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Saturday, March 08, 2003 Page: 7B
ADA, Ohio – King’s College wrestlers Mitch Marcks and Jim Morgan both
advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III National
Championships at Ohio Northern University Friday.
Meanwhile, two Wilkes University wrestlers had their hopes dashed when they
were eliminated from the event. Sophomore Rex Harris won his opening-round
bout at 174 pounds before losing two matches. Senior heavyweight Corey
Fleisher lost his opener and won his first consolation bout before falling in
his third match of the day.
By reaching today’s semifinals, both Marcks and Morgan are guaranteed
All-American status for the second consecutive year. The semifinals are
scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and the championship finals are set for 5 p.m.
Marcks, who is seeded third at 125 pounds, posted a 4-2 victory over Joe
Honts of Buena Vista College in his first-round matchup. The Monarch junior
then posted a 9-3 decision over sixth-seeded Terry Morgan of Loras College in
the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Marcks (35-1) will face seventh-seeded Jason Peck
(37-12) of Cortland State, an 8-6 upset winner of second-seeded Davey Starks
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Morgan, seeded third at 141 pounds, moved to the quarterfinals after
receiving a first-round bye. In the quarterfinals, Morgan (37-1) earned an
11-6 decision over sixth-seeded Adam Anderson of Wisconsin-Platteville to
advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Morgan, who was a semifinalist at 149 pounds a year ago en route to a
fourth-place finish, will meet second-seeded Keith Polosky of Springfield.
Polosky (40-2) defeated seventh-seeded Matt Kapraun of Augustana 14-6 to reach
the semifinals.
Harris was the No. 6 seed at 174 pounds. The Wilkes sophomore received an
opening-round bye before disposing of Ed Miller from Oswego State, 7-5, in the
second round.
In the championship quarterfinals, Harris dropped a 9-5 decision to
third-seeded Joe Moon from Augsburg College to slip into the consolation
bracket. Harris was then eliminated when Chris Healy from Wabash College
scored a pin at the 6:34 mark of the third period.
Fleisher, who was unseeded, opened the day by losing a 3-2 decision to Mike
Flanagan from Augsburg in the second round of the heavyweight division
bracket.
Fleisher, who was making his second consecutive trip to the tournament,
rebounded from the loss to knock off Carlos Panfili from the College of New
Jersey, 14-7. Fleisher then lost a 6-3 decision to fourth-seeded Brian Black
from Upper Iowa.
Harris concluded his sophomore season at 35-5. Fleisher ends his final
season with the Colonels at 34-4.
BASEBALL
Wilkes 5, Misericordia 4
COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Wilkes University (4-4) concluded its weeklong Florida
trip with a win over College Misericordia.
Tyler Trutt, Matt Midkiff and Matt Kaskie each had two hits for the
Colonels. Wilkes was scheduled to host FDU-Florham tomorrow, but that game has
been postponed because of the weather. No make-up date has been set.
SOFTBALL
Misericordia splits
OCOEE, Fla. – College Misericordia split a pair of games as it completed a
10-game stay in Florida.
The Cougars (5-5) defeated the Milwaukee School of Engineering, 6-1, but
dropped a 4-1 decision to Thiel.
Lynette Bedford and Kirsten Lazorka each had a pair of a singles in the
victory and Rachel Matthews tossed a four-hitter. Coughlin graduate Kerri
Buckman had an RBI single against Thiel.
Wilkes 11, Ferrum 2
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Wilkes University won its first game at the Marlin
East-Atlantic Classic, hosted by Virginia Wesleyan College.
Wilkes (1-0) took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, as Alexis Petite hit an
RBI double and Carly Streznetcky smacked a two-run double.
The Colonels extended their lead to 6-0 in the fourth on Melissa
Mendygral’s RBI double, Jan Nunemacher’s ground-out and an error.
Mendygral added an RBI single in the fifth and Kerry Zellner hit a
pinch-hit grand slam in the sixth.