Sports

Wrestling team has high expectations

Clarion head wrestling coach ,Teague Moore, enters his fifth season with the Golden Eagles.

Assistant coach Zach Sheaffer joins head wrestling coach Moore to help bring Clarion’s NCAA Division I program and tradition back to life.

Sheaffer, 24, a former All-America heavyweight wrestler at University of Pittsburgh, replaces former assistant coach Ethan Bosch, who stepped down from the position over the
summer.

Clarion starts its 2010-11 wrestling season on Nov. 6, hosting the Clarion Open.

Moore has worked hard to return the Golden Eagles wrestling program back to its glory days of the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Clarion was 8-8 last year, including wins over two top-25 ranked teams in Old Dominion University and North Carolina University, and placed third at both the Eastern Wrestling
League and PSAC Championships.

Clarion’s James Fleming was the PSAC Freshman of the Year.

Fleming became the second straight Clarion wrestler to claim the PSAC Freshman of the Year award, following teammate Clint Podish last year.

Fleming finished his freshman year with a 28-8 record, qualifying for the NCAA Division I championships, where he went 0-2 at 149 pounds to end his season.

He placed fourth at the PSAC championships and second at the EWL championships.

Fleming also placed third at the Body Bar Invite and posted a 5-2 record at the Midlands Tournament.

After the Midlands Tournament, he had 16 straight wins, and was ranked fifteen in the nation at 149.

He won his opening bout at EWL’s over Mike Rowe (WV) by a 1-0 score, but lost in the finals to Torsten Gillespie of Edinboro University 3-0.

Last season, Fleming had six falls, six technical falls and three major decisions in his 28-win season.

He was twice named the PSAC “Wrestler of the Week”.

Fleming came to Clarion from West Mifflin High School where he had a career record of 130-15.

He was a four-time PIAA Place winner and a three-time WPIAL champion.

“The expectations are high this season. We hope to finish in the top two at the EWL and PSAC Championships. The team is ready for the season and they have set their goals high.
With a little luck and everyone staying healthy, this Clarion wrestling team has the opportunity to be great,” Moore said.

Clarion has some major matches this season.

They go to Chapel Hill to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels.

They travel to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech.

They also host West Virginia and Pitt.

Wrestling at 125 will be Trey Hicks and Thomas Gowings.

At 133 are Jay Ivanco, Joe Waltko and Devin Cook.

In the 141 pound weight class is Cameron Moran and Colby Pisanni. At 149 it will be Anthony White.

At 157 will be James Fleming and Kyle Fluck.

At 165 is Bekzod Abdurakhmonov.

Following at 174 pounds is Scott Joseph and Josh Sadler.

At 184 is Steven Cressly. At 197 are Clint Poddish and Alex Thomas.

Wrestling at 285 is the heavyweight Quintias McCorkle.