WHEELING, W.Va. – The West Liberty University wrestling team made short work of its first dual meet with cross-county rival Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday morning, breezing to a 35-6 victory at WesBanco Arena.
The match between the Hilltoppers (3-2) and the Cardinals (3-5) was held in downtown Wheeling as part of the festivities surrounding the final day of the mammoth Ohio Valley Athletic Conference championship meet.
Zach Brown got West Liberty off to a flying start with a pin at 125 pounds and Coach Brian Davis's Hilltoppers never looked back.
Daniel Carpenter also picked up a fall for West Liberty at 149 while Bryan Skoff (157) and David Schlieper (165) notched major decisions. Bryce Gainer (133), Eric Antesberger (184) and Aaron Silverio also won for the Black and Gold.
Jesuit, in its first season of intercollegiate competition, got its points from narrow decisions at 141 and a default at 174. The Cardinals were docked a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct during the 149-pound match.
The WLU mat squad will be back in action on Jan. 25 when West Liberty hosts the West Virginia Collegiate Open. The one-day event gets under way with first-round matches at 10 a.m.
West Liberty 29 Wheeling Jesuit 11
125: Zach Brown (WLU) p. Brad Kakos, 3:30
133: Bryce Gainer (WLU) d. Scott Lopez, 5-1
141: Damon Outward (WJU) d. Dillon Nolte, 8-6
149: Daniel Carpenter (WLU) p. Dominic Nania, 3:12
157: Bryan Skoff (WLU) md. John Gershom, 13-2
165: David Schlieper (WLU) md. T.J. Smith, 14-4
174: Sawyer Leppla (WJU) won by default
184: Eric Antesberger (WLU) d. Nate Hupp, 8-6
197: Maxwell Lacey (WJU) d. Danny Doyle, 9-7, OT
285: Aaron Silverio (WLU) d. Corey Siegfried, 2-0
