Wrestling: Brenner Advances to Semifinals

By Ira Green for MSNsportsNET.com
December 5, 2008

Cliff Keen Invitational
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nev.

First Round

Results

133

Lowther

TF 16-0 >

Dillashaw
(Fullerton)

141

Johnston

Dec 3-1 >

Nacita
(Bakersfield)

149

Jauregui

Fall 5:27 >

Smith
(Wyoming)

157

Goodman

< Dec 3-1

Wilson
(UC-Davis)

165

Mory

< Major 12-3

Velasquez
(Fullerton)

174

Brenner

< Dec 4-2

DeCiantis
(Pitt)

184

Bryson

< Major 12-3

Moenkediak
(N. Dakota St.)

197

Boyer

Dec 3-2 >

Drake
(Fullerton)

HWT

Rogers

< Fall 2:56

Zdrada
(Brown)

Second Round

Results

157

Goodman

Dec 8-3 >

Johnstone
(Ohio State)

165

Mory

Major 10-1>

Shanaman
(Penn)

184

Bryson

< Dec 3-1

Eidenschink
(Minnesota)

Third Round

Results

174

Brenner

< Dec 10-3

Starks
(Ariz. St.)

184

Bryson

Fall 4:44 >

Kissel
(Purdue)

HWT

Rogers

< Dec 6-4

Sprigg
(Army)

Quarterfinals

Results

174

Brenner

< Dec 5-2

Rutt
(Wisconsin)

HWT

Rogers

Fall 6:59 >

Flores
(Columbia)

Top WVU Wrestlers


Kurt Brenner	Dustin Rogers

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Fifth-year senior Kurt Brenner advanced to the semifinals at 174 pounds, while fifth-year senior Dustin Rogers (HWT) reached the quarterfinals of the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Brenner, who moved into the second round on a bye, defeated Eastern Wrestling League rival Pitt’s Karl DeCiantis, 4-2. In the third round, Brenner took on Arizona State’s Eric Starks and won in convincing fashion, 10-3. The Freedom, Pa., native tallied three takedowns in the first period alone and tacked on a total of 1:15 in riding time.

In the semifinal match, Brenner faced No. 11 seed Travis Rutt of Wisconsin. After a scoreless first period, Brenner tallied three points in the second and added a takedown in the third to put the match out of reach and move into the semifinals with a 5-2 decision.

Rogers earned the first pin fall for the Mountaineers in the second round, his first bout of the day. Against Brown’s Zach Zdrada, Rogers scored on two takedowns, and with nine seconds left in the first period, pinned Zdrada. In his next bout, Rogers took Army’s Mike Sprigg, a No. 12 seed, down to the wire. After pulling ahead 4-3, Sprigg earned an escape point to tie the match at four apiece. In the first overtime, Rogers used his speed to shoot at Sprigg’s legs and earned the takedown to win the bout.

Already having faced him once before this season, Rogers was pitted against Columbia's Ryan Flores, a No. 4 seed, in the semifinals. Flores pulled ahead 3-0 in the second period and won via pin fall with just one second left in the bout.

Freshman Lance Bryson (184) and redshirt-freshman Grant Lowther (133) also had successful days.

Bryson posted a 12-3 major decision against North Dakota State’s Kenny Moenkediak. Bryson registered two takedowns in the first period, another in the second period, and then two more in the third period. Bryson continued his success against Minnesota’s Brent Eidenschink, with a 3-1 decision. In the third round match, Bryson faced a difficult No. 4 seed, AJ Kissel of Purdue and lost via pin fall at the 4:44 mark. In his first bout in the consolation bracket, Bryson defeated Dickinson State’s Brett Owen, 8-2.

Lowther, who lost his first bout of the day, rebounded for a string of strong performances. In his first match in the consolation bracket, Lowther defeated Virginia Tech’s Jared Jones in an 8-0 major decision. Against Dickinson State’s Blake Hunter, Lowther would prevail, again. Lowther jumped out to a 9-1 lead and would take the win, 11-8. In his final bout of the day, Lowther defeated Northern Idaho’s Lester Brown, 8-0. A Washington, Pa., native, Lowther tallied two takedowns and three near fall points in the victory.

The Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational continues tomorrow, Dec. 6, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Round three of the consolation bracket will start at 9 a.m. and the semifinals will start at 10 a.m.

Results from Day 1 are below:

CONSOLATION
133 pounds – Grant Lowther (WVU) MAJOR Jared Jones (Virginia Tech), 8-0
141 pounds – Chris Davis (Sacred Heart) FALL Colin Johnston (WVU), 2:51
149 pounds – Brian Petersen (Minnesota) INJURY DEF David Jauregui (WVU)
157 pounds – Derek Sickles (Columbia) MAJOR Ryan Goodman (WVU), 11-1
197 pounds – Brandon Boyer (WVU) DEC Jonas Schenzel (Montana State), 11-7

133 pounds – Grant Lowther (WVU) DEC Blake Hunter (Dickinson State), 11-8
141 pounds – Chris Davis (Sacred Heart) FALL Colin Johnston (WVU), 2:51
165 pounds – Ethan Headlee (Pitt) DEC Christian Mory (WVU), 7-0
184 pounds – Lance Bryson (WVU) DEC Brett Owen (Dickinson State), 8-2
197 pounds – Joe Kennedy (Lehigh) DEC Brandon Boyer (WVU), 8-6
133 pounds – Grant Lowther (WVU) MAJOR Lester Brown (Northern Idaho), 8-0
133 pounds – Matt Vacanti (Nebraska) INJURY DEF Grant Lowther (WVU)
184 pounds – Lance Bryson (WVU) DEC Matt Gevilinger (Brown), 5-3

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