Feb. 24, 2006

Kutztown, Pa. - After the opening night of the NCAA Division II East Regional, six of the nine Mercyhurst College wrestlers in the tournament have made it through to the semifinals in their respective weights.

Three-time defending champ Pitt-Johnstown leads the team standings after day one with 56.5 points. Gannon is second with 47 and the Lakers are third with 44. West Liberty (39), Shippensburg (34), Kutztown (31), Newberry (25.5), Anderson (25), Limestone (21.5), UNC-Pembroke (13), Belmont-Abbey (6) and American International (0.5) complete the first day standings.

Leading the way for Mercyhurst is Don Cummings (149), who has a pair of falls. One of just two Lakers not to receive a first round bye, Cummings dispatched his opening round opponent, Joe Fiederspiel of Limestone, in 2:44. He then moved to the quarterfinals, where he took care of Newberry's Matt Black in 2:40.

Will Tedder (157) won his quarterfinal bout by fall, as well. He needed just 51 seconds to defeat John Roberts of UNC-Pembroke. Zack Schafer (165) also pinned a Pembroke grappler in the quarters, winning by fall over Jamitra Davis in 5:10.

J.J. Zanetta (141), the second 'Hurst wrestler without a first round bye, picked up a pair of decisions. He won in the first round 8-7 in overtime over Alex Renn of Shippensburg and then picked up a 4-3 win in the quarters.

Leonard Calhoun grabbed a 3-2 win in the quarterfinals at 133 and Hudson Harrison took an 8-7 win at 174 to complete the Mercyhurst contingent in to reach the semis.

Three other Lakers are still alive in the consolations. Payne Lint (125), Frank Zatta (184) and Paul Bergman (197) are all still in the tournament after dropping quarterfinal bouts. All three received byes in the consolation bracket.

Day One Bracket
Day One Complete Results

Mercyhurst Results