November 19, 2006

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Freshman Eric Decker of the Virginia Tech wrestling team highlighted a group of 12 athletes who competed at the East Stroudsburg Open, Saturday. Decker, from Wells Bridge, N.Y., went 5-0 to win the 165-pound weight class while Jon Bonilla-Bowman took third place in the 149-pound class.

Decker opened with a 17-8 major decision over Zach Filter of The Citadel before beating John Mangini, 5-3. He then blanked Steven Gilbert of the US Military Academy, 16-0, and then held on for a 5-4 win over Dave Rella of Penn State to reach the finals. There, he picked up a medical forfeit victory over Kevin Kelbach of Kutztown University.

Bonilla-Bowman opened with a 16-9 decision over Rider's Tim McGoldrick before picking up a 15-6 major decision over Kutztown's James Michaud. In the round of 16, he pinned Frankie Gayeski of Lehigh at the 3:00 mark before beating Levi Duyn of The Citadel, 6-4, in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he dropped a tough 3-2 decision to eventual champion Michael Parziale of Hofstra. Bonilla-Bowman bounced back, again beating McGoldrick, this time 8-6. In the third-place match, he beat J.P. O'Connor of Harvard 5-2 to wrap up his day at 6-1.

While Decker won the 165-pound class, two other Hokies also fared well in that class as freshman Robert Buck placed sixth while Eddie Baughan took eighth. Buck opened up with a pair of wins before falling in the quarterfinals. After dropping into the wrestlebacks, Baughan picked up a pin, a 5-2 decision and another pin while Buck recorded a 3-1 win. Their victories set up a showdown with Buck picking up the 6-3 win. Buck then lost to fall into the fifth-place match, where he was pinned. In the seventh-place match, Baughan was beaten 6-4.

Freshman Jimmy Young went 3-3 with a pin on the day to place eighth at 184 pounds.

Other Hokies competing were: Matt Rosen (1-2 at 133 pounds), Andre Johnson (1-2 at 141 pounds), Derek Gallagher (1-2 at 157 pounds with a pin), Kevin O'Connor (2-2 at 197 pounds), Will Snyder (0-2 at 197 pounds), Tim Miller (0-2 at 197 pounds) and Tyler Robey (1-2 at heavyweight).

The Hokies (4-1) will compete against Friday at 4 p.m., hosting 18^th-ranked Nebraska at Cassell Coliseum.