March 9, 2003

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Wins that went down to the wire, and sometimes beyond, highlighted Session II of the Eastern Wrestling League for Cleveland State Sunday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.

In all, three Viking wrestlers have assured themselves a trip to the NCAA Championships in two weeks. Rocco Mansueto (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) at 125, Phil Mansueto (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) at 133 and Gerald Harris (Tulsa, Okla./East Central) at 184 will wrestle for championship crowns this evening. In addition, three CSU grapplers - Matt Klinger (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) at 174, Stipe Miocic (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) at 197 and heavyweight Russ Davie (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) - stayed alive in the consolation bracket.

After the second session, CSU is in third place with 60 points. Defending champion West Virginia leads the pack with 96 points, just ahead of Edinboro's 94.

Leading 6-2 in the final period, Rocco Mansueto pinned West Virginia's heralded redshirt freshman Seth Lisa, the #1 seed, at 5:29. The victory avenged two earlier losses to the Mountaineer. In the final duel meet of the year, Lisa beat Mansueto 6-3 on Feb. 23. He also slipped past Mansueto 4-3 on Dec. 29 at the Midlands Tournament. Mansueto will face Edinboro's Jacob Gray for the title

A sudden death tiebreaker was needed at 133 in a wild match between defending champion Phil Mansueto and WVU's Brandon Lauer. Lauer posted a takedown just 31 seconds into the match, but Mansueto got even at the conclusion of the period when Lauer was called for two technical violations, costing him two points. A Mansueto escape was the only scoring in the second period, giving the CSU senior a 3-2 advantage.

Mansueto allowed Lauer up in the third period, tying the score 3-all. After a scoreless overtime period, Lauer chose down for the tiebreaker. However, Mansueto held on to ride him out and score the victory. He will take on Shawn Bunch from Edinboro for the championship.

In another thriller, Harris battled Edinboro's Alex Clemsen to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation but then scored a takedown with 12 seconds left in overtime for the win. Harris will take on Scott Justus of Virginia Tech in the finals.

At heavyweight, Davie suffered a heartbreaking 6-4 loss in overtime when West Virginia's caught him off guard and recorded a takedown 14 seconds into the extra period.

CSU Results - Session II Consolation Bracket 141 - Paul Edger (Clarion) d. Paul Theodore (CSU), 11-5

157 - Eric Ring (Edinboro) d. Josh Ging (CSU), 4-0

165 - Mike Cox (Va. Tech) d. Jason Effner (CSU), 3-2

174 - Matt Klinger (CSU) d. Chris Haines (Lock Haven), 9-5

Championship Bracket

125 - Rocco Mansueto (CSU) fall Seth Lisa (WVU), 5:29

133 - Phil Mansueto (CSU) d. Brandon Lauer (WVU), 3-3 TB

184 - Gerald Harris (CSU) d. Alex Clemsen (Edinboro), 3-1 OT

197 - Morgan Horner (Lock Haven) fall Stipe Miocic (CSU), 3:30

HWT - Brent Miller (WVU) d. Russ Davie (CSU), 6-4 OT

TEAM SCORES - 1. West Virginia 96; 2. Edinboro 94; 3. CLEVELAND STATE, 60; 4. Pittsburgh, 58; 5. Lock Haven 57.50; 6. Clarion 43; 7. Virginia Tech 38; 8. Bloomsburg 35.5.