Key Decision at 174 Pounds Guides No. 5 UPJ to 25-9 Victory over Red Raiders

Dec. 5, 2007

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - After a decision that came down to the wire at 174 pounds, Pittsburgh-Johnstown emerged victorious and used that momentum to record a 25-9 victory over the Shippensburg University wrestling team Wednesday night at Heiges Field House.

The two schools exchanged decisions in the first seven weight classes before UPJ (2-0) pulled away with a major decision and a fall late in the match.

The most anticipated match of the night was at 174 pounds and lived up to its billing. Red-shirt freshman Chris Barrick (Carlisle/Big Spring), who entered the night with a 7-0 record, exchanged escapes through three periods with No. 7 Albert Miles, who held an 11-1 record.

It was not until 13 seconds into the second sudden victory session that Miles recorded a takedown to record a hard-fought, 4-2 victory over Barrick.

Miles’ victory gave the Mountain Cats a 12-9 lead, and a resulting major decision from No. 3 Mike Corcetti over red-shirt sophomore Jon Hade (New Oxford/Bermudian Springs) extended the lead to seven points. Corcetti earned a 15-3 decision over Hade by recording six takedowns.

Shippensburg (1-1) got onto the scoreboard in the only battle that pitted two nationally-ranked opponents against one another. At 141 pounds, No. 2-ranked sophomore Steve Fittery (Denver/Cocalico) grappled against No. 7 Shane Valko and earned a 9-4 decision.

Leading 5-4 in the second period, Fittery broke loose for a two-point take down near the end of the period to help clinch the decision.

In the most dominating performance of the evening for the Red Raiders, red-shirt junior Kirby Fanus (Boiling Springs/Boiling Springs) shutout Adam Whetstone with a 6-0 decision that tied the score at 6-6.

Leading 3-0 after the first period, Fanus deferred to the ground to start the second period and quickly earned a two-point reversal. He never hit the mat again, accruing 4:33 in riding time en route to the victory.

The third decision for the Red Raiders came at 141 pounds, where red-shirt senior Dan Nauman (Middletown/Middletown) nearly recorded a pin against UPJ’s Mazen Kholi. Holding a 7-4 lead after two periods, Nauman recorded an escape and a two-point takedown before knocking Kholi to the mat, starting the referee’s count yet time expired.

The 11-4 decision gave the Red Raiders a 9-6 lead, but the Mountain Cats won the final five matches of the evening to earn the victory.

The personnel involved in this year’s matchup with the Mountain Cats was entirely different from a season ago, as there were no rematches from last year’s 22-12 UPJ victory. Between the two schools, six nationally-ranked wrestlers competed Wednesday evening.

The next match for the Shippensburg University wrestling team will be this Saturday when the Red Raiders travel to Clarion University for the 65th PSAC Championships. Action gets underway at 10:00 a.m., inside Clarion’s Tippin Gymnasium with two rounds of championship matches and two rounds of consolation bouts.

The championship finals, which will include matches for third and fifth place, will begin at 6:00 p.m. All-session passes will be $12 for adults and $3.00 for students. Individual session tickets for adults are $7 and $2 for students. Students from PSAC member institutions with a valid ID will be admitted free.

#5 Pittsburgh-Johnstown 25, Shippensburg 9
125 - #5 Derrek Bosso (UPJ) dec. Gary Atiyeh, 4-1 (0-3)
133 - #3 Brandon Reasy (UPJ) dec. Josh Proctor, 4-2 (0-6)
141 - #2 Steve Fittery (SU) dec. #7 Shane Valko, 9-4 (3-6)
149 - Kirby Fanus (SU) dec. Adam Whetstone, 6-0 (6-6)
157 - Dan Nauman (SU) dec. Mazen Kholi, 11-4 (9-6)
165 - Kyle Keane (UPJ) dec. Jake Wilson, 9-3 (9-9)
174 - #7 Albert Miles (UPJ) dec. Chris Barrick, 4-2; sv2 (9-12)
184 - #3 Mike Corcetti (UPJ) major dec. Jon Hade, 15-3 (9-16)
197 - Patrick Walsh (UPJ) pins Pete Grodziak, 4:13 (9-22)
Hwt - Nathan Tomporoski (UPJ) dec. Brandon Miller, 2-1; sv (9-25)

Dual Meet Records
Pittsburgh-Johnstown (2-0)
Shippensburg (1-1)

- Red Raider Wrestling -