Wrestling: Jones and Lebe Still Alive
March 18, 2005 05:10 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
March 18, 2005
ST. LOUIS – Two West Virginia University wrestlers advanced to Session IV of the 2005 NCAA Wrestling Championships on Friday afternoon at the Savvis Center.
Senior Greg Jones advanced to his third career semifinals match with an impressive 13-4 major decision over Missouri’s Matt Pell at 184 pounds. Jones took a 4-1 lead on a double-leg takedown with eight seconds left in the opening period. He led 8-1 after two periods before collecting a pair of takedowns and adding riding time for his third bonus point victory of the tournament.
Jones has guaranteed himself All-America honors and will face Illinois All-American Brian Glynn in tonight’s semifinals. The two met once this season at the National Duals with Jones taking an 8-4 decision.
Matt Lebe remained alive in the consolation bracket with two wins at 157 pounds. The junior Mountaineer posted a 6-2 decision over Northern Iowa’s Chris Bitetto to begin the day. He then scored a 4-1 win over No. 12 seeded Jim Medeiros of Fresno State to continue in the consolation bracket.
Lebe competes in his second consecutive round of 12 – one win shy of All-America status. Standing in Lebe’s way is defending NCAA champion Matt Gentry of Stanford. The two have not met this season but Gentry has won all three career meetings.
Two Mountaineers exited the tournament this morning as Shawn Cordell and Zac Fryling dropped close matches. True freshman Cordell fell 6-2 to John Velez of Northwestern, the No. 11 seed at 125 pounds. Oregon State’s Matt Ellis posted a 6-3 decision over Fryling at 165 pounds.
Jones and Lebe resume action tonight with Session IV (semifinals and wrestle-backs) at the Savvis Center beginning at 6 p.m. CST. ESPNU and Fox Sports will televise tonight’s semifinals.
Match-by-Match Results:
125: Adam Smith (Penn State) DEC Shawn Cordell (WVU), 6-2
125: Shawn Cordell (WVU) DEC Jeff Schell (Brown), 5-1
125: John Velez (Northwestern) DEC Shawn Cordell (WVU), 6-2
133: No. 5 Tom McClum (Wisconsin) FALL Seth Lisa (WVU), 6:49
133: Matt Benza (Air Force) MAJOR Seth Lisa (WVU), 15-6
157: Nate Galloway (Penn State) DEC No. 7 Matt Lebe (WVU), 7-4
157: No. 7 Matt Lebe (WVU) DEC James Strouse (Hofstra), 2-1
157: No. 7 Matt Lebe (WVU) DEC Chris Bitetto (Northern Iowa), 6-2
157: No. 7 Matt Lebe (WVU) DEC No. 12 Jim Medeiros (Fresno State), 4-1
Next up: No. 3 Matt Gentry (Stanford)
165: No. 12 Mike Patrovich (Hofstra) DEC Zac Fryling (WVU), 8-3
165: Zac Fryling (WVU) MAJOR Donny Reynolds (Illinois), 14-5
165: Matt Ellis (Oregon State) DEC Zac Fryling (WVU), 6-3
184: No. 1 Greg Jones (WVU) TECH Alex Camargo (Kent State), 23-8 6:37
184: No. 1 Greg Jones (WVU) MAJOR Joe Rovelli (Hofstra), 15-5
184: No. 1 Greg Jones (WVU) MAJOR Matt Pell (Missouri), 13-4
Next up: No. 5 Brian Glynn (Illinois)
