March 9, 2007

Kearney, Neb. - Four Mercyhurst wrestlers won their opening round match and moved into the second round of the championship bracket at the NCAA Division II National Championships Friday morning.

J.J. Zanetta, Don Cummings, Andy Lamancusa and Zack Schafer all won their first round matches. Payne Lint and Hudson Harrison dropped into the consolation bracket after losses.

Zanetta scored a 10-8 decision over Joseph Deaguero of Adams State at 141.  At 149, Cummings defeated Mark Carey of Central Missouri, 14-7.  Lamancusa notched his 20th win of the season with a narrow 6-5 victory over Minnesota St.-Moorhead's Kyle Trout in the opener of the 157 bracket.  At 174, Schafer needed sudden victory to notch a 3-1 win against Albert Morgan of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Lint went to the wrestlebacks after losing by fall in 6:10 to Central Oklahoma's Tyler Zuckerman.  Harrison fell to Chadron State's Brett Hunter, 12-3.

As a team, Mercyhurst sits in 13th place with 4.0 team points. Central Oklahoma leads with 14.0 points. The Lakers are one of 10 teams with at least four wrestlers remaining in the championship brackets.

In the quarterfinals, Zanetta faces the tough task with a bout against 36-0 Kyle Evans of Central Oklahoma.  Cummings faces Nebraska-Omaha's Todd Meneely, who is 32-3 on the year.  Central Oklahoma's Jason Leavitt will be Lamancusa's quarterfinal opponent.  Schafer squares off with Jeremiah Naig of Nebraska-Omaha.

In the wrestlebacks, Lint will square off with Devlon Webb of Chadron State.  Harrison will face Blake Peterson of Truman State.

Mercyhurst will continue action at the NCAA Division II National Championships Friday and Saturday.