2008 Woodie Awards
Wrestling struggles in Avalon tournament
Team drops three matches in duals at Edinboro
By Travis Pickens
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 11/18/05 Section: Sports
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The Slippery Rock University wrestling team dropped all three matches Saturday at Edinboro University in the Avalon Duals. The host Fighting Scots, No. 23 according to USA Wrestling, took the Rock down, 41-0, to open the day. SRU couldn't bounce back as it dropped its last two decisions, 21-14 and 31-9, to Maryland and Old Dominion, respectively.
"This weekend was a tough weekend," coach Derek DelPorto said. "Edinboro is a tough team that is ranked in the top 20 early in the season and will probably move up a few slots as the year goes on."
Despite the score, the Rock (0-3) wasn't totally dominated by the Scots. Charlie Pienaar wrestled Alex Clemsen, who is ranked No. 11 according to USA Wrestling in the 184-pound class. Pienaar dropped the match, 3-2. Jason Cardillo didn't have any easier of a draw as he faced No. 15 Deonte Penn in the 164-pound class. Cardillo fell behind, 5-0, before falling, 11-8.
"People have to realize, when we play Edinboro, it would be like our football team playing (Bowl Championship Series No. 15) Michigan," DelPorto said, "or our basketball team playing Gonzaga, or some other top 20 school."
Despite a tough opening-match loss, DelPorto said the Fighting Scots helped show his young team as it stands in comparison to the top teams in the nation.
"They certainly showed us where we are right now, and we have some work to do," DelPorto said. "It's good to wrestle that kind of competition so we know where we have to get to."
The Rock kept the last two matches close. David Pienaar, Jason Cardillo and Jeremiah Frederick all got in the win column against Maryland. DelPorto said his team entered the last two matches of the day confident.
"It was a tough loss to Maryland and Old Dominion, who I thought we would definitely have a chance to beat," DelPorto said. "In both matches, their good guys matched up with our best guys and it went their way."
Frederick also picked up a win against Old Dominion, beating Bryan Lenhardt, 10-6. Frederick bounced back to post a 2-1 record after losing to Edinboro's Eric Ring, 15-0. Other winners against Old Dominion were Shawn Baglio and Charlie Pienaar.
