While many of us had just begun to enjoy the start of our spring breaks, the Bloomsburg University wrestling team was hard at work in West Virginia on March 7. The team, competing in the Eastern Wrestling League Championships, was able to finish fourth in the seven team field and will be sending three wrestlers (Matt Moley, Rick Schmelyun, and Nate Graham) to the NCAA Division I Championships that begin today in Nebraska.
The team was led by 157-pounder Moley's first place finish in his bracket. He began the day with a 16-0 technical fall of Cleveland State's Corey Carlo in the quarterfinals. He then followed that up with an 18-7 major decision over Pitt's Donnie Trasser, earning himself his third straight trip to the EWL finals. In the final, Moley came away with an impressive 13-3 major decision of Clarion's Hadley Harrison. The win moved Moley's record to 25-3 on the season and 122-37 for his career, good enough for a tie at third on the school's all-time career wins list with George Carter. It took Moley some time to find his stride on the day as he explained, "I felt a little sluggish in my first two matches, but really felt good in my finals match and I feel like I really made a statement."
Schmelyun, who lost a close 2-1 decision to West Virginia's Donnie Jones in the semi-finals, was able to bounce back and take third place, earning himself an automatic bid to nationals. The 165-pound wrestler bounced back with a 12-2 major decision of Cleveland State's Rob Michaels, and then went on to defeat Nick Milano of Clarion with a pin in 2:17.
Graham's day began with a 7-1 win over Lock Haven's Derek Caldwell in the quarterfinals. In the ensuing round he was able to outlast Pitt's Dave Sullivan by a 3-2 margin before losing his match in the finals to Edinboro's Phil Moricone, a 6-1 winner. Graham's second place finish did not earn him an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, but his strong showing at the tournament allowed him to secure one of the wild-card bids that were available.
Also placing for the Huskies were Jason Guffey (4th), Josh Roosa, Derek Coffey, Brian Shaw, Zac Walsh (5th), and Ian De Sol (6th).
The NCAA Championships begin today and culminate with the finals on Saturday evening. Moley, a two time All-American, is happy to have a few of his teammates accompany him and is excited for the tournament.
"I'm pumped, I have never been more excited to wrestle. It's my last collegiate tournament ever and I've got to wrestle every match like it's going to be my last."
Moley, who is seeded ninth in his bracket, will open up with a match against Purdue's Colton Salazar (30-11) and with a win would most likely go on to face Navy's Bryce Saddoris, the eighth seed who defeated Moley by a score of 8-1 earlier this season. Moley is not too concerned though, saying "It doesn't matter where I am seeded or who I have to wrestle, the goal is to be a national champ. So, I'm ready to wrestle the best guys in the country, whether it's my first match or my last."
Schmelyun, seeded eleventh, will open against Hofstra's Paul Gillespie (29-12) and with a victory would most likely face sixth seeded Dan Vallimont of Penn State, who bested the Husky 2-1 earlier this season. Graham, who is unseeded, will open with a match against Ohio University's Jacob Ison (22-6). With a win, he would most likely go on to face the top-seeded wrestler in the 174 pound bracket, Cornell's Mack Lewnes (36-0). Graham and Lewnes met earlier this year with Lewnes taking the match with a first period fall.
Moley feels great both mentally and physically and is ready to put his body through whatever it takes to win. He explained, "I'm going to be relentless for every second of every match, and no one will be able to match my intensity. I'm going to wrestle every match like I'm up against someone that is trying to take something that belongs to me, and that's the gold medal."
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