Maryland
Penn State Open
Three Wrestlers Place In The Top Four At Penn State Open
12/8/2003 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 7, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Freshman Carlo Mercadante and sophomore John-Henry Zarzycki led the Terps Sunday at the Penn State Open with second-place finishes.
Mercadante posted three wins in the 165-pound weight class, including a pin on Chris Bala of Edinboro in 3:08, on his way to the championship match in just his second tournament of his college career.
Zarzycki won three matches at 149, highlighted by a 26-7 technical decision in 5:56 over Reuben Russell of Apprentice, for the highest tournament finish of his career.
Placing fourth in the 165-pound weight class, junior John Antonelli won his first two matches of the tournament before losing a decision to the eventual champion, George Carter of Bloomsburg.
Coming up with five wins en route to a fifth-place finish at 141 was Jason Gribschaw. His only loss came to Frank Edgar, eventual champion, of Clarion in the quarterfinals. Gribschaw pinned Matthew Gulosh of Navy in 4:43 in wrestlebacks.
Matt Pandullo, Rich Vazquez and Jeff Oldham represented the Terps in the 125-pound weight class. Vazquez posted an eighth-place finish as he had three wins, including his first-career pin in 1:29, in wrestlebacks.
Pandullo picked up a 5-0 decision over Tyler Gilson in his opening match, while Oldham was unable to come up with a win.
As the only Terrapin wrestling at 133, Mike Lupa finished sixth on the day with three wins. Lupa defeated Darren Murray of Bloomsburg 5-2 in the first round, but then fell to the eventual runner-up, Matt Eveleth of University of Pennsylvania.
Wrestling with Gribschaw at 141, were Zach Wendal, Bryan Rizzo and Charlie Pinto. Rizzo won two matches in wrestlebacks, including an 8-3 decision over Matt Tullio of the University of Pennsylvania. Wendal and Pinto failed to record a victory.
In his second collegiate tournament, freshman Jerad Villecco placed eighth at 149 by picking up three victories, one of which was a pin on Nick Matteo of the University of Pennsylvania in just 0:58. Ben Legarreta and Mike Dowling also competed at 149, but did not come away with a win on the day.
Junior Adam James led the way for the Terps in the 157-pound weight class by picking up three wins to post a sixth-place finish. James earned an 8-5 decision over Kyle Bernholz of the University of Pennsylvania in wrestlebacks.
Also wrestling at 157, were Matt Kenny, Jason Kiessling and Luke Stauffer. Kenny came away with two wins, one being an 8-4 decision over Slippery Rock's Garry Price. Kiessling had a 5-3 win over Ron Vecchione of Apprentice, while Stauffer was unable to pick up a victory.
Wrestling with Antonelli and Mercadante in the 165-pound weight class was Junior Adam Beytin who did not have a win at the tournament.
Two Terps had three victories each in the 174-pound weight class. Pat Cissne placed sixth as one of his three victories was a pin on Eric Lybarger of Apprentice in 3:28. Sean Fehn had a 14-4 major decision over Ian Michaud of the University of Pennsylvania for the most impressive of his three wins. Brandon Hill also competed at 174, though he did not record a victory.
Junior Dan Scheets pinned Matt Doak of Duquesne in 2:30 for his lone victory in the 184-pound weight class.
As the only Terrapin wrestling at 197, Jerry Afari had a pin on Mike Ames of Sacred Heart in 1:20 for his only win of the tournament.
Barry Stein rounded out the competition for the Terps as he wrestling at heavyweight. Stein won his opening match with a 6-2 decision over Chris Burtscher of Ohio State.
The Terps' next action is on Dec. 28, as they will travel to the Wilkes-Barre Open in Pennsylvania and to the Southern Scuffle at Greensboro, N.C.
