Jan. 14, 2006

Cedar Falls, Iowa - The Mercyhurst wrestling team finished 1-2 at the NWCA Cliff Keen Nationals Duals at Northern Iowa. The Lakers dropped their opening match to Central Oklahoma, rebounded in the consolations to defeat Minnesota State-Moorehead, and then lost to Pitt-Johnstown.

Jason Weslager (133) and Zack Schafer (165) each won a pair of bouts to lead Mercyhurst. Frank Zatta scored the Lakers lone pin in the three matches.

In the Lakers opening round match, the team came up on the short end of a 32-6 match against #5-ranked Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos won eight of the ten matches, with the only Laker wins coming at 125-pounder freshman Payne Lint and 165-pounder junior Zack Schafer.

With the loss, Mercyhurst moved into the consolation bracket and defeated Minnesota-Moorehead by a final score of 26-15.  After Moorehead jumped out to a 6-0 lead, the Lakers won the next four bouts. 

Jason Weslager picked up a 19-7 major decision at 133 to start the run.  Decisions by J.J. Zanetta, Don Cummings and Will Tedder followed to put Mercyhurst ahead 13-6.  Hudson Harrison later won a major decision, 13-5, at 174 for a 17-9 advantage.

Frank Zatta picked up Mercyhurst's first fall of the duals with 0:43 second pin at 184 to give the Lakers a 23-9 lead and seal the win.  Paul Bergman followed with a decision at 197.

The Lakers then advanced to face Pitt-Johnstown in the next round of the consolations, where the Mountain Cats eliminated the Lakers from the competition with a 31-7 final.

Jason Weslager and Zack Schafer were the lone Lakers to win bouts in the match. Weslager notched a 4-3 decision at 133, which cut the Mountain Cat lead to just two in the early going. Then, at 165, Schafer scored a 14-5 major decision. UPJ had extended its lead to 12 points before Schafer's win cut the deficit to 15-7. UPJ won the final four bouts to take control and send Mercyhurst home.

Bout-by-bout results are as follows:

Central Oklahoma 32, Mercyhurst 6
125 - Payne Lint (M) dec. Shane Caruthers, 6-2
133 - Earl Jones dec. Jason Weslager (M), 6-5
141 - Kyle Evans dec. J.J. Zanetta (M), 7-1
149 - Shea Timothy pinned Don Cummings (M), 6:11
157 - Jason Leavitt major dec. Will Tedder (M), 17-3
165 - Zack Schafer (M) dec. Cort Petersen, 11-7
174 - Jared Hess pinned Hudson Harrison, 1:13
184 - Kenny Meredith dec. Frank Zatta (M), 7-5
197 - Heath Jolley dec. Trevor Gallo (M), 7-0
HWT - Josh Leadingfox major dec. Nick Marcellino (M), 13-5

Mercyhurst 26,  Minnesota State Moorhead 15
125 - Joe Werner (Mn-Moor) WBF Payne Lint (Merc), F 1:51
133 - Jason Weslager (Merc) WBD Troy McFarland (Mn-Moor), M 19-7
141 - J.J. Zanetta (Merc) WBD Ben Keen (Mn-Moor), D 9-8
149 - Don Cummings (Merc) WBD Peter Hayes (Mn-Moor), D 8-4
157 - Will Tedder (Merc) WBD Kyle Trout (Mn-Moor), D 14-11
165 - Nathan Baker (Mn-Moor) WBD Zach Schafer (Merc), D 8-5
174 - Hudson Harrison (Merc) WBD Bryan Cowdin (Mn-Moor), M 13-5
184 - Frank Zatta (Merc) WBF Tony Soderberg (Mn-Moor), F 0:43
197 - Paul Bergman (Merc) WBD Joe Facchini (Mn-Moor), D 10-3
285 - Chris Tuchscherer (Mn-Moor) WBF Nick Marcellino (Merc), F 2:30

University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown 31, Mercyhurst College 7
125 - Ryon Mazzocco (Pitt-Johns) WBF Payne Lint (Merc), F 3:42
133 - Jason Weslager (Merc) WBD Brandon Reasy (Pitt-Johns), D 4-3
141 - Thad Benton (Pitt-Johns) WBD J.J. Zanetta (Merc), D 3-1
149 - Jay Matteo (Pitt-Johns) WBD Brian Pogel (Merc), D 5-3
157 - Joe Strittmatter (Pitt-Johns) WBD Don Cummings (Merc), D 12-6
165 - Zach Schafer (Merc) WBD Rob Sakmar (Pitt-Johns), M 14-5
174 - Adam Musisko (Pitt-Johns) WBD Gerred Tolson (Merc), D 6-0
184 - Mike Corcetti (Pitt-Johns) WBD Trevor Gallo (Merc), D 7-3
197 - Mike Fowler (Pitt-Johns) WBF FORFEIT
285 - Zach Majocha (Pitt-Johns) WBD Nick Marcellino (Merc), M 8-0