Red Raider Wrestling Falls Short in Upset Bid of No. 15 Mercyhurst

Feb. 10, 2008

ERIE, Pa. - A fall by Mercyhurst's Kenny Bluska at heavyweight over red-shirt freshman Jon Rhone (Chambersburg/Chambersburg) secured a 28-19 victory for the No. 15-ranked Laker wrestling team over Shippensburg Sunday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

Following a fall at 174 pounds by red-shirt freshman Chris Barrick (Carlisle/Big Spring), his fifth of the season, and a win by forfeit at 184 by red-shirt sophomore Jon Hade (New Oxford/Bermudian Springs), the Red Raiders took their first lead since a 7-3 advantage after 141.

However, Shippensburg (6-5) would forfeit at 197 pounds, giving Mercyhurst (9-12) a three-point lead and forcing the Red Raiders to record a major decision, technical fall or pin at heavyweight to avoid its third-straight dual match defeat against a top-15 opponent.

Second-ranked sophomore Steve Fittery (Denver/Cocalico) gave Shippensburg its first lead after totaling his second consecutive major decision, 9-1 over Braxdon Scaletta. The win was also his 20th victory of the season and the 56th of his career in just 66 career matches.

Fittery's victory at 141 enabled the Red Raiders to gain the lead only after freshman Gary Atiyeh (Whitehall/Whitehall) earned his first victory since December 8 and first in his first match at 133 pounds after posting a 3-3 record at 125.

The most exciting match of the afternoon came at 157 pounds where red-shirt senior Dan Nauman (Middletown/Middletown) brought a career-high six-match winning streak into today's match-up with eighth-ranked Andy Lamancusa. Having won 11 of his last 14, Nauman held a 10-8 lead with under 15 seconds remaining before Lamancusa scored a takedown to force overtime.

During the first period of sudden victory, Nauman appeared to have taken Lamancusa to the mat, but the referee ruled that Nauman was not in control and could not award him the two points for a takedown. As a result, Lamancusa was able to score two points with just seconds remaining to earn the victory.

Shippensburg has one final dual match this season at Kutztown on Wednesday, February 20. Match time is at 7:00 p.m., inside Keystone Hall.

#15 Mercyhurst 28, Shippensburg 19
125 - Payne Lint (MC) dec. Andrew Jones, 5-4 (MC 3-0)
133 - Gary Atiyeh (SU) dec. Lance Pitcel, 5-4 (Tie, 3-3)
141 - #2 Steve Fittery (SU) major dec. Braxdon Scaletta, 9-1 (SU 7-3)
149 - #3 Brian Pogel (MC) fall Rob Cross, 1:49 (MC 9-7)
157 - #8 Andy Lamancusa (MC) dec. Dan Nauman, 12-10; sv1 (MC 12-7)
165 - #6 Hudson Harrison (MC) major dec. Zach Hogentogler, 10-0 (MC 16-7)
174 - Chris Barrick (SU) fall Trevor Delahoy, 4:21 (MC 16-13)
184 - Jon Hade (SU) win by forfeit (SU 19-16)
197 - Trevor Gallo (MC) win by forfeit (MC 22-19)
Hwt - Kenny Bluska (MC) fall Jon Rhone, 4:44 (MC 28-19)

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