (EMU) 5-2
197 lbs.- Jamie Luckett (CL) dec. John McClure (EMU) 5-2 OT
HWT- David Wade (EMU) dec. Quintas McCorkle (CL) 2-1
