2/4/2011 12:00:00 AM

Wrestling tops Sacred Heart and Franklin & Marshall Friday

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Campbell wrestling team claimed a pair of victories Friday by topping Sacred Heart 33-9 at the East Regional Duals and Franklin & Marshall 33-15 in a separate dual.

Campbell (3-15) also dropped a narrow 26-21 decision to Millersville in its first match of the East Regional Duals, held in Millersville, Pa. After completing action at the Duals, the Camels traveled to nearby Lancaster, Pa., for their contest with F&M.

"I was really proud of the way our guys wrestled today," said head coach Joe Boardwine. "They wrestled with a lot of confidence and I feel like our team is really improving. Our guys really wrestled well and won a lot of close matches. Our conditioning was better today, we wrestled hard, and wanted it more. We have to be in shape and compete hard, and that was a major key to us winning today."

Tanner Bidelspach picked up his first career pin for the Camels against Sacred Heart (1-12), besting Billy Chamberlain in 6:46 at 125 pounds. Gabe Gardner won his second-straight bout at 133 pounds, earning an 8-2 decision over Andrew Polidore. Brad Merriman (141 pounds), Peter Comis (174), John Merickel (197) and Parker Burns (285) also won decisions for the Camels, who also picked up two forfeits at the 149 and 184-pound spots.

In the day's first match, Bidelspach earned an 11-1 major decision wrestling at 133 pounds, and senior Jake Fose registered a technical fall victory over Kyle Toth in 5:07 for the Camels. However, Millersville (2-6) used three falls and a technical fall to counter Campbell's attack and held on for a 26-21 victory. Burns (285) and Merickel (184) also won decisions for CU in the match.

At Franklin & Marshall, Campbell used a trio of major decisions and forfeits to surge ahead of the Diplomats en route to a 33-15 victory.

Gardner, wrestling at 141 pounds, defeated Aaron Velazques 13-4. Merickel topped Colin Lahiff 11-3, and Burns picked up a 9-0 victory against Daniel Canfield for the Camels. Fose earned a 6-1 decision over Eric Norgard at 157 pounds.

Franklin & Marshall fell to 0-9 on the season.

Campbell returns to action Thursday when it travels to Davidson for a 7 p.m. dual.

"I think our guys are going to have a good week of practice, and hopefully we'll go out and have a good match at Davidson," said Boardwine.

Millersville 26, Campbell 21

125- Grabiel Soto (Campbell) wins by forfeit

133- Tanner Bidelspach (Campbell) major decision Daniel Calzarette (Millersville), 11-1

141- Mike Greck (Millersville) fall Brad Merriman (Campbell), 2:24

149- Aaron Trimpey (Millersville) fall Darien Peele (Campbell), 4:00

157- Jake Fose (Campbell) tech. fall Kyle Toth (Millersville), 5:07

165- Brandon Vernalli (Millersville) decision Ryan Ham (Campbell), 11-7

174- Shane Smith (Millersvill) fall Peter Comis (Campbell), 0:28

184- John Merickel (Campbell) decision Jason Foor (Millersville), 8-5

197- Daniel Cox (Millersville) tech. fall Justin Sparrow (Campbell), 5:00

285- Parker Burns (Campbell) decision Bradley Ladd (Millersville), 11-4
Records: Millersville (2-6), Campbell (1-15)

Campbell 33, Sacred Heart 9
125- Tanner Bidelspach (Campbell) fall Billy Chamberlain (Sacred Heart), 6:46
133- Gabe Gardner (Campbell) decision Andrew Polidore (Sacred Heart), 8-2
141- Brad Merriman (Campbell) decision Anthony Ricco (Sacred Heart), 4-2
149- Darien Peele (Campbell) wins by forfeit
157- Anthony Priore (Sacred Heart) wins by forfeit
165- John Rizzitello (Sacred Heart) decision Ryan Ham (Campbell), 6-5
174- Peter Comis (Campbell) decision Zachary Moran (Sacred Heart, 12-6
184- Justin Sparrow (Campbell) wins by forfeit
197- John Merickel (Campbell decision Sam Morison (Sacred Heart), 7-0
285- Parker Burns (Campbell) decision Paul Schweighardt (Sacred Heart), 3-1
Records: Sacred Heart (1-12), Campbell (2-15)