YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team picked up a win, loss and a tie here Saturday afternoon at the EMU Quad in Bowen Field House. The Eagles defeated Gardner-Webb, 32-12, in the opening match before falling to Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois, 16-15, in the featured match of the day. In the final match, the Eagles and the Golden Eagles wrestled to a 16-16 draw.
For the year, EMU moves to 15-6-1 (2-2 MAC), with two dual matches remaining on the year.
Seniors Cory Mancuso (Brockway, Pa.-Brockway) and Charlie Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Trafford), and redshirt sophomore David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) all posted perfect records for the second consecutive weekend in quad competition.
In the first match of the day, the Eagles defeated Gardner-Webb, 32-12, taking seven of 10 matches from the Bulldogs. The Eagles raced out of the gates to an 18-3 lead over GWU. The Eagle offensive was powered by four bonus-point matches. Wade recorded his third first-period pin in the last four matches, needing just 1:27 to defeat Wendell Wilson. Redshirt sophomore Zach Donofrio (Monroe, Mich.-Dundee) and Mancuso both tallied major decisions in the 141-pound and 157-pound matches respectively, while redshirt sophomore Nick Hendrick (Columbiaville, Mich.-Powers Catholic) made his first start of the year in the 165-pound contest, needing just 1:39 to pin Brendan Couture.
In the second match of the day, the Eagles squared-off against MAC rival Northern Illinois. Ryan Burk, ranked No. 13 in the latest Intermat/NWCA/USA Today rankings, started the match off with a 19-8 major decision over Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth), giving the Huskies a 4-0 lead. The Eagles answered, winning the ensuing three matches to take a 9-4 lead.
Charlie Pienaar jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Brad Dieckhaus after a first period takedown and did not look back, taking the 184-pound match 5-1. Junior John McClure (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) blanked Jake Smith in the 197-pound match 4-0, tallying a takedown, an escape and a point awarded for riding time accumulated. In the heavyweight match, Wade and David Benner were knotted at 1-1, with each earning an escape. With :18 remaining in the third period Wade maneuvered his way into a takedown, sealing his fifth consecutive win by a 3-1 count.
After a 10-3 decision in favor of T.J. Wunnicke in the 125-pound match, the Eagles held a slight 9-7 lead over the Huskies going into the match of the day. The 133-pound contest featured two of the best wrestlers in the country in No. 16 Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) and No. 10 Pat Castillo. Clair struck first, scoring a takedown just over a minute into the first period. Castillo evened the score at 2-2, scoring a takedown of his own with just :27 remaining in the second period. Clair started the third period in the top position with over a minute of riding time accumulated. With just :46 seconds remaining in the period, Castillo took the lead 4-2 on a reversal. Clair was awarded one point for riding time, but was unable to escape as his 19-match winning streak was ended, giving the Huskies a 10-9 advantage.
NIU increased their lead to 16-9 after wins in both the 141-pound and 149-pound matches. Mancuso kept hope alive for the Green and White, carding a 9-5 decision over Bryan Deutsch in the 157-pound match and closing the gap to 16-12. In the final match, redshirt sophomore Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley) started strong, earning an a takedown seconds into the first period followed by two near-falls, taking a 7-0 lead into the start of the second period. After a scoreless second period, Brandel needed just one point to secure a major decision for the Eagles. With :45 remaining in the match, he scored a two-point reversal to go up 9-0, but was countered by Anthony Victor, who reversed 10 seconds later to bring the score to 9-2. Brandel ended a 9-2 winner by decision, bringing the final score to 16-15 in favor of the Huskies.
EMU and Clarion battled to a 16-16 tie in the final match of the day, with each team taking five matches, including one major decision for each side. Picking up wins for EMU was Clair, 4-2 over Rob LaBrake at 133, Donofri, 13-10 over Sal Lascari at 141, Mancuso, 7-4 over Travis Uncapher at 157, Charlie Pienaar, 5-1 over Scott Joseph at 184 and Wade, who scored his second bonus point win on the day with a 10-2 major decision over Roman Husam.
The Eagles close out MAC action this Thursday, Feb. 14, traveling to Kent, Ohio to battle the Golden Flashes of Kent State University. The Valentine’s Day match is set to start at 7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan 32 Gardner-Webb 12
141 lbs. –
Zach Donofrio (EMU) maj. dec. Charles Franz (GWU) 13-5
149 lbs. – Edward McCray (GWU) dec.
Drew Lesko (EMU) 4-2
157 lbs. –
Cory Mancuso (EMU) maj. dec. Austin Reece (GWU) 12-2
285 lbs. –
David Wade (EMU) fall Wendell Wilson (GWU) 1:27
Eastern Michigan 15 Northern Illinois 16
133 lbs. – No. 10 Pat Castillo (NIU) dec. No. 16
Sean Clair (EMU) 4-3
174 lbs. – No. 13 Ryan Burk (NIU) maj. dec.
Derek Foore (EMU) 19-8
184 lbs. – Charlie Pienaar (EMU) dec. Brad Dieckhaus (NIU) 5-1
285 lbs. –
David Wade (EMU) dec. David Benner (NIU) 3-1
Eastern Michigan 16 Clarion 16
133 lbs. – No. 16
Sean Clair (EMU) dec. Rob LaBrake (CU) 4-2
149 lbs. – Hadly Harrison (CU) maj. dec.
David Pienaar (EMU) 13-3
174 lbs. – Mario Morelli (CU) dec.
Derek Foore (EMU) 4-2
184 lbs. – Charlie Pienaar (EMU) dec. Scott Joseph (CU) 5-1
285 lbs. –
David Wade (EMU) maj. dec. Roman Husam (CU) 10-2
