March 10, 2007

KEARNEY, Neb. -

Three members of the Mercyhurst College wrestling team will be wrestling for All-American honors when the NCAA finals take place at 7:00 PM Saturday night.

J.J. Zanetta (141), Andy Lamancusa (157) and Zack Schafer (174) all survived through the wrestlebacks.  Zanetta and Schafer will wrestle for seventh place in their weights, while Lamancusa has a chance to compete in the third place match at 157.

In the wrestlebacks, Zanetta defeated Kenneth Montour of New Mexico Highlands, 8-6, before a loss by fall to Nebraska-Kearney's Jeff Rutledge sent the Mercyhurst senior to the seventh place match.  He will hit the mat against Yasiim Bribieseca of Nebraska-Omaha.

Lamancusa picked up a major decision, 15-6, in his first wrestleback against Michael Gallegos of Adams State.  He then defeated Minnesota State-Mankato's Brandon Girtz 11-9 (TB1).  His next foe is Joe Ellenberger of Nebraska-Kearney with a spot in the third place match on the line.

Schafer eliminated Newberry's Quinn Tolbert, 5-3 (TB1), in his first wrestleback bout.  UPJ's Eli Garshnick dealt the two-time All-American a 5-1 loss in the next match, sending Schafer to the seventh place bout.  Ashland's Justin Ferguson will be his opponent.

Don Cummings was eliminated from the championships in session III.  North Carolina-Pembrokes' Willie Hilton narrowly edged the junior, 3-2, in the wrestlebacks.

Entering the finals, Mercyhurst is in 19th place in the team standings.  Central Oklahoma leads the 34-team field with 99 points.