Wrestling: The Road to the EWL Tournament
February 26, 2009 04:56 PM | General
February 26, 2009
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| Donnie Jones is looking to earn his first EWL title at 165 pounds.
WVU Sports Communications photo |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – On Feb. 22, the West Virginia University wrestling team had the opportunity to win its fourth Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) regular-season title – standing its way was then-No. 13 ranked Edinboro.
WVU (8-4-2, 4-0-2), poised not to let the Fighting Scots’ Top 15 ranking affect them mentally, battled to a 19-19 tie – ultimately halting Edinboro’s seven-match winning streak. With the tie, the Mountaineers finished the year second in the league standings.
One of the biggest surprises of the afternoon, however, came at 165 pounds. Redshirt junior Donnie Jones recorded an upset victory over then-11th ranked Jarrod King, the same wrestler he lost to twice last year.
Jones, a Slickville, Pa., native, began the match with a quick takedown and led 2-1 through the opening session. Electing the defensive position, Jones slithered out of King’s grasp less than five seconds into the period and tacked on another takedown to lead 5-2, heading into the final period. King was able to only manage an escape point in the third, leaving Jones with the 5-3 victory.
"I think it came down to a little bit more experience and a little more maturity. I kind of second-guessed myself last year,” Jones, reflecting on being able to defeat King this year, says. “I wasn't completely confident in my wrestling. I'm a little more confident in what I'm doing now and I know what it takes to beat the guys that I lost to last year. All the guys I lost to, King, and even guys at the NCAA Tournament, I'm right there with them. Last year, that experience got me to understand that I'm right there; I just have to push forward. Hopefully, I can continue at the EWL Tournament this year."
After dropping his first two matches of the season by a combined four points to a pair of ranked opponents (Jan. 2 against then-17th ranked Mike Galante of Lehigh and Jan. 9 against then-11th ranked Roger Smith-Bergsrud of Illinois), Jones has found possibly the best groove of his career, notching nine-consecutive victories. During that stretch, the 165-pounder has collected two tech fall victories, two by major decision and one by fall.
"I think it just stems back to last year,” Jones adds. “The experience I got last year wasn't able to be shown until I got back (this year) and even then, I was a little rusty my first couple of matches. The matches against the ranked guys were close, I just had to find a winning formula and I think I finally found it. I just have to continue with it from here to the EWLs."
Jones owns an impressive 11-1 mark against league opponents dating back to last year, his first full season of competition. Marching into the EWL Tournament, Jones understands he has to take the same winning attitude and approach like he has all season.
As for what he believes will make him more successful in the postseason, "Hard work in the practice room and the coaching staff staying on us and continuing to push us to attain our full potential," Jones replies.
