Feb. 29, 2008

Bracket
Team Standings

Erie, Pa. -After the first day of competition at the NCAA Division II East Region Wrestling Championships, Mercyhurst stands in fifth place in the team race and seven Lakers advanced to wrestle Saturday.

Mercyhurst finished the opening day with 42.5 points, trailing West Liberty State by 4.5. Five-time defending champion Pitt-Johnstown holds first place with Newberry and Gannon trailing in second and third respectively.

Three Lakers, Brian Pogel at 149, Andy Lamancusa at 157 and Josh Shields at 174, entered as the No. 1 seed in their weight classes. All three wrestlers remained in the championship bracket. Senior 165-pounder Hudson Harrison did as well, after entering as the No. 2 seed.

Junior Trevor Gallo is unbeaten at 197 pounds, and 184-pound Bryan Wolff and heavyweight Kenny Bluska will work through the consolation bracket Saturday.

Pogel, ranked third in Division II, pinned Dennis Fix of UNC-Pembroke in the opening round and then earned an 8-4 decision over Pitt-Johnstown's Ryan McIntyre to advance to the semifinals where he will face fifth-seeded Kayne Melko of West Liberty State.

Lamancusa received a bye in the prelims and then defeated Mazen Kholi of Pitt-Johnstown, 9-3. Fifth-seeded Mikel Bush of Limestone will be Lamancusa's opponent in the semis. The two met Feb. 16 with Bush earning a thrilling 9-6 win.

At 165, Harrison defeated Belmont Abbey's Isaac Banks 4-3 to advance to the semifinals. Hudson faces third-seed J.J. Davis in the semifinals.

After receiving a bye in the prelims, Shields rolled to a 13-3 major decision over Belmont-Abbey's David Hoggard.

Wolff earned a fall over J.D. Ramsey of West Liberty State to advance but fell in the quarterfinals to Gannon's Pino Scavella, 4-3. Wolff responded with a 14-7 decision over Justin McEntire of UNC-Pembroke in the consolations. He will begin his quest for the third-place match against St. Andrew's Eric Fulmer Saturday.

Gallo stayed alive for the title at 197 by defeating Jacob Tazzi, 4-3. At heavyweight, Bluska dropped his opening bout but defeated Shippensburg's John Rhone by a 12-2 major decision.

Mercyhurst's Payne Lint, who was the defending champion at 125 pounds, was knocked off twice after winning his opening round match.

The final day of competition from Pitt-Johnstown begins at 10 a.m.