Wrestling: Set for Brawl on the Mat
February 03, 2011 02:13 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – With a 3-0 Eastern Wrestling League record going into the Backyard Brawl versus No. 20 Pitt, the West Virginia wrestling team looks to continue the streak as it travels to face the Panthers on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Fitzgerald Field House.
Pitt holds a 9-6 overall mark, including 2-0 in the EWL, while the Mountaineers are 7-4 overall. WVU hopes to avenge a close 19-15 loss to Pitt last season at the WVU Coliseum as the Panthers hold the all-time series lead at 31-22-2.
“There’s still more wrestling to go, but this could very well determine the outcome of the EWL dual meet championship,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull. “It should be a very close dual meet. Like every match, each weight class needs to wrestle to its potential if we’re going to win.”
The Panthers’ losses have come by No.15 Lehigh, No. 18 Michigan, American, Kent State, No. 20 Northwestern and No. 2 Penn State while defeating No. 14 Nebraska, No. 12 Ohio State and No. 23 Virginia. They are coming off a 22-8 victory over Bloomsburg on Sunday and have won eight consecutive EWL dual meets.
“They’ve been wrestling at a high level and have done well top to bottom,” Turnbull says. “They’re a very balanced team and will be excited to face us. We’re going to need a lot of energy and give an equal response because all the matchups will be challenging. We’ll need to pick up as many points as we can early in the match.”
Several key matchups will determine the outcome of the meet as WVU freshman Michael Morales (141) will face No. 6-ranked Tyler Nauman, while heavyweight Philip Mandzik will compete with Pitt’s No. 4 Ryan Tomei.
Other bouts include No. 18 Shane Young against No. 20 Anthony Zanetta, No. 24 Donnie Jones versus No. 21 Ethan Headlee and No. 20 Matt Ryan against No. 19 Max Thomusseit.
“It will be an interesting meet because all the bouts will be toss-ups,” Turnbull says. “I hope our team can respond well and compete to the best of its ability.”
Live streaming of the event can be seen at this site. It will be re-aired on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 12:30 p.m. on the Panthers Television Network.
Probable Starting Lineups:
125: No. 18 Shane Young (So., 23-6) vs. No. 20 Anthony Zanetta (So., 10-10)
133: No. 13 Nathan Pennesi (r-Fr., 20-4) vs. Shelton Mack (Fr. 11-11)
141: Michael Morales (Fr., 13-8) vs. No. 6 Tyler Nauman (r-Jr., 17-3)
149: No. 20 Brandon Rader (r-Sr., 9-7) vs. Dane Johnson (r-Fr., 15-13)
157: Ryan Goodman (r-Jr., 10-13) vs. No. 32 Donnie Tasser (r-So., 14-14)
165: No. 24 Donnie Jones (r-Sr., 13-3) vs. No. 21 Ethan Headlee (r-Jr., 22-8)
174: Alex Meade (r-So., 2-2) vs. Andy Vaughan (Sr., 12-7) or Karl DeCiantis (Jr., 7-4)
184: No. 20 Matt Ryan (r-Jr., 15-4) vs. No. 19 Max Thomusseit (Fr., 21-9)
197: Kyle Rooney (Sr., 12-7) vs. Phil Sorrentino (Sr., 1-4)
HWT: Philip Mandzik (Jr., 8-15) vs. No. 4 Ryan Tomei (r-Sr., 21-4)
Pitt holds a 9-6 overall mark, including 2-0 in the EWL, while the Mountaineers are 7-4 overall. WVU hopes to avenge a close 19-15 loss to Pitt last season at the WVU Coliseum as the Panthers hold the all-time series lead at 31-22-2.
“There’s still more wrestling to go, but this could very well determine the outcome of the EWL dual meet championship,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull. “It should be a very close dual meet. Like every match, each weight class needs to wrestle to its potential if we’re going to win.”
The Panthers’ losses have come by No.15 Lehigh, No. 18 Michigan, American, Kent State, No. 20 Northwestern and No. 2 Penn State while defeating No. 14 Nebraska, No. 12 Ohio State and No. 23 Virginia. They are coming off a 22-8 victory over Bloomsburg on Sunday and have won eight consecutive EWL dual meets.
“They’ve been wrestling at a high level and have done well top to bottom,” Turnbull says. “They’re a very balanced team and will be excited to face us. We’re going to need a lot of energy and give an equal response because all the matchups will be challenging. We’ll need to pick up as many points as we can early in the match.”
Several key matchups will determine the outcome of the meet as WVU freshman Michael Morales (141) will face No. 6-ranked Tyler Nauman, while heavyweight Philip Mandzik will compete with Pitt’s No. 4 Ryan Tomei.
Other bouts include No. 18 Shane Young against No. 20 Anthony Zanetta, No. 24 Donnie Jones versus No. 21 Ethan Headlee and No. 20 Matt Ryan against No. 19 Max Thomusseit.
“It will be an interesting meet because all the bouts will be toss-ups,” Turnbull says. “I hope our team can respond well and compete to the best of its ability.”
Live streaming of the event can be seen at this site. It will be re-aired on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 12:30 p.m. on the Panthers Television Network.
Probable Starting Lineups:
125: No. 18 Shane Young (So., 23-6) vs. No. 20 Anthony Zanetta (So., 10-10)
133: No. 13 Nathan Pennesi (r-Fr., 20-4) vs. Shelton Mack (Fr. 11-11)
141: Michael Morales (Fr., 13-8) vs. No. 6 Tyler Nauman (r-Jr., 17-3)
149: No. 20 Brandon Rader (r-Sr., 9-7) vs. Dane Johnson (r-Fr., 15-13)
157: Ryan Goodman (r-Jr., 10-13) vs. No. 32 Donnie Tasser (r-So., 14-14)
165: No. 24 Donnie Jones (r-Sr., 13-3) vs. No. 21 Ethan Headlee (r-Jr., 22-8)
174: Alex Meade (r-So., 2-2) vs. Andy Vaughan (Sr., 12-7) or Karl DeCiantis (Jr., 7-4)
184: No. 20 Matt Ryan (r-Jr., 15-4) vs. No. 19 Max Thomusseit (Fr., 21-9)
197: Kyle Rooney (Sr., 12-7) vs. Phil Sorrentino (Sr., 1-4)
HWT: Philip Mandzik (Jr., 8-15) vs. No. 4 Ryan Tomei (r-Sr., 21-4)
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