Moley and Schmelyun Remain Alive at NCAA Championships

ST. LOUIS, MO-- Two Bloomsburg University wrestlers, Matt Moley (Phoenixville/Spring-Ford) and Ricky Schmelyun (New Oxford/Bermudian Springs) remain alive after day one of competition at the 2009 NCAA Division I wrestling championships. Two other wrestlers, Ian Moser (Dover, DE/Caesar Rodney) and George Hickman (Castle Hayne, NC/Riverside), dropped both their matches and were eliminated.

Moley beat Jason Johnstone of Ohio State by fall in his opening match winning in 6:51. Moley came out fast and recorded two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-1 after one period. In the second with Johnstone taking the bottom, Moley tilted the Ohio State wrestler for a three-point near fall. After an escape by Johnstone, Moley led 7-2, after two periods. In the third Moley was leading 11-3 when Johnstone took a shot, but Moley caught him and put him on his back for the pin.

In the second round Moley lost to Tyler Safratowich of Minnesota by a score of 7-4. Moley trailed 2-1 after one period, then saw Safratowich get a takedown and a three-point near fall to go up 7-2. Moley did record a third period takedown, but it wasn't enough sending Moley to the consolation bracket on Fridady morning.

Schmelyun won his opening match by a 4-2 score over Roger Smith-Bergsrud of Illinois. Schmelyun led 2-0 after one period, then, saw Smith-Bergsrud get a reversal in the opening seconds of the second period to knot the score at 2-2. In the third period, after a couple of stalemates, Schmelyun got a late takedown to pull out the win.

In round two, Schmelyun lost 7-3 to Andrew Howe of Wisconsin. Schmelyun took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown only to see Howe get a reversal and knot the match at 2-2 after one period. In the second, Howe chose down to start, then, got a reversal and later a three-point near fall to on top 7-2. Schmelyun got one point for riding time and lost 7-3.

Moser dropped his first match to Brad Pataky of Penn State in 1:20. Pataky was leading 2-0 when he picked up the win by fall. In the first round of consolations, Moser beat Derek Reber of Bucknell, 11-6. Trailing 5-4 going into the third period, Moser outscored Reber 7-1 in the final two minutes to get the victory. In round two of consolations, Moser lost by fall to Nikko Triggas of Ohio State in 1:21.

Hickman dropped his first match of the tournament by fall to fourth-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State. Palmer was leading 11-1 in the match when he got Hickman on his back and earned the win by fall. Hickman also lost in the first round of consolations by a score of 10-5 to Cesar Grajales of Penn.

Action will resume on Friday at the Scott Trade Center in St. Louis.