ITHACA, N.Y. — The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team made the most of their trip to the Empire State, posting a perfect 3-0 record on the day. The Eagles defeated Binghamton, 31-6, Mercyhurst, 29-9, and Ithaca, 29-12, here Saturday afternoon at Benlight Gymnasium inside the Hill Center. With the win against Mercyhurst, the 2007-08 Eagles set the all-time single-season win record at 13, surpassing the 1974-75 squad.
For the year, EMU moves to 14-5 (2-1, MAC), with five dual matches remaining, including two Mid-American Conference matches.
Seniors Cory Mancuso (Brockway, Pa.-Brockway) and Charlie Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Trafford), redshirt sophomores No. 16 ranked Sean Clair (Turtlecreek, Pa.-Plum), Zach Donofrio (Monroe, Mich.-Dundee) and David Wade (Beavercreek, Ohio-Beavercreek) all posted perfect records, helping lead the Green and White on the day.
In the first match of the day the Eagles easily defeated the Binghamton Bearcats, 31-6, giving them their 12th win of the season and tying the 1974-75 squad. EMU jumped out to a 10-3 lead behind a 13-4 major decision from freshman Andrew Novak (New Boston, Mich.-Huron) in the 125-pound match and decisions from Donofrio and Clair, winning the 133-pound and 141-pound matches respectively.
Heading into the third period of the 157-pound contest, Mancuso trailed Nate Patterson 2-0 late in the third period. Mancuso reversed and pinned Patterson with 1:13 remaining in the match, spawning an EMU surge, winning four of the final five matches. Also, posting wins against the Bearcats was Justin Brandel (Saginaw, Mich.-Swan Valley) 5-0 in the 165-pound class, Charlie Pienaar, 14-7 in the 184-pound class, John McClure (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa), a 4-0 winner at 197-pounds, and Wade, a winner by pin fall in the first period of the heavyweight match.
Against Mercyhurst, the No. 12 ranked team in the latest Intermat/NWCA Division II rankings, the Eagles took seven of 10 matches from the Lakers. Novak, Clair, Donofrio, Mancuso, Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth), Charlie Pienaar and Wade all posted winning decisions in the 29-9 victory over Mercyhurst.
With their second win of the day, the Eagles won their 13th match of the year, a new single-season record. "It feels good to know that we're in the record books and that these guys and the coaching staff will always be known as the team that broke that record," said second-year head coach Derek DelPorto.
In the final match of the day, against Ithaca College, ranked No. 21 in the latest Brute/Adidas Division III national rankings, the Eagles faced an uphill battle after falling behind 12-3 four matches in.
EMU relied on senior leadership to get back into the match, starting with a technical fall from Mancuso in the 157-pound match. Taking a 4-1 lead into the second period, Mancuso turned the heat up, registering multiple near-falls and widening his margin to 10-1. Two takedowns and a point for riding time were added late in the third, giving him the 17-2 victory, closing the gap to 12-8 in favor the Bombers.
Brandel continued the comeback with a 12-5 decision in the 165-pound match that featured six takedowns, including three in the second period alone. Brandel's decision knotted the score at 12-12, with four matches remaining. The ensuing two matches swung the momentum in favor of the Eagles. Foore and Charlie Pienaar recorded first-period pins, bringing the score to 24-12 in favor of the Green and White.
"I was real proud of the effort that our team showed today," said assistant coach David Bolyard. "We had a few calls not go our way, but we still figured out how to fight through it, and found a way to win."
McClure would tack on a 13-3 major decision in the 197-pound match before Wade earned a 5-0 decision in the heavyweight, his third shutout decision on the day. "Hats off to David Wade's performance today, not one point scored against him, a testament to what he can do when he gains confidence," said DelPorto.
"We had a solid day and persevered against Ithaca when the momentum was in their favor," stated Mancuso. "It feels good setting the record today, but our winning this season isn't done, we still have five matches until the conference championship and our goal is to win each one of those matches."
The Eagles return to action for the final home matches of the season, Saturday, Feb. 9. EMU will host Clarion, Gardner-Webb and MAC rival Northern Illinois in Bowen Field House. First match is set for a noon start, with action continuing throughout the afternoon.
Eastern Michigan 31 Binghamton 6
125 lbs. – Andrew Novak (EMU) maj. dec. Tyler Mamlberg (BU) 13-4
133 lbs. – No. 16 Sean Clair (EMU) dec. Mike Kleemna (BU) 5-1
141 lbs. – Zach Donofrio (EMU) dec. Anwar Goeres (BU) 8-4
149 lbs. – No. 15 Kyle Fried (BU) dec. David Pienaar (EMU) 5-2
157 lbs. – Cory Mancuso (EMU) fall Nate Patterson 5:47
165 lbs. – Justin Brandel (EMU) dec. Brett Nelson (BU) 5-0
174 lbs. – No. 17 Josh Patterson (BU) dec. Derek Foore (EMU) 10-4
184 lbs. – Charlie Pienaar (EMU) dec. Matt Beretta (BU) 14-7
197 lbs. – John McClure (EMU) dec. Corey Waite (BU) 4-0
285 lbs. – David Wade (EMU) fall Daniel Bittner (BU) 1:03
Eastern Michigan 29 No. 12 Mercyhurst 9
125 lbs. – Andrew Novak (EMU) fall Payne Lint (MC) 6:13
133 lbs. – No. 16 Sean Clair (EMU) tech. fall Lance Pitcel (MC) 17-0
141 lbs. – Zach Donofrio (EMU) dec. Braxdon Scaletta (MC) 6-2
149 lbs. – No. 3 Brian Pogel (MC) dec. Drew Lesko (EMU) 8-4
157 lbs. – Cory Mancuso (EMU) dec. Andy Lamancusa (MC) 8-1
165 lbs. – Hudson Harrison (MC) dec. Justin Brandel (EMU) 6-1
174 lbs. – Derek Foore (EMU) dec. Jeremiah Hill (MC) 5-0
184 lbs. – Charlie Pienaar (EMU) forfeit
197 lbs. – Trevor Gallo (MC) dec. John McClure (EMU) 5-4
285 lbs. – David Wade (EMU) dec. Kenny Bluska (MC) 2-0
Eastern Michigan 31 vs. No. 21 Ithaca College 12
125 lbs. – John Gregory (IC) dec. Andrew Novak (EMU) 4-3
133 lbs. – Chad Winowich (IC) dec. 9-2 Vince Licari (EMU) 9-2
141 lbs. – Zach Donofrio (EMU) dec. Will Horwath (IC) 9-5
149 lbs. – Blaine Woszczak (IC) fall David Pienaar (EMU) 1:52
157 lbs. – Cory Mancuso (EMU) tech. fall John Paxos (IC) 17-2
165 lbs. – Justin Brandel (EMU) dec. John Dale (IC) 12-5
174 lbs. – Derek Foore (EMU) fall David Priest (IC) 2:52
184 lbs. – Charlie Pienaar (EMU) fall Brandon Stark (IC) 2:56
197 lbs. – John McClure (EMU) maj. dec. David Sbriscia (IC) 13-3
285 lbs. – David Wade (EMU) dec. Joe Goetz (IC) 5-0