Mountaineers Top ASU at Virginia Duals
HAMPTON, Va. (January 10, 2015) – For the second time in less than a week, the West Virginia University wrestling team defeated rival Arizona State, taking a 21-20 victory to win the Silver Bracket at the Virginia Duals on Saturday morning at the Hampton Coliseum.
West Virginia took fifth overall at the event.
After dropping a 19-13 match to the Sun Devils in November, the Mountaineers have taken two in a row. West Virginia won a 22-12 dual in Tempe on Sunday and boasts a 2-1 mark on the season against the Sun Devils.
“Great performance and heart shown by our team today,” said Mountaineer coach Sammie Henson. “Zeke Moisey and Cory Stainbrook started us off with a bang, and Louis Colonna, the “Yellow Blur,” fought hard to not give up six. Ross Renzi gutted out a huge overtime takedown to put us up. It was truly a team effort and we couldn’t be prouder of our men. It’s time to get back to Morgantown and do work!”
Colonna made his dual match debut this weekend. Despite weighing in at 141 pounds, he stepped into the lineup at 149.
Zeke Moisey put the Mountaineers up 6-0 with a first-period pin of Ares Carpio at 125 pounds, sending him to the mat in 2:50. It was his second straight pin of Carpio, as he pinned him in 39 seconds in their last matchup. Cory Stainbrook followed him with a pin of Judson Preskitt in 2:18 at 133 pounds, putting WVU in front 12-0.
No. 10/11 Michael Morales added to the Mountaineer tally, wining a 4-2 decision over Matt Kraus at 141 pounds. He used a first-period takedown, then added a penalty point for an illegal move and an escape in adding three to the board to put the Mountaineers in front 15-0.
Arizona State scored a tech. fall at 149 and won a decision at 157 to cut their deficit to seven points, down 15-8. West Virginia countered with a win at 165 as Ross Renzi took a 6-4 decision over Jacen Peterson in sudden victory – the second time the two have wrestled extra periods. After scoreless first period, Renzi scored an escape and the first takedown of the bout in the second, but gave up an escape and a stalling point to lead 3-2 entering the third. An early escape by Peterson tied the bout and neither wrestler scored in regulation. The two battled through an overtime period before Renzi ended things with a takedown in the second sudden victory period as WVU went up 18-8.
The Sun Devils won by fall at 174 and by decision at 184, though the Mountaineers held on to a slim 18-17. Jake A. Smith then took a 3-2 decision over Josh Dasilveira at 197, scoring on a takedown to take a 2-1 lead in the second. He added an escape for the win as West Virginia took a 21-17 advantage, meaning the Sun Devils would need a bonus-point victory at heavyweight to tie or win.
A.J. Vizcarrondo and Chace Eskam faced off for the third time this season. After a scoreless first period, Vizcarrondo got on the board first with an escape in the second. Eskam escaped in the third to tie things up 1-1, and the two went to overtime for the second time this year. Eskam escaped in overtime to take the 3-2 win in the first tiebreaker period, but it wasn’t enough as the Mountaineers took the match.
West Virginia will head to Oklahoma to open Big 12 action next weekend. They will face No. 8 Oklahoma State on January 16 at 8 p.m. ET in Stillwater before traveling to Norman to take on Oklahoma on January 18 in a 3 p.m. ET dual.
West Virginia 22, Arizona State 12
125: Zeke Moisey (WVU) pinned Ares Carpio (ASU), 2:50
133: Cory Stainbrook (WVU) pinned Judson Preskitt (ASU), 2:18
141: .10/11NMichael Morales (WVU) dec. Matthew Kraus (ASU), 4-2
149: Christian Pagdilao (ASU) tech. fall Louis Colonna (WVU), 20-3 (5:00)
157: Oliver Pierce (ASU) dec. Brutus Scheffel (WVU), 6-2
165: Ross Renzi (WVU) dec. Jacen Peterson (ASU) 6-4 SV-1
174: Ray Waters (ASU) pinned Parker VonEgidy (WVU), 1:22
184: No. 2 Blake Stauffer dec. Bubba Scheffel (WVU), 5-2
197: Jake A. Smith (WVU) dec. Josh DaSilveira (ASU), 3-2
HWT: Chace Eskam dec. A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU), 2-1 TB-1
Mountaineers Go 2-1 on Day One of Va. Duals
HAMPTON, Va. (January 9, 2015) – Freshman Zeke Moisey pinned No. 10 Sean Boyle while Ross Renzi and Jake A. Smith both went 3-0 as the West Virginia University wrestling team brattled to a 2-1 mark on day one of the Virginia Duals at the Hampton Coliseum on Friday.
The Mountaineers edged Chattanooga, 21-19, to start the day before falling to No. 14 Edinboro, 21-16. They then rebounded with a 19-15 victory over No. 25 Bucknell, putting them in position for a rematch with familiar foe Arizona State on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
“It was a day of ups and downs, but our men continue to get better,” said WVU head coach Sammie Henson. “We are a family and everyone is one the same page, so it’s great to see us grow together. Tomorrow will be another tough battle against Arizona State. It is all a process for the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.”
Moisey started things off with a bang for the Mountaineers at 125 pounds, sending Boyle to the mat in with 33 seconds to go in the first period to put WVU up 6-0.
The Mocs got on the board with a decision win at 133 pounds, but Michael Morales won a 9-3 decision over Mike Pongracz at 141 to keep West Virginia in front, 9-6. Morales took a 6-2 lead on three first-period takedowns before recording an escape in the second. He capped the bout with another takedown in the third for the victory.
Chattanooga won by fall at 149 pounds to tie the match 9-9, then took a 13-9 lead as Austin Sams won a 13-4 major decision over Roman Perryman. Ross Renzi won by fall at 165 to put the Mountaineers back in front, 15-13. Renzi registered an escape and a pair of takedowns against Justin Lampe before putting Lampe’s back to the mat in 2:00 to pick up bonus points.
Parker VonEgidy dropped an 8-5 decision to Levi Clemons at 174 pounds as the Mocs took a slim 16-15 lead. However, Bubba Scheffel won a 5-3 decision over John Shrader at 184 to put the Mountaineers back in front. Scheffel took a 2-1 lead in the first with a takedown before Shrader tied It 2-2 with an escape in the second. Starting in the defensive position in the third period, Scheffel scored an early reversal to take a 4-2 lead before tacking on an extra point with nearly three minutes of riding time as WVU took an 18-16 lead.
Jake A. Smith added a win at 197, taking a 3-2 decision from Scottie Boykin. Smith scored in the first with a takedown before Boykin registered a takedown in the second. An escape would give Smith the win and push West Virginia ahead, 21-16. A.J. Vizcarrondo dropped a 2-0 decision at heavyweight, as Jared Johnson scored on an escape and riding time. The Mountaineers held on for the 21-19 victory.
West Virginia then took a 21-16 loss to No. 14 Edinboro in its second dual of the day. After Edinboro took a decision in sudden victory at 125, the Mountaineers got on the board with a 4-3 lead when Cory Strainbrook won a 10-2 major decision over Anthony Rivera at 133. Stainbrook closed out his bout with a pair of third-period takedowns and a point for riding time to secure the major.
Pins at 141 and 149 pounds gave the Fighting Scots a 15-4 advantage. Brutus Scheffel then picked up a 5-2 decision over Kasey Davis at 157 pounds, using a first-period takedown and a pair of escapes in earning the win and cutting the WVU deficit to eight, down 15-7. Renzi followed suit with a 6-4 win over Casey Fuller, scoring two takedowns in the third to bring the Mountaineers within five at 15-10.
Edinboro put six more on the board with wins at 174 and 184 pounds, taking a 21-10 lead. Smith used a late takedown to score a 5-2 decision over Vince Pickett, but it wasn’t enough. Edinboro capped the match with a 6-4 decision at heavyweight to take the dual 21-16.
The Mountaineers then rebounded with a thrilling 19-15 triumph of the 25th-ranked Bison. Bucknell scored wins at 125 and 133 before Michael Morales scored a 16-7 major over Tyler Smith to get WVU on the board. Morales took an 8-2 lead in the first, recording a trio of back points, before adding another takedown and a reversal in the second. He then closed things out with a trio of escapes and a late takedown in earning the major.
Bucknell won by fall at 149, but the Mountaineers took the next five bouts. Tim Wheeling rebounded for the Mountaineers with a 7-5 decision over Rustin Barrick at 157, scoring a takedown in every period, as well as an escape in the second, for the win. Renzi won his third match of the day, an 8-4 decision over Rob Schlitt at 165 pounds. Renzi led 3-1 entering the third, with a takedown in the first and an escape in the second, before adding a pair of takedowns and a point for riding time to close out the bout.
VonEgidy grabbed his third major decision of the season, defeating Rory Bonner 16-7 at 174. He scored 10 points off takedowns in the first period alone, adding two more in the second before registering a reversal in the third. Bubba Scheffel followed with a 7-2 decision over Thomas Sleigh at 184, scoring a takedown in the first and adding a trio of nearfall points in the third.
After a first-period takedown, Smith rode out Tyler Lyster for a 3-2 decision win at 197. Vizcarrondo then dropped a tight 3-2 bout to No. 19 Joe Stolfi at heavyweight, but the Mountaineers had already sealed the deal for the 19-15 win.
West Virginia 21, Chattanooga 19
125: Zeke Moisey (WVU) pinned No. 10 Sean Boyle (UTC), 2:27
133: No. 16 Nick Soto dec. Cory Stainbrook (WVU), 7-2
141: No. 10/11 Michael Morales (WVU) dec. Mike Pongracz (UTC), 9-3
149: Shawn Greevy (UTC) pinned Louis Colonna (WVU), 2:57
157: Austin Sams (UTC) major dec. Roman Perryman (WVU), 13-4
165: Ross Renzi (WVU) pinned Justin Lampe (UTC), 2:00
174: Levi Clemons (UTC) dec. Parker VonEgidy (WVU), 8-5
184: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) dec. John Shrader (UTC), 5-3
197: Jake A. Smith (WVU) dec. Scottie Boykin (UTC), 3-2
HWT: Jared Johnson (UTC) dec. A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU), 2-0
No. 14 Edinboro 21, West Virginia 16
125: No. 19/20 Kory Mines (EU) dec. Zeke Moisey (WVU), 6-4 SV-1
133: Cory Strainbrook (WVU) major dec. Anthony Rivera (EU), 10-2
141: No. 2 Mitchell Port (EU) pinned No. 10/11 Michael Morales (WVU), 4:26
149: No. 3/4 David Habat (EU) pinned Louis Colonna (WVU), 4:52
157: Brutus Scheffel (WVU) dec. Kasey Davis (EU), 5-2
165: Ross Renzi (WVU) dec. Casey Fuller (EU), 6-4
174: Patrick Jennings (EU) dec. Parker VonEgidy (WVU), 7-6
184: No. 12 Vic Avery (EU) dec. Bubba Scheffel (WVU), 4-1
197: Jake A. Smith (WVU) dec. Vince Pickett (EU), 5-2
HWT: A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU) dec. Warren Bosch (WVU), 6-4
West Virginia 19, No. 25 Bucknell 15
125: No. 17 Paul Petrov (BU) dec. Zeke Moisey (WVU), 4-3
133: Grimaldi Gonzalez (BU) dec. Cory Stainbrook (WVU), 7-5 SV-1
141: No. 10/11 Michael Morales (WVU) dec. Tyler Smith (BU), 16-11
149: Victor Lopez (BU) pinned Louis Colonna (WVU), 3:19
157: Tim Wheeling (WVU) dec. Rustin Barrick (BU), 7-5
165: Ross Renzi (WVU) dec. Rob Schlitt (BU), 804
174: Parker VonEgidy (WVU) major dec. Rory Bonner (BU), 16-7
184: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) dec. Thomas Sleigh (BU), 6-2
197: Jake A. Smith (WVU) dec. Tyler Lyster (BU), 3-2
HWT: No. 19 Joe Stolfi (BU) dec. A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU), 3-2
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