Wrestling: WVU Selected No. 22 by W.I.N. Magazine
October 11, 2006 04:15 PM | General
October 11, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University men’s wrestling team was selected as the 22nd ranked team in the country in W.I.N. Magazine’s 2006 preseason poll, released Wednesday, Oct. 11.
The Mountaineers are one of three Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) teams to earn a spot in the poll. Defending EWL champion Edinboro enters the season No. 15, while Pitt checks in at No. 21.
Six Mountaineers qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2006 including five returners: Brandon Rader (141-lbs.), David Jauregui (149-lbs.), Larry Hall (165-lbs.), Kurt Brenner (174-lbs.) and Jared Villers (197-lbs.). Two-time NCAA qualifier Zak Fryling (157-lbs.) also returns this season after redshirting as a junior.
Five West Virginia grapplers enter the season nationally ranked according to the magazine. Rader ranks the highest coming in at third after finishing his freshman campaign as an All-American and EWL champion with 30 wins.
Jauergui and Brenner rank ninth in their respective weight classes, while Hall comes in at No. 12 and Villers at No. 17.
WVU will also get a boost from wrestlers Kyle Turnbull (125-lbs.) and Dustin Rogers (HWT), who spent much of last season sidelined with injuries. Heavyweight Matt Holsopple will also contribute.
The Mountaineers get their season underway on Saturday, Nov. 4, when they host the 25th-annual WVU Invitational in the Shell Building in Morgantown, W.Va.
