Eagles go 2-1 at home duals to start 2014-15 campaign

WIREMAN GOES 3-0 AT 125LBS

Shayne Wireman

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University wrestling team kicked off its 2014-15 campaign with two victories in the EMU Duals, while six grapplers placed in the EMU Open at Bowen Field House Saturday, Nov. 15.

The Eagles came away with victories over Southern Illinois Edwardsville (22-18) and Lock Haven (25-13), but were unable to hold off the powerful No. 16 Northwestern Wildcats in their first dual of the afternoon, falling 26-6. Sophomore Shayne Wireman came out strong to open up his 2014-15 campaign, winning all three of his bouts, while Anthony Abro, Nicholas Barber, and Brandon Zeerip each notched two wins on the afternoon.

In the open portion of the event, Derek Davison secured the top finish for the Green and White, placing second, while freshman Armando Torres finished third for EMU.

The Eagles opened up their 2014-15 dual campaign against Big Ten opponent Northwestern University with a quick start as Wireman picked up his first dual victory of the season, earning an 8-3 decision over Garrison White. Despite dropping the next five bouts, fans would see a hard-fought battle out of Nicholas Barber as he took a 1-1 tie into the final seconds of the 149 lb. bout against defending national champion Jason Tsirtsis. Tsirtsis picked up the narrow 2-1 victory after eclipsing over one minute of riding time.  The Green and White picked up one final victory in the dual when redshirt-senior Collin Zeerip made his debut in the EMU singlet. C. Zeerip held the lead for most of the bout and was able to secure the 9-7 decision over Ben Sullivan in a sudden victory. EMU gave up just two extra-point bouts to the nationally-ranked program, falling 26-6 in its first dual of the season.

The Green and White picked up its first dual victory of the season when it earned a 22-18 win over SIUE in its second dual of the afternoon. Wireman secured his first pin of the season in 3:28 to give Eastern the early 6-0 advantage, but Pizzuto was unable to hold off Patrick Myers of SIUE as he escaped with a 4-1 decision to bring the Cougars within one of EMU. The Eagles went on to win the next three bouts, two of which were extra-point victories, to extend their lead to 19-3 at the halfway point. SIUE did not give in, coming back to win three-straight bouts to bring itself within one of the Green and White. Abro put the dual away for Eastern Michigan when he took a 5-1 decision over Cole Rogers. SIUE grabbed the final victory of the bout, but the win would not be enough as EMU secured a 22-18 victory over the Cougars.

Eastern garnered its second dual win of the afternoon, while Wireman capped off his perfect day with a 12-0 major decision over Lock Haven's Kaleb LeMaire at 125 lbs. Pizzuto extended the Eagles' lead to 7-0, picking up his first victory of the season with a 4-2 sudden victory before the Bald Eagles grabbed a 6-1 decision in the 141 lb. weight class to bring LHU within four.  The Green and White took the 19-3 lead as Barber, B. Zeerip, and Devan Marry all earned victories. Barber and B. Zeerip both grabbed decisions over their opponents, while Marry picked up the extra-point pin at 165 lbs. in 3:18. Lock Haven started to creep back into the dual, winning the next two bouts, but Abro again but the match out of reach when he pinned LHU's Phil Sprenkle to give Eastern the 25-9 advantage heading into the final bout. Lock Haven grabbed one final extra-point win the heavyweight division to finalize the score at 25-13 EMU.

Redshirt-freshman Blake Caudill received a bye in the 125 lb. weight class before falling in a 10-5 decision in the second round to send him to the consolation braket. Caudill came away with a pin in 6:13 over Robert Ragatzki, but was unable to make his way back to the championship round as he fell in to Sebastian Vidika of Ashland in a 7-5 decision. In his second tournament as an Eagle, Torres took three-straight bouts in the 125 lb. weight class to make his way into the semifinal round. Torres was unable to come away with a win in the semifinals, falling by pin to Stephen Ireland of Notre Dame Ohio, but came back in the third-place round with a pin of his own in just three seconds to take home the first tournament placing of his career.

Freshman Ben Calandrino made his way into the quarterfinal bout after receiving a bye and pinning Nick Baker in 5:58 but was unable to hold off Central Michigan's Carter Ballinger, falling in a 10-3 decision to send him to the consolation bracket at 133 lbs.

The Green and White entered five grapplers at 141 lbs., but the weight class would not see any matchups between the teammates. Transfer Kyle Springer grabbed two pins at 141 lbs. while working his way through the consolation bracket. Springer could not hold on in the semifinals of the consolation bracket but did secure a win by forfeit in the seventh-place match for EMU. Freshman Ben Griffin also saw success in the 141 lb. weight class, nabbing three decisions, but his day came to a close after falling in a major decision in the fourth round of consolation action. Redshirt-senior Jake Byers and freshmanLaRone Mack each earned one victory apiece before being eliminated from the open.

Eastern also entered three wrestlers in the 157 lb. open meet as Justin Melick led the way with his five wins. After winning the first round in an exciting tiebreaker, Melick dropped his second round by decision before winning four-straight matches to make his way into the fifth-place bout. The redshirt-junior could not hold off Joey White of Findlay, falling in a 5-3 decision to take home a sixth-place finish. Redshirt-sophomore Mitchell Malott grabbed two decisions, while Rocco Borg secured one decision at 157 lbs.

The Eagles saw success at 165 lbs. as both Davison and Dakota Juarez won three-straight bouts to make their way into the semifinals. Davison saw the most success out of any Green and White grappler, placing second in the open portion of the day. Davison won five-straight matches to make his way into the finals at 165 lbs. The redshirt-junior took three bouts by decision, one of which came over Juarez, and grabbed one major decision on the afternoon. Davison was unable to cap off his day with a first-place victory, falling to Bryce Martin of Indiana in a 9-5 decision in the championship bout. After falling into the consolation bracket with a loss to Davison, Juarez earned a 9-5 decision over Jordan Atienza of Central Michigan to earn a third-place finish.

At 174 lbs., freshman Kayne MacCallum won his first two bouts, including a shutout 8-0 major decision over Michigan State's Shane Shadaia, but was unable to hold off Nick Mitchell of Edinboro in the quarterfinals, sending him to the consolation bracket. The freshman grappler did not let the loss slow him down, winning three-straight bouts, two by decision and one by major decision, to earn a fifth-place finish for the Green and White.

The Eagles will travel to Bloomsburg, Pa. to take on the Bloomsburg University Huskies in a Friday night dual, Nov. 21. The first bout is slated to start a 7 p.m. Following the Green and White's match with the Huskies, EMU will make the short jaunt to Philadelphia, Pa. for the Keystone Classic Sunday, Nov. 23.


Eastern Michigan Duals

Northwestern defeats Eastern Michigan, 26-6
125: Shayne Wireman (EMU) dec. Garrison White (NU), 8-3 (EMU, 3-0)
133: Dominick Malone (NU) dec. Vincent Pizzuto (EMU), 16-9 (Tied, 3-3)
141: Jameson Oster (NU) dec. Michael Shaw (EMU), 7-1 (NU, 6-3)
149: No. 1 Jason Tsirtsis (NU) dec. Nicholas Barber (EMU), 2-1 (NU, 9-3)
157: Bryce Brill (NU) dec. Brandon Zeerip (EMU) 7-4 (NU, 12-3)
165: No. 4 Pierce Harger (NU) dec. Devan Marry (EMU), 6-0 (NU, 15-3)
174: Collin Zeerip (EMU) dec. Ben Sullivan (NU), 9-7, SV (NU, 15-6)
184: Mitch Sliga (NU) dec Mike Curby (EMU), 8-6 (NU, 18-6)
197: No. 10 Alex Polizzi (NU) maj. dec. Anthony Abro (EMU), 12-2 (NU, 22-6)
HWT: No. 1 Mike McMullan (NU) maj. dec. Gage Hutchison (EMU), 15-3 (NU, 26-6)

Eastern Michigan defeats Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 22-18
125: Shayne Wireman (EMU) pinned Kenny Baldridge (SIUE), 3:28 (EMU, 6-0)
133: Patrick Myers (SIUE) dec. Vincent Pizzuto (EMU), 4-1 (EMU, 6-3)
141: Michael Shaw (EMU) dec. Angelo Silvestro (SIUE), 7-6 Tiebreaker (EMU, 9-3)
149: Nicholas Barber (EMU) maj. dec. Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE), 15-5  (EMU, 13-3)
157: Brandon Zeerip (EMU) wins by injury default over Eric Travers (SIUE), 5:00 (EMU, 19-3)
165: Connor McMahon (SIUE) dec. Austin Geerlings (EMU), 7-2 (EMU, 19-6)
174: Jake Residori (SIUE) wins be injury default over Collin Zeerip (EMU), 4:38 (EMU, 19-12)
184: Derek Nagel (SIUE) dec. Mike Curby (EMU), 6-5 (EMU, 19-15)
197: Anthony Abro (EMU) dec. Cole Rogers (SIUE), 5-1 (EMU, 22-15)
HWT: Chris Johnson (SIUE) dec. Cole Dillman (EMU), 3-1 (EMU, 22-18)

Eastern Michigan defeats Lock Haven, 25-13
125: Shayne Wireman (EMU) maj. dec. Kaleb LeMaire (LHU), 13-0 (EMU, 4-0)
133: Vincent Pizzuto (EMU) dec. Ronnie Perry (LHU), 4-2 SV (EMU, 7-0)
141: Bobby Rehm (LHU) dec. Michael Shaw (EMU), 9-2 (EMU, 7-3)
149: Nicholas Barber (EMU) dec. Dan Neff (LHU), 2-0 (EMU, 10-3)
157: Brandon Zeerip (EMU) dec. Elias Biddle (LHU), 3-2 (EMU, 13-3)
165: Devan Marry (EMU) pinned Aaron McKinney (LHU),  3:18 (EMU, 19-3)
174: Tyler Wood (LHU) dec. Austin Geerlings (EMU), 6-4 SV (EMU, 19-6)
184: Fred Garcia (LHU) dec. Mike Curby (EMU), 4-1 (EMU, 19-9)
197: Anthony Abro (EMU) pinned Phil Sprenkle (LHU), 4:17 (EMU, 25-9)
HWT: Brad Emerick (LHU) maj. dec. Gage Hutchison (EMU), 17-7 (25-13)

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