Wrestling: Mountaineers in Top 25
November 14, 2007 06:48 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
November 14, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University wrestling team has been ranked No. 20 in the 2007-08 pre-season national rankings by WrestlingReport.com.
WVU returns all seven NCAA qualifiers from last season: Mark Anderson (133 lbs.), Brandon Rader (141 lbs.), David Jauregui (149 lbs.), Zac Fryling (157 lbs.), Kurt Brenner (174 lbs.), Jared Villers (197 lbs.) and heavyweight Dustin Rogers.
Six of the starters have received Top 20 national rankings by several publications, including the InterMat/NWCA poll and Amateur Wrestling News. Rader has consistently received top five consideration in the 141-pound division.
The Mountaineers will also rely on 125-pounder Kyle Turnbull and 165-pounder Donnie Jones. Both wrestlers are coming off season-ending injuries and will look to stay healthy and be consistent for WVU.
At 184 pounds Chance Litton posted a 20-12 overall record in 2006-07, including a 6-2 dual record and a 4-2 mark in Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) play.
Other EWL teams included in WrestlingReport.com’s preseason national rankings were Pitt (17th), Edinboro (19th) and Bloomsburg (26th). The Mountaineers defeated Pitt last season but were defeated by Edinboro and Bloomsburg.
WVU begins its season on Sunday, Nov. 18, in a dual meet against both No. 2 Iowa State and Sacred Heart at Binghamton University in Vestal, N.Y. The Mountaineers will face Sacred Heart at 9:30 a.m. and wrestle Iowa State at 1:15 p.m.
