The Bloomsburg University wrestling team fell to 21st-ranked Edinboro this past weekend by a 28-13 margin. The loss dropped the Huskies to 9-8 overall, 1-4 in the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) this year. Head Coach John Stutzman felt the team wrestled “good at spots,” but added, “We haven’t come through as ten guys at one time yet, it’s been our issue all year.”
The match began at 125 pounds in a match that saw EU’s 8th-ranked Eric Morril defeat James Bak by a 14-1 score to give the Fighting Scots a 4-0 lead. BU’s Jason Guffey then lost a major decision to Kyle Fluke.
At 141 pounds the Fighting Scots extended their lead to 13-0 with Joel Webster’s technical fall over Ian De Sol. In the 149 pound bout the Huskies’ Josh Roosa was in a tight, scoreless bout with Torsten Gillespie heading into the third period. Roosa had accumulated two minutes of riding time in the second period and was starting from the bottom position in the last period. During the period there was a scramble, and Gillespie was able to come out on top, earning the fall in 5:10.
9th-ranked Matt Moley was finally able to get Bloomsburg on the scoreboard, earning a 16-1 technical fall over Johnny Greisheimer. 165-pounder and 11th-ranked Rick Schmelyun was not to be outdone as he picked up a technical fall of his own, by a 16-0 score over Chris Hrunka. Stutzman stated, “Rick is training at a level that he never has before, and he’s putting himself in the position to be in contention for a national title.”
Nate Graham continued to shorten the lead, using a 5-3 decision over Paul Paddock to pull the Huskies to within six points at 19-13. But that is as close as the Huskies would get as the Fighting Scots went on to win the next three matches, starting with Pat Bradshaw’s 4-1 victory over BU’s Derek Coffey.
At 197 pounds, EU’s Shawn Fendone defeated Brian Shaw by an 8-2 score and the Fighting Scots heavyweight, 19th ranked Chris Birchler rounded out the match with a 11-4 decision over Zac Walsh.
Stutzman admitted that the team is not where he expected them to be at this point in the season, but that they have dealt with a large amount of issues such as injuries and guys not making their weights. He also pointed out that the brutal schedule may be taking its toll because the team should have more wins, but he blames himself for this. He would like to see the team improve on their mental toughness in certain situations and on their ability to fight through certain positions.
This weekend the team continues EWL competition when they hit the road once again to battle Lock Haven (2-7, 1-3). Stutzman feels that a victory this weekend is “really important” because “if you can beat Lock Haven that is your measuring stick for the year. We haven’t lost to them in six years and we don’t want that to end.”
Last season the Huskies defeated the Bald Eagles by a 29-9 score, powered by victories from Moley, Schmelyun, Graham, and Walsh, among others. As a coach, Stutzman is looking for “Ten guys who believe in the system and are going to perform with energy, confidence, and excitement.”
Stutzman feels that the most important thing for the team to be successful this weekend is to have belief in one’s self and each other, and that the wins and losses will take care of themselves.
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