A.J. Schopp defeats #1 Tony Ramos as Iowa Tops Edinboro
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Photo By Katie Holmes from Edinboro University Athletics
In front of a sell-out crowd at the McComb Fieldhouse Edinboro’s #8 A.J. Schopp downed #1 Tony Ramos at 133 lbs. (3-2).
Schopp, a junior for Edinboro and past PIAA State Champion for Tyrone Area as a senior, is currently ranked #8 in the Nation by InterMat at 133 lbs. Last season Schopp earned All-American honors for the first time in his career by placing fourth in the Nation at 133 lbs.
Iowa’s senior Tony Ramos, on the other hand, is ranked #1 in the Nation at 133 lbs. by InterMat and was an NCAA runner-up last season at 133 lbs. falling to 2x NCAA National Champion Logan Stieber (Ohio State).
The last time these two faced off was on February 16, 2013 when Iowa took on Edinboro. In the dual meet Ramos dominated Schopp shutting the Fighting Scout out by major decision (9-0).
Both wrestlers entered the dual meet undefeated, however, at the NWCA All-Star Classic Schopp fell to fellow Keystone State native Mason Beckman (5-1) at 133 lbs. Ramos actually bumped up to 141 lbs. to take on Virginia Tech’s Devin Carter as the Hawkeye won (5-3 in OT).
This time around Schopp not only closed the margin, he overcame the defeat and upset Ramos is a stunning (3-2) match in front of a home crowd. Schopp had to use a late third period escape to claim the victory over the senior.
Overall it was an impressive victory for Schopp but there is still a long season ahead for these two returning All-Americans. Schopp was also not the only PIAA State Champion to compete in the dual meet. At 141 lbs. Bellefonte Area’s Mitchell Port, a NCAA Runner-up last season at 141 lbs. for Edinboro, took on Council Rock South’s turned Iowa Hawkeye Josh Dziewa. Both Port and Dziewa were PIAA Class AAA State Champions in 2010 as seniors. Port, ranked #2 at 141 lbs. had no issues with #13 ranked Dziewa as the All-American earned a fall in (3:47). Iowa was able to battle back and leave with a narrow (22-19) victory over the Fighting Scouts.
Results:
125 – Thomas Gilman (IA) major dec. #17 Kory Mines (EU), 12-3; 4-0
133 – #8 A.J. Schopp (EU) dec. #1 Tony Ramos (IA), 3-2; 4-3
141 – #2 Mitchell Port (EU) pinned #13 Josh Dziewa (IA), 3:47; 4-9
149 – #10 Dave Habat (EU) major dec. Brody Grothus (IA), 13-5; 4-13
157 – #1 Derek St. John (IA) major dec. Johnny Greisheimer (EU), 13-5; 8-13
165 – #4Nick Moore (IA) dec. Zach Towers (EU), 11-4; 11-13
174 – #6 Mike Evans (IA) major dec. Patrick Jennings (EU), 13-5; 15-13
184 – #2 Ethen Lofthouse (IA) dec. Nicholas Mitchell (EU), 3-2; 18-13
197 – Sammy Brooks (IA) major dec. Vince Pickett (EU), 11-0; 22-13
285 – Ernest James (EU) pinned Tomas Lira (IA), 2:10; 22-19
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