Clarion 22 Bloomsburg 18

CLARION TOPS BLOOMSBURG 22-18 IN NCAA D-I WRESTLING

(Bloomsburg, Pa.): Clarion won six of ten matches, including #5 James Fleming’s (Jr. West Mifflin) big win at 157-pounds and heavyweight Quintas McCorkle’s (Sr. Alexandria, Va.) final win giving the Golden Eagles a 22-18 upset win over Bloomsburg on Friday night in NCAA Division I Wrestling.

Held at Bloomsburg’s Nelson Fieldhouse, the win raised Clarion’s overall record to 2-6 and 1-3 in the EWL, while Bloomsburg dropped to 14-6 overall and 1-3 in the EWL.

The wrestling match between Clarion and Ohio University in Athens, Ohio on Saturday night as been postponed (See Clarion Notes).

Clarion led the dual 19-18 entering heavyweight when McCorkle and Bloom’s Zac Walsh hit the mat. After Walsh escaped in the second for a 1-0 lead, McCorkle scored a single leg takedown on the edge of the mat in front of the Husky bench to jump in front 2-1. Walsh escaped on the restart to tie 2-2 ending the second period. McCorkle escaped to start the third for a 3-2 lead and won the bout and the dual for the Golden Eagles.

Down 8-0 after the first two weight classes, the Eagles responded with four consecutive wins by Tyler Bedelyon at 141, Cameron Moran at 149, James Fleming at 157 and Bekzod Abdurakhmonov a165 to take a 16-8 lead.

Bedelyon led 4-1 in the first period with two takedowns, had a two point near fall and a takedown in the second for a 9-4 lead, and an escape, takedown and riding time for a big 13-4 major decision over Derek Shingara at 141.

Cameron Moran notched an impressive 9-6 win over Bryce Busler at 149. Moran’s four-point move to open the match gave him a 4-1 lead after the first. A takedown at the end of the second put him ahead 6-4 with over 3 minutes of riding time. Two third period escapes and riding time led him to his win.

Fleming, ranked fifth in the nation, pulled a big win over fourth ranked Frank Hickman at 157. No score entering the third period when Fleming chose top. He pulled Hickman down straight to his back for a three-point near fall to start the third fdor a 3-0 led. Hickman escaped, then took Fleming down with 16 seconds remaining, but he had 1:17 on the riding clock, so Hickman had no choice but to let Fleming escape with 10 seconds left for a 4-3 lead. Riding time made the final 5-3.

Abdurakhmonov, ranked #5 in the nation at 165-pounds, led 5-1 in the third period when he was able to cradle Chuck Hartnett and pin him at 5:31 to give Clarion a 16-8 lead.

Clarion’s Nick Milano took Mike Dessina to his back in the first period and nearly pinned the favored Husky at 174. With Milano ahead 5-0, Dessina reversed back and then pinned Milano at 2:55 to bring Bloomsburg back to within 16-14.

Clarion’s Steven Cressley decisioned Sam Shirey 4-2 at 184-pounds to give Clarion a 19-14 lead. Cressley had a first period takedown and riding time to get his win.

After Bloom’s Richard Perry posted an 18-9 major decision over Alex Thomas at 197, the Huskies pilled to within 19-18, setting up McCorkle’s heroics.

MATCH NOTES: Fleming is now 19-2, Abdurakhmonov 23-4, McCorkle 19-10; Moran 11-12, Bedelyon 12-13; Cressley 12-10… Clarion is 23-18-1 all-time against Bloom and 19-16-1 in EWL matches.

CLARION NOTES: (Athens, Ohio): The Ohio University wrestling team contacted Clarion head wrestling coach Matt Dernlan on Friday afternoon and requested a postponement of the match on Saturday between the Golden Eagles and the Bobcats for medical reasons….Coach Dernlan agreed and the match has been postponed. The two programs will discuss potential makeup dates next week.


125- Sean Boylan (BL) tech. fall Trey Hicks (CL) 16-0; 5:48
133- Nick Wilcox (BL) dec. Joe Waltko (CL) 5-2
141 – Tyler Bedelyon (CL) maj. dec. Derek Shingara (BL) 13-4
149 – Cameron Moran (CL) dec. Bryce Busler (BL) 9-6
157 – James Fleming (CL) dec. Frank Hickman (BL) 5-3
165 – Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (CL) wbf Kevin Hartnett (BL) 5:31
174 – Mike Dessino (BL) wbf Nick Milano (CL) 2:55
184 – Sam Shirey (BL) Steven Cressley (CL) dec. Sam Shirey (BL) 4-2
197 – Alex Thomas (CL) Richard Perry (BL) maj. dec. Alex Thomas (CL) 18-9
285 – Quintas McCorkle (CL) dec. Zac Walsh (BL) 3-2
CLARION: 2-6; 1-3 EWL
BLOOMSBURG: 14-6; 1-3 EWL