2014 PSAC Wrestling Championship: Edinboro Wins Fourth-Straight
EDINBORO CAPTURES FOURTH STRAIGHT PSAC TITLE
Brackets
Team Scores
Bloomsburg, Pa. – Edinboro clinched the program's fourth straight PSAC Wrestling Championship title on Saturday in Bloomsburg, Pa. with 189.5 team points.
The Fighting Scots were led by nine individual champions at the 72nd PSAC Wrestling Championships;
Kory Mines (125),
A.J. Schopp (133),
Mitchell Port (141),
David Habat (149),
Kasey Davis (157),
Casey Fuller (165),
Zachary Towers (174),
Victor Avery (184), and
Vincent Pickett (197). Schopp, Port, and Habat all made PSAC history as the first trio of wrestlers from one institution to become four-time PSAC champions in the same year. The nine individual champions are an Edinboro and PSAC record.
Kutztown’s
Ziad Haddad was the individual heavyweight champion, earning a 20-6 major decision over
Evan Daley of Clarion. It is Haddad’s first PSAC Individual title since transferring to Kutztown in 2012. The Division II top-ranked and defending national heavyweight champion was also named the PSAC Championship Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Edinboro has won the last four PSAC titles, nine crowns in the last ten seasons, and 15 overall under head coach Tim Flynn.
Lock Haven finished second with 130.5 points to mark its best team finish since the 2003-04 season. Mercyhurst finished in a program-best third place with 95.5 points. Kutztown came-in fourth with 79 points, also marking a program-best, while Clarion finished fifth with 74.5 points.
Team Standings
1. Edinboro (189.5 pts.)
2. Lock Haven (130.5 pts.)
3. Mercyhurst (92.5 pts.)
4. Kutztown (79 pts.)
5. Clarion (74.5)
6. Pitt-Johnstown (74 pts.)
7. Bloomsburg (55.5 pts.)
8. Gannon (42.5 pts.)
9. East Stroudsburg (20 pts.)
10. Seton Hill (18.5 pts.)
11. Shippensburg (9.5 pts.)
12. Millersville (9 pts.)
Individual Finishes
First Place
125 lbs. – #1 Kory Mines (EDIN) dec. #2 Willie Bohince (MER) 8-0
133 lbs. – #1 A.J. Schopp (EDIN) tech. fall over #2 Ronnie Perry (BLM) 19-4
141 lbs. – #1 Mitchell Port (EDIN) fall #2 Bob Rehm (LHU) 2:30
149 lbs. – #1 Dave Habat (EDIN) dec. #3 Jeremy Landowski (MER) 15-6
157 lbs. – #1 Kasey Davis (EDIN) dec. #2 Francis Mizia (MER) 14-7
165 lbs. – #1 Casey Fuller (EDIN) dec. #2 Aaron McKinney (LHU) 3-2
174 lbs. – #2 Zachary Towers (EDIN) fall #1 August Mizia (MER) 1:42
184 lbs. – #1 Victor Avery (EDIN) dec. #2 Fred Garcia (LHU) 5-2
197 lbs. – #1 Vincent Pickett (EDIN) major Mike Mirra (BU) 8-0
Hwt. – #1 Ziad Haddad (KUTZ) major #3 Evan Daley (CLAR) 20-6
Third Place
125 lbs. – #4 Evan Link (UPJ) dec. #3 Kaleb Lemaire (LHU), 6-2
133 lbs. – #4 Andy Schutz (BU) dec. Travis Roper (KUTZ) 8-5
141 lbs. — #3 Sam Hanau (UPJ) dec. #4 Tanner Cahill (BLM) 4-2
149 lbs. — #2 Dan Neff (LHU) dec. #5 Colin Landowski (UPJ) 5-3
157 lbs. — #6 Matt Martoccio (KU) forfeit #3 Elias Biddle (LHU)
165 lbs. — #5 Slade Horner (CLAR) maj #4 Angelo Bortoluzzi (MER) 11-2
174 lbs. – #3 Mike Pavasko (CLAR) dec. #4 Tyler Wood (LHU) 7-2
184 lbs. – #3 Andre Petroski (KU) forfeit Luke Deluise (ESU)
197 lbs. – #4 Ryan Darch (CLAR) major #3 Adam Mackie (LHU) 21-7
Hwt. – #5 Warren Bosch (EDIN) dec. #6 Nick Budd (GAN) 3-2
Fifth Place
125 lbs. – #5 Mike Soria (SHU) dec. Seth Carr (CLAR) 6-3
133 lbs. – Mike Hafer (SHIP) forfeit Ryan Bohince (MER)
141 lbs. – Matt Benvenuto (KUTZ) major dec. Eric Januszkiewicz (ESU) 10-1
149 lbs. – Eric Lawadowski (GAN) dec. #6 Kevin Lauback (BLM) 7-4
157 lbs. – Garret Smith (GAN) forfeit #4 Zach Voytek (SHU)
165 lbs. – #3 Tyler Reinhart (UPJ) dec. Ian Shannon (MIL) 2-0
174 lbs. – #5 John Blankenship (UPJ) dec. Casey Bearden (BLM) 7-3
184 lbs. – Dan Sutherland (CLAR) dec. #4 Dakota DesLauriers (MER) 9-2
197 lbs. – Nikos Garafola (UPJ) forfeit Ryan Morris (GAN)
Hwt. – #4 Brad Emerick (LHU) fall in 5:44 #2 Andy Welton (MER)
SCHEDULE
| 7:45 a.m. |
Medical check |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Weigh-in |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Gates Open |
| 10:00 a.m. |
First & Second Round matches (4 mats) |
| |
First & Second Round Consolation Round Matches (4 mats) |
| |
Semifinals (2 mats) |
| |
Third Round Consolations (1 mat) |
| |
Semi-Consolations through completion Semifinals (3 mats) |
| 6:15 p.m. |
Opening Ceremonies |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Championships (3 mats) |
|
Awards following |
CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Bloomsburg, Pa. –12 teams from around the PSAC will meet for the 72nd PSAC Wrestling Championship on Saturday, December 6 hosted by Bloomsburg University. The action will get underway at 10 a.m. with Session One including two rounds of championship matches plus the semifinals, along with wrestlebacks through the consolation semifinals. Session Two will begin with the opening ceremonies at 6:15 p.m., with the medal rounds to follow at 6:30 p.m.
The tournament field is comprised of wrestlers from four Division I programs (Bloomsburg, Clarion, Edinboro, and Lock Haven) and eight Division II programs (East Stroudsburg, Gannon, Kutztown, Mercyhurst, Millersville, Pitt-Johnstown, Seton Hill, and Shippensburg).
Edinboro is in search of its fourth straight PSAC crown and ninth in the last 10 years. A year ago the Fighting Scots finished with 172.5 points to outdistance second place Bloomsburg (135 points). Lock Haven was third (102) and Clarion fourth (92). Mercyhust finished fifth with 90 points, while Pitt-Johnstown came in sixth (62).
A total of five 2013 champions return all hailing from Edinboro. The Fighting Scots showcase
Kory Mines at 125 lbs,
A.J. Schopp at 133 lbs.,
Mitchell Port at 141 lbs.,
Dave Habat at 149 lbs., and
Kasey Burnett-Davis at 157 lbs. Burnett-Davis, who clinched the 165 lb. title a year ago, and Mines are looking for their second straight PSAC crowns. Schopp, Port and Habat are pursuing PSAC history as the first trio of wrestlers from one institution to become four-time PSAC champions in the same year.
Lock Haven’s
Fred Garcia returns as the 2012 184 lb. champion, as does Edinboro’s
Vic Avery, who took the title in 2011. Lock Haven’s
Bobby Rehm will wrestle at 141 lbs. after winning the 125 lb. title in 2011 and 2012.
Here's a look at the 2014 PSAC Championships by weight class:
125 lbs. – After finishing as the runner-up to Lock Haven’s
Bobby Rehm in 2012, Edinboro’s
Kory Mines snatched the title in 2013 with an 8-2 decision over Pitt-Johnstown’s Dave Fogle. Mines, a 2014 Division I national qualifier, enters the weekend with an 8-2 record. Gannon’s two-time All-American
Matt Turek sits second in the Division II national rankings but he will not compete this weekend. Redshirt freshman
Korey Caudill will take his place with a 4-5 record. Just behind Turek is sophomore
Willie Bohince of Mercyhurst, who holds a 9-2 record and is ranked sixth in Division II. In 2013, Bohince claimed All-America status and was the Super Region One Champion. Pitt-Johnstown’s
Evan Link (3-0) has dropped a weight class from last season. Link placed sixth in 2013 at 133 lbs. and is currently ranked third in the region and eighth in Division II. East Stroudsburg’s
Anthony Marino (0-0) and Seton Hill’s
Mike Soria (5-0) are regionally ranked fourth and sixth, respectively. East Stroudsburg’s
Connor Maliff may also wrestle at 125 lbs. for the Warriors. Also competing at 125 lbs. is Bloomsburg’s
Elliot Zackoski (0-6), Clarion’s
Seth Carr (3-7), Kutztown’s
Nicholas DeMarco (3-5), Lock Haven’s
Kaleb LeMaire (8-7), Millersville’s
Austin Camacci (4-1), and Shippensburg’s
Josh Charles (0-5).
133 lbs. –
A.J. Schopp of Edinboro is pursuing his fourth PSAC championship title. A year ago he pinned Clarion’s Sam Sherlock in 1:59 in the championship bout. Schopp is ranked first nationally with a 4-0 record. The three-time EWL champion is a two-time All-American with a fourth place finish at the Division I championship the last two seasons. Lock Haven’s
Ronnie Perry is ranked 30th by WrestlingReport.com and currently holds the most wins of any 133 lb. wrestler this weekend with a 10-3 record. Mercyhurst’s
Ryan Bohince is second in Super Region One, while Gannon’s
Aaron Smith in third. Bohince, who wrestled 125 lbs. last season, is ranked eighth nationally. Gannon’s
Aaron Smith (3-2) is ranked third in the region, while Kutztown’s
Travis Roper (3-1) is sixth. Bloomsburg’s
Andy Schutz (6-5) competed for Seton Hill last season. Clarion will wrestle either
Matt Liggett (0-9) or
Joel Rosko (3-6), and either
Jim Harrison (1-2) or
Malachi Krenzelak (1-1) will represent Pitt-Johnstown. Also competing at 133 lbs. is East Stroudsburg’s
Marius Kola (3-4), Millersville’s
Zack Clingan (2-3), Seton Hill’s
Rodney Sunday (5-4), and Shippensburg’s
Mike Hafer (2-2).
141 lbs. – Like Schopp,
Mitchell Port (9-0) of Edinboro is a three-time PSAC titlist and a returning All-American. The Bellefonte native took third a year ago at the Division I national championship and placed second in 2013. Port is ranked second nationally and holds a 105-15 career record. Lock Haven’s
Bobby Rehm (8-6) will look to capture his third PSAC title in a new weight class. Rehm claimed the 125 lb. title in both 2011 and 2012. 2014 Division II national qualifier
Sam Hanau (1-0) of Pitt-Johnstown will likely make a run at the title, as he ranks second in Super Region One and seventh nationally. Just behind Hanau is Shippensburg’s
Cameron Throckmorton, who has a 5-0 start to the season including an 8-4 victory of Rehm. Mercyhurst’s
Kody Young (5-2) is ranked fourth regionally, while Gannon’s
Adam Weinell (5-7) is fifth. Seton Hill’s
Pat Owen has enjoyed a fast start to the year and enters the weekend with a 9-1 record. Also taking on the 141 lb. weight class is Bloomsburg’s
Tanner Cahill (7-6), Clarion’s
John Pezze (1-9), East Stroudsburg’s
Eric Januszkiewicz (2-4), Kutztown’s
Matt Benvenuto (5-3), and Millersville’s
Nick Haegele (4-3).
149 lbs. –
Dave Habat is the third of Edinboro's seniors in pursuit of a fourth straight PSAC championship. He is off to an 8-0 start and is ranked fourth by InterMat. Mercyhurst’s
Jeremy Landowski, who ranks fifth in Division II and first in Super Region One, will likely challenge Habat’s streak. Habat battled J. Landowski in the first round of the 2013 PSAC Championship and posted a 19-7 major decision victory. J. Landowski, the 2014 Super Region One 149 lb. champion and All-American, carries an 8-1 record into the weekend. Pitt-Johnstown’s
Cole Landowski will also look to challenge for the 149 lb. crown, as the 2014 national qualifier currently ranks eighth in Division II and fifth in Super Region One. Kutztown’s
Joe Esposito (3-1), ranked fourth in Super Region One, took third a season ago at the league championship with a pin in just 55 seconds against Macaulay Maldarelli of Lock Haven. Lock Haven’s
Dan Neff, ranked 23rd by WrestlingReport.com, is also in the mix with a 9-5 record and is coming of a second place showing at the Mat Town Open. Either Clarion’s
Blake Morder (1-4) or
Brodie Zacherl (8-8) will wrestle this weekend, while East Stroudsburg will pick between
Eric Howey (0-1) and
Ryan Todora (0-1). Also in the mix are Bloomsburg’s
Kevin Laubach (7-6), Gannon’s
Eric Lewandowski (0-0), Millersville’s
Nico Demetrio (6-1), Seton Hill’s
Tanner Druck (9-5), and Shippensburg’s
Mike Springer (1-3).
157 lbs. – Francis Mizia (8-1) of Mercyhurst,
Elias Biddle (10-4) of Lock Haven and
Zack Voytek (7-5) of Seton Hill finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively at the 2013 league championship. Mizia is ranked second in Super Region One, while Voytek is third. Biddle advanced to the semifinals of the PSAC Championship last season before falling to eventual champion Johnny Greisheimer of Edinboro. In wrestlebacks, Mizia, ranked seventh in Division II, defeated Biddle 9-8 to advanced to the third place bout. Other contenders include Kutztown’s
Matt Martoccio (5-2), Gannon’s
Garret Smith (11-4), Bloomsburg’s
Matt Hammerstone (1-6), Clarion’s
Evan DeLong (7-8), East Stroudsburg’s
Joey Kratochvil (6-4), Millersville’s
Shane Ruhnke (6-1), Pitt-Johnstown’s
Steve Edwards (0-3), and Shippensburg’s
Mark Lentz (0-4). Edinboro will chose between
Kasey Burnett-Davis (5-4), who won the 165 lb. title last season, and
Chase Delande (8-5).
165 lbs. – A new champion will be crowned at 165 lbs., with Burnett-Davis of Edinboro moving down to 157 lbs. Taking Burnett-Davis’ place is junior
Casey Fuller (5-2). Freshman
Tyler Reinhardt of Pitt-Johnstown (3-0) is ranked first in Super Region One and recently defeated No. 2
Bo Candelaria (4-3) of Kutztown 4-2 in overtime. Candelaria, a 2014 national qualifier, is currently ranked seventh nationally. Gannon’s
Casey Pace returns to the 165 lb. bracket and is 7-4 so far this season. East Stroudsburg’s
Joey Fogle (2-5) took sixth at 174 lbs. a year ago and will be wrestling at 165 lbs. this weekend. Mercyhurst’s
Angelo Bortoluzzi is off to a quick start with an 8-1 record. Bortoluzzi competed at 184 lbs. last season and ranks fifth in Super Region One. Lock Haven’s
Aaron McKinney enters the tournament having won the 165 lb. title at the Mat Town Open last weekend and holds a 9-5 overall record. Clarion’s
Slade Horner, Seton Hill’s
Ryan Walters, and Gannon’s
Casey Pace all have seven wins so far this year. Also competing at 165 lbs. is Millersville’s
Ian Shannon (4-1) and Shippensburg’s
Abner Thompson (0-4). Bloomsburg will pick between
Bradley Miccio (0-5) and
Brandon Meisner (1-5).
174 lbs. – 2013 runner-up
August Mizia (8-1) of Mercyhurst is favored at 174 lbs. and is ranked fourth nationally and first in Super Region One. Challenging Mizia will be Edinboro’s
Zach Towers (3-1), who placed third a season ago after being bumped into the third place bout with a 6-3 loss to Mizia in the semifinals. 2013 165 lb. semifinalist
Michael Pavasko (7-6) of Clarion will also be vying for the 174 lb. title. Seton Hill’s
Brett Smith (1-0) currently ranks third in Super Region One, while Pitt-Johnstown’s
John Blankenship (3-0) is fifth. Lock Haven’s sophomore
Tyler Wood has eight wins on the season, while Kutztown’s
Brandon Wolfe holds five victories. Also competing at 174 lbs. is Bloomsburg’s
Mark Granahan (0-6), East Stroudsburg’s
Dan Ingulli (1-5), Gannon’s
Jake Newara (3-4), Millersville’s
Shane Gilmore (0-2), and Shippensburg’s
Hunter Frenk (0-3).
184 lbs. – No. 13
Vic Avery (7-1) of Edinboro returns after finishing second at the 2013 PSAC Championship due to a medical forfeit. Avery won the 184 lb. title in 2011 and was the 2014 EWL champion and a two-time NCAA qualifier. Challenging Avery will be 2012 184 lb. champion
Fred Garcia (12-1) of Lock Haven. Garcia is currently ranked 25th by WrestlingReport.com, and clinched the 2012 title with a 4-1 decision over then-Bloomsburg’s
Andre Petroski (5-1). Petroski, now wrestling for Kutztown did not compete in 2013-14 for the Golden Bears and is ranked second in Super Region One. Gannon’s
Zack Zelcs is first in the region and eighth on the national rankings but will not compete this weekend; Gannon’s
Jake Stratton (7-6) will take his place. Pitt-Johnstown’s
Adam Nickelson (2-1), who is ranked fifth regionally, will replace national runner-up and 2013 PSAC champion Travis McKillop. Mercyhurst’s
Dakota DesLauriers (5-4) is fourth on the Super Region One rankings, while East Stroudsburg’s
Luke DeLuise (0-1) is sixth. Also competing at 184 lbs. is Bloomsburg’s
David Williams (1-5), Clarion’s
Daniel Sutherland (6-8), Millersville’s
Kyle Narber (5-2), and Shippensburg’s
Kyle Taylor (0-2).
197 lbs. – Edinboro’s
Vince Pickett (5-2) is looking to improve on his runner-up finish last season and third place medal in 2012 now that two-time PSAC champion Richard Perry of Bloomsburg has graduated. Pickett fell 7-2 to Perry in last year’s championship match. Kutztown’s
Brandan Clark (2-1), a 2012 NCAA qualifier, suffered an 8-3 semifinal loss to Perry last season and finished the tournament in fourth place. Clark is currently ranked third in the region, while Shippensburg’s
Jalal Paige (3-1) is first in Super Region One and eighth in Division II. Millersville’s
Aram Moffitt (4-1) is ranked fourth regionally followed by No. 5
Brian Beattie (2-4) of Mercyhurst, who placed fifth at the 2013 PSAC Championship. Lock Haven’s
Adam Mackie (5-4) wrestled at 174 lbs. last season and finished fourth after advancing to the semifinals and losing to eventual champion Mike Dessino of Bloomsburg. Clarion’s
Ryan Darch (7-6) also wrestled at 174 lbs. a season ago and finished in fifth. Additional wrestlers in the 197 lb. weight class include Bloomsburg’s
Mike Mirra (3-6), East Stroudsburg’s
Tyler Richardson (7-3), Pitt-Johnstown’s
Nikos Garafola (1-2), Seton Hill’s
Morris Lawson (9-5), and Gannon’s
Lorenzo Maddox (1-6) or
Ryan Morris (1-2).
Hwt – Division II’s top-ranked and defending national heavyweight champion
Ziad Haddad of Kutztown is undefeated heading into the weekend with six wins. Haddad has not allowed a takedown since the 2012-13 season. The 2014 PSAC and Division II Wrestler of the Year did not wrestle at the 2013 PSAC Championship. One of Haddad’s biggest challengers will be Clarion’s
Evan Daley (6-5), who advanced to the semifinal round and finished in fourth place last year. Daley fell 6-4 to Mercyhurst’s
Andrew Welton (6-2) in the third place bout. Welton ranks second to Haddad in Super Region One and is sixth on the national list. Gannon’s
Nick Budd (9-3), ranked fourth in the region, finished sixth at heavyweight last season, while East Stroudsburg’s
Tyson Searer (7-3) placed sixth at 197 lbs. Budd fell to Lock Haven’s
Brad Emerick (6-6) in the fifth place bout 2-0. Also taking to the mats this weekend at heavyweight is Bloomsburg’s
Shaun Heist (1-6), Edinboro’s
Warren Bosch (1-3), Millersville’s
Jordan Wertz (4-2), Pitt-Johnstown’s
D.J. Sims (0-3), Seton Hill’s
Max Gladstone (5-6), and Shippensburg’s
Francis Slover (2-3).