Wrestling: WVU to Compete at EWL Tournament
March 07, 2008 10:29 AM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
March 7, 2008
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| Dustin Rogers will be ready to wrestle in a star-studded weight class.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University wrestling team will compete in the Eastern Wrestling League tournament this weekend on Saturday, March 8, at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Mountaineers (8-5, 4-2 EWL) look to earn several NCAA qualifying bids as they face square off against six other EWL squads. Last season, WVU garnered seven NCAA qualifiers, including two individual champions in Brandon Rader (141) and Jared Villers (197). The Mountaineers finished in second place behind league champion Edinboro.
The top two finishers in each weight class will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in St. Louis, Mo., on March 20-22. After the EWL tournament, 12 wild card selections decided by all seven coaches will determine the remaining wrestlers who will qualify for the NCAA field.
Returning five NCAA qualifiers from last season, including four who have earned multiple bids, WVU relies on a combination of experience and youth as it tries to earn its first EWL championship since 2004.
Villers and junior Kurt Brenner (184) come in as favorites in their respective weight classes. Both wrestlers finished the regular season with a 6-0 league record and have earned EWL titles, with Brenner winning a championship at 174 pounds during his freshman season.
Senior Zac Fryling (157) looks for his fourth NCAA qualifying bid as he prepares to wrestle against several challenging opponents in one of the EWL’s more competitive weight classes. He enters the postseason battle-tested after facing seven Top 20 grapplers this season, including a recent 1-0 defeat against top-ranked and defending national champion Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro.
Heavyweight Dustin Rogers is coming off back-to-back victories against nationally ranked foes. On Feb. 22 he defeated No. 18 Joe Fendone of Edinboro, 6-5, followed by a 2-1 decision over No. 17 Rashard Goff of Cleveland State.
The Corning, Calif., native will compete in a class that features five nationally-ranked grapplers. Last season the senior earned a wild card selection to the NCAA Championships and fell one win shy of becoming WVU’s first heavyweight All-American.
Asked whether he thinks this year’s squad can match last season’s success in the EWL tournament, WVU Head Coach Craig Turnbull exuded confidence in a team that is talented and excited to compete despite being plagued by injuries.
“I think it’s attainable,” says Turnbull. “Our guys are prepared and got better as the year went on. They’ve wrestled very well in the latter part of the season.”
“I believe we have several athletes who can perform well in the tournament. It’s about getting your best wrestling in at this point of the season.”
