Bloomsburg Tops Rutgers, 21-13, in Dual Finale
Feb 20 | Wrestling
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Rutgers wrestling team dropped a 21-13 decision to Bloomsburg Friday evening in Pennsylvania in the final dual match of the 2008-09 season. The Scarlet Knights finished the dual season 20-7 overall as they prepare for the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships March 7-8.
The Scarlet Knights and Huskies split the first four matches of the night with freshmen Matt Fusco (Belleville, N.J.) and Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) earning the victories for RU at 125 pounds and 141 pounds, respectively.
Tied at 6-6, Bloomsburg’s Matt Moley, ranked ninth nationally at 157 pounds, pinned RU’s Paul Grogan (Netcong, N.J.) in 44 seconds to give the Huskies a 12-6 advantage midway through the match. Grogan replaced RU’s nationally-ranked wrestler Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.), who is out with an injury.
In a matchup of nationally-ranked wrestlers at 165 pounds, senior Matt Pletcher (Eastampton, N.J.) decisioned Ricky Schmelyun, 1-0 to cut the lead to 12-9. The win was Pletcher’s 74th of his career. He is now one shy of 22nd place on the school’s all-time wins slate.
However, three-straight decisions by Bloomsburg at 174, 184 and 197 pounds gave the Huskies and insurmountable lead.
Sophomore heavyweight D.J. Russo (Netcong, N.J.) posted a 14-4 major decision over Bloomsburg’s Zac Walsh in the final bout of the night to stop the Huskies’ momentum.
125: Matt Fusco (RU) dec. Ian Moser (BU), 10-7
133: Jason Guffey (BU) dec. Mike DeMarco (RU), 11-5
141: Trevor Melde (RU) dec. Rick Donald (BU), 4-3
149: George Hickman (BU) dec. Kellen Bradley (RU), 9-3
157: Matt Moley (BU) WBF Paul Grogan (RU), 0:44
165: Matt Pletcher (RU) dec. Ricky Schmelyun (BU), 1-0
174: Nate Graham (BU) dec. Mike Whalen (RU), 2-0
184: Brian Shaw (BU) dec. McPaul Ogbonna (RU), 8-3
197: Jesse Hasseman (BU) dec. Chris Orzechowski (RU), 4-2
HWT: D.J. Russo (RU) maj. dec. Zac Walsh (BU), 14-4
