Wrestling: WVU Leads Early At Vegas
December 06, 2002 07:29 PM | General
By Adam Zundell for MSNsportsNET.com
December 6, 2002
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The West Virginia University wrestling team has seven wrestlers alive in the championship bracket and leads the Las Vegas Invitational after three rounds. The eighth-rated Mountaineers have 44 points, ahead of No.5 Ohio State (40.50), No.6 Michigan (39.50) and No.3 Minnesota (36.50).
Fourteenth-ranked Brandon Lauer (133), No.2 Shane Cunanan (141), No.9 Billy Smith (149), Matt Lebe (157), No.1 Greg Jones (174), No.11 Ryan Wilman (184) and No.13 Brent Miller advanced to the quarterfinals.
West Virginia scored extra points in several matches to help bolster its total. The Mountaineers had six pins (two by Lauer and Miller) and five major decisions in the first three rounds of wrestling.
Twentieth-ranked Seth Lisa (125) won his first round match before losing 11-7 to No.19 Bobby Lowe of Minnesota. Adrian Thompson (197) won two matches before falling 15-5 to 12th–ranked Anton Talamantes of Ohio State. Both wrestlers remain alive in the consolation bracket.
WVU did not have an entry at 165. Senior Tom McMath is still recovering from a wrist injury and Anthony Regalbuto did not make weight.
The tournament will continue later this evening and tomorrow at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
