Mike Sees Wins EWL Title

PITTSBURGH--Bloomsburg's Mike Sees (Northumberland/Shikellamy) won his second career Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) title on Saturday at the 2008 EWL championships held at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, heavyweight Mike Spaid (Perkiomenville/Boyertown) was denied his chance at a three-peat losing in the finals, while Matt Moley (Phoenixville/Spring-Ford) also lost in the finals at 157 pounds.

As a team, the Huskies finished fourth with 86 points with Edinboro winning the team title with 133 points.

Sees, who won an EWL title as a freshman, put another title at the other end of his career with an 8-7 win over Edinboro's Eric Morrill. Sees recorded a third period takedown to come from behind in the bout and earned the winning point on riding time. Sees opened the tournament with a pin by Ryan Riggs of Cleveland State in 2:45, then, won by injury default over Kyle Turnbull of West Virginia.

At 157 pounds, Moley reached the finals but fell to top-seed Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro, 7-2. Moley, who had a first round bye, reached the finals with a pin of Zac Fryling of West Virginia. Moley earned the win in 5:57.

Spaid, aiming for his third straight EWL title, posted a major decision over Roman Husam of Clarion, 9-1, then, beat Dustin Rogers of West Virginia in the semi-finals. The win was the 38th of the year for Spaid, tying him for number one all-time at Bloomsburg in single-season wins. In the finals, he faced off against Zach Sheaffer of Pitt, but fell short by a 4-2 score. It was the second time this season Sheaffer had beaten Spaid.

At 133 pounds, Jason Guffey (Muncy/Warrior Run), took fifth place with a 4-2, sudden victory win over Rob LaBrake of Clarion. Guffey, who drew a first round bye, lost to Jimmy Conroy of Pitt in the semi-finals, 11-5, then lost to Rick Deubel of Edinboro, 6-2 in the consolation semi's.

Darren Kern (Pennsburg/Upper Perkiomen), at 141 pounds, took fourth place after losing in the consolation championship match to Steve Waite of West Virginia by fall in 6:15. Kern lost to Torsten Gillespie of Edinboro by tech. fall in the opening round, then, came back with a win over Sal Lascari of Clarion, 6-4, before losing to Clink Shirk of Lock Haven, 2-0.

Ricky Schmelyun (New Oxford/Bermudian Springs), at 165 pounds, took fourth after losing to Ethan Headlee of Pitt in the consolation championship. Schmelyun also lost to Headlee in the opening round before picking up wins over Dominic Ross of Clarion, 16-3, and Marcus Effner of Cleveland State, 4-2, in the consolation rounds.

At 184 pounds, Jesse Hasseman (Franklin, IN/Franklin) finished fourth. After dropping his opening round match, Hasseman beat Scott Joseph of Clarion, 8-5, in the consolation semi-finals.

At 197 pounds, Eric Shaw (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg), finished fifth with a 2-1 win over Dave Crowell of Pitt. At 149 pounds, George Hickman (Castle Hayne, NC/Riverside) was sixth.

Sees, Moley and Spaid all earned trips to NCAA Division I championships. Wild card berths to the NCAA championships will be announced early Sunday morning.