Hilltoppers Fall at Mercyhurst 25-10
From the West Liberty Wrestling Website
December 3, 2008
ERIE, Pa. – Coach Brian Davis’s West Liberty wrestling team dropped a 25-10 decision to host Mercyhurst Wednesday night in a meeting of NCAA Division II East Region heavyweights.
The Hilltoppers entered the Mercyhurst Athletic Center ranked No. 14 in the country and No. 4 in the East Region while the Lakers – coached by former West Liberty head coach Mike Wehler – had just moved into the No. 10 spot in the national rankings and were No. 2 in the East.
Three West Liberty grapplers posted impressive victories to remain unbeaten on the season.
Doug Surra, ranked No. 1 in the East at 141 pounds, improved to 10-0 on the year by rolling to a 15-6 major decision against Lance Pitcel.
Kayne Melko, the East’s No. 2-ranked 149-pounder, pitched a shutout against Lenny Calhoun in a 2-0 win. Melko is now 9-0.
Mitch Smith, No. 1 at 157 pounds, gave West Liberty three straight victories in the meet by nipping Andy Lamancusa, 5-4. Lamancusa was ranked No. 3 in the region.
The Hilltoppers’ Mitch Knapp was a hard-luck loser in another battle of regionally-ranked foes at 197 pounds. Knapp, ranked No. 4 in the region, carried No. 3-ranked Trevor Gallo into overtime before dropping a 3-1 decision in sudden death.
West Liberty heavyweight Mike Carpenter threw a big scare into Mercyhurst’s No. 6-ranked Kenny Bluska, who barely escaped with a 3-2 nod.
The Hilltopper mat squad will be idle this weekend before closing out the first semester schedule on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Ohio Northern Tournament in Ada, Ohio.
Mercyhurst 25, West Liberty 10
125: Payne Lint (MC) dec. Nick Wykoff (WL), 6-0
133: No. 6 Michael Baxter (MC) pinned Dustin Daugherty (WL), 1:23
141: No. 5 Doug Surra (WL) maj. dec. Lance Pitcel (MC), 15-6
149: No. 7 Kayne Melko (WL) dec. Lenny Calhoun (MC), 2-0
157: No. 6 Mitch Smith (WL) dec. No. 8 Andy Lamancusa (MC), 5-4
165: Josh Shields (MC) dec. Seth Phalen (WL), 11-5
174: Kevin Hardy (MC) maj. dec. Justin Goneau (WL), 10-0
184: Bryan Wolff (MC) dec. Brandon Neifeld (WL), 4-1
197: Trevor Gallo (MC) dec. (ot sudden death) Mitch Knapp (WL), 3-1
HWT: Kenny Bluska (MC) dec. Mike Carpenter (WL), 3-2
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