Wrestling: WVU Heads to Ohio
February 14, 2008 12:42 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
February 14, 2008
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| West Virginia's Donnie Jones will try to extend his win streak to five against Ohio.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University wrestling team heads to Athens, Ohio, to take on Mid-American Conference foe Ohio University on Friday, February 15, at 8 p.m.
The Mountaineers (6-4, 3-1 EWL) prepare for their border rival in what will be the 46th meeting between the two squads, dating back to 1922.
WVU is coming off a tough-luck loss in the Backyard Brawl against No. 22 Pitt, losing 18-17 after falling in the heavyweight bout. The Mountaineers garnered their first loss in Eastern Wrestling League action and trail only No. 14 Edinboro and Pitt in the league standings.
The Mountaineers continue to excel in the final four weight classes, receiving solid performances from Chance Litton (174), Kurt Brenner (184), Jared Villers (197) and Dustin Rogers (HWT).
Litton is 3-1 in EWL play after falling to top-ranked Keith Gavin of Pitt in a 4-2 decision. He carries an 11-4 record and is tied for the team lead with two pin falls.
Brenner remains undefeated in league action and has won five of his last six matches. He owns a 9-1 record in dual matches and has 34 takedowns.
No. 14 Villers has been WVU’s most consistent wrestler, holding an eight-match winning streak en route to a 14-2 overall record this season. He has recorded 47 back points and is coming off consecutive technical falls over Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Pitt.
No. 20 Rogers has been steady for WVU and will look to rebound after falling in the final bout against Pitt’s Zach Sheaffer. The senior from Corning, Calif., is 7-4 this season and has contributed 13 dual points in only seven dual matches.
Senior Zac Fryling (157), ranked No. 19, has faced several difficult opponents throughout the season in the EWL’s most competitive weight division. Fryling leads the Mountaineers with 48 takedowns and holds a 9-5 overall record. He defeated Ohio’s Jake Frerichs in a 5-2 decision at the Cliff Keen Invitational earlier this season.
Donnie Jones (165) has begun to emerge after reeling off four straight victories in EWL play. Jones earned a key 4-3 decision over Pitt’s Ethan Headlee in his last match and will look to extend his match streak to five.
The Ohio Bobcats (5-13, 0-3 MAC) are coming off a loss to No. 20 Kent State and have lost to four other nationally ranked teams this season, including Ohio State, Indiana, Pitt and Eastern Michigan. They are led by Clay Tucker at 157 pounds, who carries a six-match winning streak and was the lone victor against Kent State.
In last season’s match at the Coliseum, WVU was defeated By Ohio, 22-16. The Mountaineers hold a 30-14-1 advantage over the Bobcats and have won seven of the last 10 meetings.
WVU head coach Craig Turnbull does not undermine the importance of the non-conference match, feeling each individual’s performance is substantial as the season begins to wind down.
“We want to see our guys start to get their best wrestling in at this time,” says Turnbull. “It is a very important meet and these final three dual meets are important for our wrestlers and give them an opportunity to learn about themselves.”
