EDINBORO, Pa. – The Edinboro's wrestling team held its annual Wrestleoffs on Sunday at the Mike S. Zafirovski Sports & Recreation Dome.  The wrestleoffs gave head coach Tim Flynn and his staff one last chance to assess his lineup before opening the season at the UB Invite on Saturday, November 3. 

“I thought everyone did well,” related Flynn afterwards.  “U think we are right on track and ready for Buffalo.”  Flynn related that 25 wrestlers will head to the UB Invite, while several others will compete in the Clarion Open.   

There were few surprises on the mat on Sunday, with the most anticipated matchup taking place at 149 lbs.  Dave Habat, a national qualifier a year ago as a redshirt freshman, held off redshirt freshman Michael DePalma, 2-0.  Habat rode out DePalma in the second period and had an escape in the third.

The weight class that had the coaching staff most curious was 157 lbs., where no fewer than nine wrestlers are listed on the roster.  Eight of those wrestlers competed in the wrestleoffs, with incumbent starter Casey Fuller claiming a clear victory.  A candidate to redshirt, the sophomore won all three of his matches, defeating freshman Trevor Hartless, 7-0, then claiming a 6-2 decision over freshman Tyler Button, and finally subduing James Otten, another freshman, 8-1.

Sophomore Kory Mines looks to start his second year in the lineup at 125 lbs. after defeating Bijan Banks, 14-3.  A.J. Schopp, who will wrestle in the NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday night, had no trouble in his match with freshman Andrew Tomiczek, winning by technical fall 16-1 at 133 lbs.

Tomiczek moved up and also wrestle Kasey Burnett-Davis at 141 lbs., with Burnett-Davis coasting to a 17-1 technical fall.  He was a redshirt a year ago who will open the year in the starting role while national qualifier Mitchell Port recovers from an injury.

Johnny Greisheimer made a triumphant return to the mat after redshirting a year ago, only this year the junior will compete at 165 lbs. instead of 157 lbs.  The 2010 national qualifier emerged as the starter with a 19-1 technical fall against Nathan Hartless, followed by an 8-4 decision over freshman Zach Towers.

It appears that Patrick Jennings will open the year at 174 lbs. after the redshirt freshman won a 5-0 decision over Dalton Lester, followed by a pair of decisions over freshman Vince Pickett.  Jennings prevailed by scores of 4-3 and 2-0. 

Two weight classes remain a work in progress.  While he is expected to redshirt, sophomore Vic Avery turned in an impressive showing on Sunday.  He won 17-5 over Hunter Auletta, then followed with a 22-7 technical fall against Austyn Hayes. 

With Warren Bosch held out with a minor injury at 197 lbs., Auletta squared off against Colton Bigelow, who will redshirt this year.  Bigelow prevailed 2-0.

Heavyweight Ernest James was unopposed with Mike Horton finishing up the football season.
 
2012 WRESTLEOFFS
Complete Results
 
125 – Kory Mines maj. dec. Bijan Banks, 14-3
133 – A.J. Schopp tech. fall Andrew Tomiczek, 16-1
141—Kasey Burnett-Davis tech. fall Andrew Tomiczek, 17-1
149 – Dave Habat tech. fall Dylan Hall, 17-0
           Michael DePalma tech. fall Dylan Hall, 17-0
          Dave Habat dec. Michael DePalma, 2-0
157 – Casey Fuller dec. Trevor Hartless, 7-0
          Casey Fuller dec. Tyler Button, 6-2
           Casey Fuller dec. James Otten, 8-1
          James Otten dec. Zac Baumgartner, 3-2
          James Otten dec. Zac Baumgartner, 9-4
          Trevor Hartless dec. James Otten, 2-0
          Eddie Jennings dec. Jon-Marc Burdick, 5-2
          Tyler Button maj. dec. Sebastian LaRocca, 10-0
          James Otten maj. dec. Sebastian LaRocca, 13-3
          Zac Baumgartner dec. Eddie Jennings, 3-1
          Trevor Hartless dec. Eddie Jennings, 4-1
          Tyler Button dec. Eddie Jennings, 9-2
165 – Johnny Greisheimer tech. fall Nathan Hartless, 19-1  
          Johnny Greisheimer dec. Zack Towers, 8-4
          Zack Towers maj. dec. Nathan Hartless, 17-4
174 – Patrick Jennings dec. Dalton Lester 5-0
          Vince Pickett dec. Dalton Lester, 7-0
          Edding Jennings dec. Vince Pickett, 4-3
          Edding Jennings dec. Vince Pickett, 2-0
184 – Vic Avery maj. dec. Hunter Auletta, 17-5
          Austyn Hayes dec. Hunter Auletta, 7-2
          Vic Avery tech. fall. Austyn Hayes, 22-7
197 – Colton Bigelow dec. Hunter Auletta, 2-0