Wrestling: WVU Set for Final Two Meets of Season
February 17, 2006 01:52 PM | General
February 17, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University wrestling team closes out its regular season this weekend with a dual meet on Saturday, Feb. 18, against Edinboro in Edinboro, Pa., at McComb Fieldhouse, followed by a match on Sunday, Feb. 19, against Cleveland State in Cleveland at Woodling Gymnasium.
The match-up between the Mountaineers (5-5, 4-0 EWL) and Fighting Scots (10-0, 4-0 EWL) should be the battle for the Eastern Wrestling League regular season title, pending the result of Edinboro’s dual meet tonight at Pitt.
“Right now we want to be more prepared for the EWL tournament,” says Turnbull. “We have put ourselves where we are in the running for the EWL championship with Edinboro. On paper they are putting a superior lineup on the mat, but fortunately that isn’t where you settle the competition.”
WVU is coming off of a 25-16 thumping of Lock Haven in its final home match of the season. Senior 133-pounder Seth Lisa and freshman 141-pounder Brandon Rader both recorded first period pins in their bouts against the Bald Eagles.
In the latest NWCA/Intermat rankings, senior Matt Lebe (157) kept his spot at No.2, while Rader ranks 16th. In the W.I.N. Magazine rankings Lebe is third, Rader is sixth, 149-pounder David Jauregui ranks 14th and 174-pounder Kurt Brenner holds the 14th spot.
Sunday’s match against Cleveland State (6-7, 2-3 EWL) will mark only the second time all season that the team has wrestled dual meets on back-to-back days. The last time was at the Virginia Duals on Jan. 13-14.
“Wrestling on back-to-back days is very good practice for us in preparation for the tournaments, having to weigh in on consecutive days as well as having to compete well despite what the result is on Saturday,” says Turnbull. “I think the Cleveland State meet is much like our last few where it can go either way.”
The Mountaineers are 9-11-1 all-time against Edinboro and 18-10 against Cleveland State.
