Drexel Wins Fifth In Row With 32-6 Toppling of Millersville
Philadelphia - Drexel defeated Millersville, 32-6, in a non-conference dual meet at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Dragons have now won five-straight matches and a school-record 19 this season. Millersville dropped to 2-8 while Drexel jumped to 19-8.
Freshman Scott Hunter (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) started the Dragons off with three points when he pulled out a 9-7 decision over Mike Knock. Hunter, normally a 165-pounder, stepped up in weight class to challenge Knock at 174 pounds. After the Marauders evened the match with a victory at 184 pounds, sophomore Jon Oplinger (Bath, Pa./Northampton) scored a major decision over Steve Funk, 14-6. It was Oplinger's sixth major decision victory of the season. Heavyweight Chris Cowen (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico) followed with a major decision victory of his own with a 10-1 topping of Mike Davidowich. At 125 and 133 pounds, Drexel scored a pair falls, one pin and one technical, to open up a 22-3 scoring lead. Steve Mytych (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) pinned Mike Acedo-Malaney at 2:01 to register his 21st win of the season. Senior co-captain Zach Makovsky (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) earned Drexel five points with a 20-3 technical fall win over John Andel at 3:14 of the bout. Makovsky, the top-ranked 133-pounder in the CAA, leads the team with six wins by technical fall.
Sophomore Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) earned a major decision victory over Malcolm Haynes at 157 pounds. It was the three-time CAA co-Wrestler of the Week's 14th win in his last 15 matches. He is ranked 19th at 157 pounds in the latest Amateur Wrestling News poll.
The Dragons return to the mat on Thursday, Feb. 16 when they will travel to New Brunswick, N.J. to face Rutgers. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
February 8, 2006
Drexel 32, Millersville 6
174: Scott Hunter (D) d. Mark Knock, 9-7
184: Tim Rice (M) d. Brian Stouffer, 5-0
197: Jon Oplinger (D) m.d. Steve Funk, 14-6
HWT: Chris Cowen (D) m.d. Mike Davidowich, 10-1
125: Steve Mytych (D) wbf. Mike Acedo-Maloney, 2:01
133: Zach Makovsky (D) t.f. John Andel, 20-3
141: Cody Becker (M) d. Billy Martin, 6-1
149: Chris Renninger (D) d. Jarrett Hosteter, 9-8
157: Ryan Hluschak (D) m.d. Malcolm Haynes, 20-6
165: James Therrien (D) d. Josh Evans, 6-4
Ryan Hluschak named CAA's Co-Wrestler of the Week
Philadelphia -The Colonial Athletic Association named Drexel's 157-pound Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) its co-Wrestler of the Week for his performance from Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
Hluschak was a perfect 2-0 with major decision victory over Mason's Mitch Webster and a decision over Davidson's Matt Pendle. In defeating Webster, Hluschak avenged the loss he suffered to Webster in the CAA Championships last season in the third-place match. Hluschak has won 13 of his last 14 matches and has a 25-6 record this season with seven wins by fall, one technical fall, and five major decision victories. His 25 victories match his total from a season ago when he went 25-11.
This is the fourth-consecutive week that a Drexel wrestler has been named CAA's Wrestler of the Week. Hluschak won the award last week and in the week ending on Jan. 17 while heavyweight Chris Cowen won the award in the week ending Jan. 24.
Hluschak and the rest of the Dragons will travel to New Brunswick, N.J. to face Rutgers on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. before coming home to the Daskalakis Athletic Center for Senior Day on Sunday, Feb. 19 to face 14th-ranked Lehigh at 5 p.m.
Drexel Sets New School Record With 28-9 Triumph Over Davidson
Philadelphia - Drexel defeated Davidson, 28-9, to set a new Drexel single-season record for wins in a season with 18. The previous mark was set by the 1986-87 squad that compiled a 17-5-1 record. The Dragons are now 18-8, 7-3 CAA while Davidson dropped to 6-6-1.
Sophomore Paul Slifer (Palisades, Pa./Palisades) put Drexel in the lead with a 9-8 decision over the Wildcats' Patrick Coman at 125 pounds. The win was Slifer's first of the season. Also picking up his first win of the season was freshman James Therrien (Dayville, Conn./Collegeville). The 165-pounder won with an 8-2 decision over Jimmy Colavita to earn Drexel three points. Senior co-captain Zach Makovsky (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) recorded his team-leading fifth technical fall of the season when he defeated Travis Hunter, 23-6. The victory was Makovsky's 20th of the season. Reigning CAA co-Wrestler of the Week, Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh), continued his winning ways with a tough 9-7 decision over Davidson's Matt Pendle. Hluschak has now won 13 of his last 14 matches and is ranked 19th at 157 pounds in the latest Amateur Wrestling News poll.
Drexel returns to the mat on Wednesday, Feb. 8 for a non-conference dual meet with Millersville at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
February 5, 2006
Drexel 28, Davidson 9
125: Paul Slifer (Dr) d. Patrick Coman, 9-8
133: Zach Makovsky (Dr) t.f. Travis Hunter, 23-6
141: Jim Avola (Da) d. Morgan Remillard, 8-7
149: Chris Renninger (Dr) d. Matt Leonard, 7-2
157: Ryan Hluschak (Dr) d. Matt Pendle, 9-7
165: James Therrien (Dr) d. Jimmy Colavita, 8-2
174: Marcus Boyd (Da) d. Nick Kozar, 6-4 OT
184: Sam O'Hair (Da) d. Justin Terhune, 4-3
194: Jon Oplinger (Dr) win by forfeit
285: Chris Cowen (Dr) win by forfeit
Senior Captain and Freshman Lead Drexel Past Bloomsburg, 18-17
Philadelphia, Pa. - Drexel won a hard-fought match against Bloomsburg, 18-17, at North Penn High School in non-conference action. Bloomsburg, who had beaten No. 20 Pittsburgh earlier in the season, dropped to 5-4 on the season. Senior captain Zach Makovsky won the final match of the meet, 6-5, to earn Drexel (10-4, 4-0 CAA) the victory. Freshman Scott Hunter stunned 15th-ranked Jim Bertulis with a pin with just 20 seconds remaining in the match to earn Drexel six important points.
With the Huskies staked to a 8-3 match points lead against Drexel, it appeared that Bertulis was set to add to the Bloomsburg lead when he led Hunter 6-1 in the middle of the second period. Hunter fought back however to tie the match at seven but Bertulis was still in position to win the match because he had a riding time advantage. With under 30 seconds left, Hunter executed a takedown and was able to pin Bertulis to earn the Dragons six points. Instead of an 11-3 Bloomsburg lead, Hunter's pin made the score 9-8 in favor of Drexel, essentially a nine-point swing.
Junior Nick Kozar followed Hunter's performance with win number 16 in earning a 2-1 decision over the Huskies' Frank Beasley at 174 pounds. Bloomsburg fought back by winning three of the next four matches putting the Huskies back in the lead at 17-15 with just one match remaining.
Makovsky shot out to a 6-1 lead in the final match against Ricky Donald and held on for the 6-5 decision to earn Drexel the victory.
Bloomsburg is back in action Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. hosting Rider University.
Drexel 18, Bloomsburg 17
125 - Mike Sees (B) d. Steve Mytych (D), 4-2
133 - Zach Makovsky (D) d. Rick Donald (B), 6-5
141 - Brad Forbes (B) m.d. Ed Giosa (D), 9-0
149 - George Hickman (B) m.d. Chris Renninger (D), 11-3
157 - Ryan Hluschak (D) d. Aric Furhman (B), 8-4
165 - Scott Hunter (D) wbf. Jim Bertulis (B), 6:40
174 - Nick Kozar (D) d. Frank Beasley (B), 2-1
184 - Nate Shirk (B) d. Justin Terhune (D), 9-5
197 - Jon Oplinger (D) d. Jesse Hasseman (B), 7-3
HWT - Mike Spaid (B) d. Chris Cowen (D), 4-2
Drexel's Steve Mytych Named CAA Rookie of the WeekFive Drexel Wrestlers Advance to Semi-Finals at CAA Tournament
In the quarterfinals, Makovsky took care of George Mason's David Emison in a 17-9 major decision that sends the Drexel junior into the semis. After receiving byes in the first round Hluschak, Oplinger and Cowen took the mats in the quarterfinals. Hluschak earned a tough 7-5 decision over Mich Webster of George Mason at 157 pounds. Oplinger, the freshman 197 pounder, worked an 18-8 major decision over Sacred Heart's Declan Josephson. Cowen felled five-seeded Joel Caruso in 2:38 to advance in the heavyweight bracket.
Team captain Nick Kozar earned a pair of decisions at 174 pounds, 6-2 over Boston's Greg Politi and 3-1 over the six seed Nick Webster, to stay in the action on day two. Sending five wrestlers into the semi-finals represents one of the best performances in recent history by a Drexel wrestling team at the CAA Tournament.
Saturday's wrestling will open with consolation matches at 10:00 a.m. Dan Stewart, Giosa, Mark Cartella, Haydt and Schmidt will all take the mats in the second round of the consolation bracket.
The semi-final bouts start at noon. Makovsky will take on top-seeded Charles Griffen from Hofstra in the 133 pound bracket. Hluschak draws the Pride's James Strouse, the second seed at 157 pounds. Kozar will match up against Rider's Sean Jenkins in the 174 pound competition. Oplinger squares off against John DaCruz, from the host Boston University. Cowen faces the number one seed Tyler Rees of Rider in the heavyweight semis. The third round of the consolation bracket is set to wrestle at 2:00 p.m. followed by the consolation finals at 4:00 and the championship finals at 6:00 p.m.
Team Standings
1. Hofstra (33) 11-0
2. Rider (27.5) 9-2
3. Drexel (24) 10-5
4. ODU (23) 10-7
5. Boston Univ. (21) 9-4
6. Sacred Heart (16) 7-10
7. George Mason (15.5) 8-8
8. Wagner (7) 4-10
9. Campbell (4) 2-13
10. JMU (3.5) 2-13
Results follow.
125
#3 Ryan Smith (Rider) DEC #6 Dan Stewart (DU), 3-0
133
#4 Zach Makovsky (DU) WBF Adam Anster (Wagner), 1:43
#4 Zach Makovsky (DU) MAJ Dave Emison (GMU), 17-9
141
Ed Giosa (DU) WBF Jay Chichester (GMU), 1:32
#1 Ricky LaForge (Hofstra) MAJ Ed Giosa (DU), 13-2
149
#6 Robert Henry (GMU) WBF #3 Mark Cartella (DU), 1:58
157
#3 Ryan Hluschak (DU) DEC #6 Mitch Webster (GMU), 7-5
165
Billy Haydt (DU) WBF Vinny Vasanna (Wagner), 0:43
#2 Nelson Gosnell (ODU) DEC Billy Haydt (DU), 2-1
174
#3 Nick Kozar (DU) DEC Greg Politi (BU), 6-2
#3 Nick Kozar (DU) DEC #6 Nick Webster (GMU), 3-1
184
#4Carl Schmidt (DU) MAJ Dan Keefe (SHU), 11-2
#5 Lantz Nixon (Campbell) DEC #4 Carl Schmidt (DU), 8-3
197
#3 Jon Oplinger (DU) MAJ Declan Josephson (SHU), 18-8
285
#4 Chris Cowen (DU) WBF #5 Joel Caruson (GMU), 2:38
Philadelphia, Pa. ñ The Drexel wrestling team improved to 16-8 with a 21-17
victory over Rutgers at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. With Drexel trailing
17-12, the dual came down to the 197-pound match between the Dragonsí Jon
Oplinger (Bath, Pa./Northampton) and John Foscolo of the Scarlet Knights. After
a series of takedowns, Oplinger prevailed by an 11-6 margin. The win, combined
with a Rutgers forfeit at the heavyweight spot, secured the victory for Drexel.
Rutgers fell to 6-7.
After the Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 3-0 start, Drexelís Zach Makovsky
(Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) pulled the two teams even with a 10-5
decision. Freshman Ed Giosa (Camden, N.J./Camden Catholic) gave the Dragons
their first lead of the night with a 5-4 decision over Steve Admacsik after
picking up the advantage in riding time.
After Drexelís Bill Heverly (Pinehill, N.J./Camden Catholic) succumbed to injury
and Gene Zannetti defeated Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) by
technical fall, Rutgers led 14-6. The Dragons chipped away with wins by freshman
Billy Haydt (Bath, Pa./Northampton), who won in sudden-fall overtime, and senior
Carl Schmidt (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) to set up Oplingerís decisive
bout.
The Dragons will head to Boston University on March 4 for the CAA Championships.
Results follow.
Drexel 21, Rutgers 17
125- Rick Ringle DEC Dan Stewart (DU), 9-4
0-3
133- Zach Makovsky (DU) DEC Dan Hilt, 10-5
3-3
141- Ed Giosa (DU) DEC Adam Admacsik , 5-4
6-3
149- Mike Ferrara DEF(inj) Bill Heverly (DU)
6-9
157- Gene Zannetti TF Ryan Hluschak, 21-5
6-14
165- Billy Haydt (DU) DEC Joe Sacco, 3-2
9-14
174- Andy Roy DEC Nick Kozar (DU), 5-3
9-17
184- Carl Schmidt (DU) DEC Ken Stiles, 8-2
12-17
197- Jon Oplinger (DU) DEC John Foscolo, 11-6
15-17
HWT- Chris Cowen (DU), FOR
21-17
Giosa's Pins Lift Drexel Over UNC and Brown
Philadelphia, Pa. - Redshirt freshman Ed Giosa (Camden, N.J./Camden Catholic) posted pins in both of his 141-pound bouts as Drexel topped North Carolina, 21-20, and Brown, 31-7, at the Palestra to extend its winning streak to eight straight.
Freshmen Jon Oplinger (Bath, Pa./Northampton) and Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) also went 2-0 on the day. Oplinger came up with a major decision to give Drexel a 7-3 lead early in the match against Brown. Hluschak closed out the victory over the Bears with a 10-7 decision at 157 pounds, making the score and insurmountable 25-7 and causing Brown to forfeit the final weight class.
Giosa's pin proved to be the turning point against the Tar Heels. The 141-pounder followed a pin of Zach Makovsky (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) at 133 pounds that put Drexel behind 17-6. Giosa's unorthodox maneuvers allowed him to pin Isaiah Britton with his legs in 4:34 to make the score 17-12.
Captain Mark Cartella (Mullica Hill, N.J./Clearview Regional) battled Chris Ramos through the first two periods and found himself trailing 2-1 late in the third. But Ramos was given his second caution for stalling which gave Cartella one point to square the bout at two apiece and eventually send it to overtime. Cartella found his second win in the sudden-victory period, taking a shot early to take down Ramos for the 4-2 win.
A Tar Heel forfeit at 157 pounds put the Dragons in command at 21-17 and, despite losing the last match, Drexel did not yield a major decision and held on to win 21-20, the Dragons second victory over the Tar Heels in as many years.
In the second half of the wrestling double-dip, Drexel jumped out to a 10-3 lead after winning three of the first four bouts. Oplinger contributed a major decision at 197 pounds, topping Leo Saniuk 13-4. Drexel won the final four weight classes, including Giosa,s second pin in 1:28 over Mark Savino, to close out the 31-7 victory. Giosa now has six pins, one short of Oplinger,s team lead.
The Dragons are back at the DAC next Saturday, Feb. 12, to face nationally-ranked Hofstra in a CAA battle that beings at 1:00 p.m.
Results follow.
Drexel 21, North Carolina 20
174- Nick Kozar (DU) DEC Alex Maciag, 3-1
3-0
184- Justin Dobies DEC Carl Schmidt (DU), 3-2
3-3
197- Jon Oplinger (DU) DEC David Dashiell, 6-2
6-3
285- Spencer Nadolsky DEC Chris Cowen (DU), 9-6
6-6
125- Bobby Shaw WTF Ryan Bream (DU), 4:51
6-11
133- Evan Sola WBF Zach Makovsky (DU), 4:08
6-17
141- Ed Giosa (DU) WBF Isaiah Britton, 4:34
12-17
149- Mark Cartella (DU) SV-1 Chris Ramos, 4-2
15-17
157- Ryan Hluschak (DU) FOR
21-17
165- Garret Atkinson DEC Billy Haydt (DU), 6-4
21-20
Drexel 31, Brown 7
174- Nick Kozar (DU) DEC Shawn Kitchner, 6-2
3-0
184- Doran Heist DEC Carl Schmidt (DU), 11-7
3-3
197- Jon Oplinger (DU) MAJ Leo Sanius, 13-4
7-4
285- Chris Cowen (DU) DEC Lee Beane, 6-1
10-4
125- Jeff Schell MAJ Ryan Bream (DU), 9-1
10-7
133- Zach Makovsky (DU) DEC Dan Appello, 10-3
13-7
141- Ed Giosa (DU) WBF Mark Savino, 1:28
19-7
149- Mark Cartella (DU) DEC Tim Smith, 8-1
22-7
157- Ryan Hluschak (DU) DEC David Saadeh, 10-7
25-7
165- Billy Haydt (DU) FOR
31-7