Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eagles Host Season Finale
2/4/2008 4:23:00 PM | Wrestling
Duals matches against Northern Illinois, Clarion and Gardner-Webb
Complete Release (PDF)
YPSILANTI, Mich. - After setting the single-season win record last Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Ithaca College Quad, the Eastern Michigan University wrestling team looks to add to their win total at the final home matches of the year. The Eagles wills host Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois along with Clarion University and Garder-Webb College, Saturday, Feb. 9. EMU currently sits in a third place tie with NIU in the MAC standings at 2-1.
HOME IS WHERE YOU MAKE IT: The Eagles close out the home portion of their 2007-08 schedule with three dual matches this Saturday, Feb. 9. EMU hosts Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois along with Clarion and Gardner-Webb.
IN THE BOOKS: With their win against Mercyhurst Feb. 2, the Eagles set a new single-season win record, with 13 dual victories on the year. The previous record was set over 30 years ago, by the 1974-75 squad.
SENIORS LED THE WAY: Seniors Cory Mancuso and Charlie Pienaar accounted for 29 total team points at the Ithaca College Quad, Feb. 2. Both wrestlers tallied multiple bonus point wins, including a pin, going 3-0 for the day.
PINS EQUAL WINS: The Eagles registered at least one pin in each of their three matches at the Ithaca College Quad, Feb. 2. In all, five different wrestlers tallied falls, Cory Mancuso (157), David Wade (285), Andrew Novak (125), Derek Foore (174) and Charlie Pienaar (184).
ROAD TRIP: The Eagles traveled to Ithaca, N.Y., Feb. 2, competing in the Ithaca College Quad. There, EMU wrestled duals against Ithaca, Binghamton and Mercyhurst, posting a 3-0 record.
THREE-PEAT: Redshirt sophomore Sean Clair won his third Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Week Award of the year, Jan. 29. The No. 16 ranked wrestler in the latest USA Today/Intermat/NWCA wrestling rankings is in the midst of a 19-match winning streak and stands at 26-3 for the year. His three MAC honors are the most by any wrestler in the conference.
CONFERENCE BESTS: Redshirt sophomores Sean Clair and Justin Brandel are still perfect in Mid-American Conference competition, standing at 3-0 on the year. Against CMU, Clair was a 1-0 decision winner over Conor Beebe while Brandel was a 3-1 winner over Pete Puckett.
CLAIR CLIMBS THE MAC: Redshirt sophomore Sean Clair entered last weekend’s match against the Chippewas’ Conor Beebe as the No. 4 ranked wrestler in the 133-pound class in the MAC. Beebe, who was ranked No. 3, did not score a point, losing by a 1-0 count.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team hosted in-state rival Central Michigan University, Jan. 26. The match against the No. 5 ranked Chippewas coincided with an EMU-CMU gymnastics match. CMU was able to pick up their 10th win of the season, knocking off the Eagles 22-12.
SETTING COURSE FOR CLEVELAND: The Eagles traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 12, for a dual against the Vikings of Cleveland State. EMU avenged an 18-15 loss a year ago, defeating CSU 22-12.
DOING IT BIG IN TEXAS: Redshirt senior Charlie Pienaar and redshirt sophomore Sean Clair both wrestled their way to 4-0 records at the 11th Annual Lone Star Duals held Jan. 5, at South Grand Prairie High School in Arlington, Texas.
CLOSING IN ON THE RECORD BOOKS: Sean Clair, who stands at 26-3 overall on the year is just four wins shy of cracking the top 10 list in the EMU record books for wins in a season.
TWO OUT OF THREE: The Eagles posted a 2-1 record at the Wolverine Quad, Dec. 30, at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. EMU defeated Lehigh, 20-16, and Buffalo, 21-12, while falling to No. 7 ranked Michigan, 33-6.
EARLY JUMP: 125 and 133 pounders Andrew Novak and Sean Clair combined for 22 of EMU’s 47 total team points at the Wolverine Quad. Both wrestlers were able to give the Green and White the early lead in all three matches contested.
GIVING THE BUSINESS: EMU recorded a 42-0 shutout win over Olivet College, Dec. 20. Four out of the 10 matches were bonus point wins for the Eagles.
CLAIR STILL PERFECT: Redshirt sophomore Sean Clair is still perfect in dual action this season. He sports a 26-3 overall mark as well as a 18-0 dual mark.
ROUGH WEEKEND: The Eagles lost their first and second matches of the season Dec, 14-16, 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 Dec. 16, at Bowen Field House.
CONFERENCE BESTS: Two Eagle wrestlers picked up Mid-American Conference awards for the period ending Dec. 11. 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 after posting a 2-2 mark. Pienaar, a physical education major, carries a 3.84 GPA.
LEAN ON ME: Heading into the final match of the day against Liberty, Dec. 8, EMU found themselves down 16-9. After Novak and 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.
CAMPBELLSVILLE SWEEP: EMU tallied a 3-0 record to sweep the Campbellsville Duals held Dec. 8, in Campebellsville, Ky.. 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, at Bowen Field House. EMU took eight of 10 matches from OU in its season and MAC dual opener.
