Pienaar, Novak Advance to Championship Matches

KENT, Ohio — The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team finished the first day of competition at the Mid-American Conference Championship held at Kent State University's MAC Center, in fourth place. Central Michigan holds a six and a half point lead over the host Kent State Golden Flashes. Northern Illinois stands in third with 41.5 team points followed by EMU and Ohio University with 19.5 points each. The University at Buffalo sits in sixth place with 17.5 points on the night.

A total of 10 Eagles started the day with the goal of advancing to the NCAA Tournament, but only three will have the opportunity to do so at the start of competition tomorrow. Redshirt senior Charlie Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Trafford), redshirt sophomore David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) and true freshman Andrew Novak (New Boston, Mich.-Huron) advanced to the second day of action.

“I tell these guys stories, how anyone can beat anyone on any given day,” said head coach Derek DelPorto. “Today, Andrew [Novak] proved that story can hit close to home, and it did. Just over a month ago he was major decisioned by Smith, and tonight the shoe was certainly on the other foot."

After pinning Heath Allen (Ohio) in the first round, Novak met No. 1 seeded and No. 18 ranked Luke Smith (Central Michigan) in the semi-final round of the 125-pound weight class.

Smith struck first, scoring a two-point takedown less than a minute into the first period. Novak answered with an escape and takedown of his own, taking the 3-2 advantage with 1:16 left in the first frame. Two more escapes from Smith and a takedown from Novak brought the first period to an end with Novak ahead 5-4. Smith scored the only points in the second period, a two-point reversal, giving him the 6-5 lead heading into the final period. In the bottom position for the start of the third period, Novak escaped and tied the match with 44 seconds left on the clock. Seconds later, Novak brought the crowd to its feet with a takedown, recapturing the lead at 8-6. Not content to run the clock out, Novak earned three points on a near fall in the closing seconds, closing out the upset of the day, 11-6. Novak will meet Nic Bedelyon (Kent State) in the championship match tomorrow. Bedelyon handed Novak a 16-9 defeat earlier this season.

Charlie Pienaar and Eric Chine (Kent State) battled to a 2-1 decision in an earlier Valentine’s Day dual match, with Chine taking the win. Today in the semi-final round, Pienaar avenged that loss with a 10-6 triple overtime victory. After a scoreless first period, Pienaar escaped to take a 1-0 lead 10 seconds into the second period. Chine reversed to take a 2-1 lead, but was penalized a point for a hand lock, tying the score at 2-2 with 1:45 remaining in the third period. Pienaar added another escape to take a 3-2 lead before Chine regained the lead at 4-3 with a takedown. Pienaar escaped again, knotting the match at 4-4 with 40 seconds left. After ending the final period tied at 4-4, they battled through the first sudden victory overtime still tied at four. After a set of 30 second tiebreakers, the match remained tied at 5-5. Another sudden victory period and set of tiebreakers went by, but the score remained tied, now at 6-6. In the third sudden victory period, Pienaar scored a two-point takedown and followed it with a two-point near fall, ending the 12-minute match with the 10-6 win. Pienaar squares off tomorrow against No. 1 seeded and No. 4 ranked Christian Sinnott of CMU.

“Charlie never stopped wrestling the entire time and that is why he won the match,” DelPorto said about his senior transfer from Slippery Rock. “He got a few calls made against him that may not have been the right decision, but he fought through them and made it happen. I am very proud of his performance tonight and equally impressed with his ability to wrestle a 12-minute match. Not many people can do that.”

After dropping a 9-2 decision to No. 1 seeded Bubba Gritter (Central Michigan) in the semi-final round of heavyweight action, red-shirt freshman David Wade met Dave Benner (Northern Illinois) in the second round of the consolation bracket. Wade was able to control the match from the beginning, scoring a two-point takedown for the early lead. Just like their first match-up earlier this season, the two fought for seven tough minutes, with Wade again earning the winning decision. Tomorrow, Wade will meet Jeff Parker (Buffalo), who defeated him 5-2 earlier this season.

Seven other Eagles competed today, with their season coming to an end. Redshirt sophomore and No. 15 ranked Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum) dropped a 7-5 decision in overtime to Conor Beebe (Central Michigan) in the 133-pound class. Zach Donofrio (Monroe, Mich.-Dundee) and David Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Greensburg Central Catholic) also lost in the first round of the consolation bracket in the 141 and 149-pound weight classes respectively.

At 157, senior Cory Mancuso (Brockway, Pa.-Brockway) suffered a 6-2 setback in the semi-final match to Bryan O’Connor (Northern Illinois) before falling 9-4 in the first round of the consolation bracket to Pat Lloyd (Buffalo), bringing an end to his wrestling career for the Green and White. Mancuso was an integral part of coach DelPorto’s transition to EMU, following his coach from Slippery Rock. The No. 1 ranked wrestler in the 157-pound weight class of the MAC for most of the season, Mancuso put together an 11-match winning streak to round out the year, winning 13 of his last 14 dual matches. His senior leadership coupled with a second best 21 wins on the year, helped the 2008 Eagles set the record for wins in a season (15).

“It’s always tough to watch a senior wrestle the last match of his career. It’s even harder to watch a kid like Cory who works so hard and who has been such a great leader to this team and my team at Slippery Rock. Cory will be a great teacher and coach one day and will use his experiences to guide somebody to greatness. I’m proud to be Cory’s coach and even prouder to be his friend,” said DelPorto of senior captain Mancuso.

Redshirt sophomore Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley) and true freshman Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) also fell in the opening round of the consolation bracket in the 165 and 174-pound weight classes respectively. Junior John McClure (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) was defeated by MAC Wrestler of the Year, Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan), in the semi-final round of the 197-pound weight class. In the first round of consolation action, McClure dropped a 4-2 decision to Chris Immarino (Ohio).

Championship and consolation matches commence tomorrow at Noon, inside the MAC Center.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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