Wrestling to Open Season at MSU Open
November 01, 2014 02:30 PM | General
 |
| A.J. Vizcarrondo is one of four Mountaineers looking to return to the NCAA Championships in 2015. |
| Photo courtesy of WVU Photography |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Coach Sammie Henson and the West Virginia University wrestling team will head to East Lansing, Michigan, on Sunday as the Mountaineers open the 2014-15 season at the Michigan State Open.
The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. and will follow a double-elimination format. Finals and medal matches will begin at approximately 6 p.m. Brackets are available at TrackWrestling.com and live video is available through FloWrestling.
“We are excited to compete this weekend,” said Henson, who is in his first season at the helm of the Mountaineers. “It will be a challenge with top teams like Ohio State, Central Michigan, Michigan and Edinboro, to name a few, competing. We look forward to starting the journey to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis.”
Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Northern Illinois, Kent State, Ohio and Purdue are among some of the other teams slated to compete in the event.
A projected lineup for the Mountaineers:
125 pounds
Joe Wheeling
133 pounds Cory Stainbrook
141 pounds
Michael Morales
Louis Colonna
149 pounds James Dekrone Mickey Bennett Tyler Millward William Jenkins
157 pounds
ScheffelBrutus
Roman Perryman
Zach Heeter
165 pounds
Tim Wheeling
174 pounds
Christian Chirico
184 pounds
Bubba Scheffel
Greg Thurston
Warren Boord
197 pounds
Bryson Begley
Jake A. Smith
Heavyweight
A.J. Vizcarrondo
Henson Begins Inaugural Campaign with Mountaineers
Sammie Henson was named the eighth head coach in WVU wrestling history in May of 2014. Henson arrives in Morgantown with a decorated career as both a wrestler in coach, bringing with him an Olympic silver medal, a World Championship and 17 years of coaching experience at some of the top wrestling programs in the country. Most recently the associate head coach at Missouri, Henson has produced an all-American in each of his 17 seasons with a total of 20 on his resume to go along with five national champions.
Coaching Staff Brings International Experience
This fall, Henson coached assistant coach Nick Marable to a spot on the 2014 U.S. World Team after winning the 2014 U.S. Open at 70 kilograms. Marable’s participation in Uzbekistan meant that every single member of the WVU wrestling coaching staff has represented the United States at the World Championships at some level. Henson was is a three-time World Team member who won gold at the 1998 World Championships and took home a bronze medal in 2006. Assistant Coach Danny Felix competed at the 2009 World Championships, while volunteer assistant Dom Bradley is a Junior World Champion. Director of Operations Clarissa Chun donned the red, white and blue at the 2008 World Championships where she took home the gold before representing the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic Games. Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance Joe Heskett was a member of the 2007 World Team.
Morales Earns Intermat Ranking
Michael Morales enters the season as one of the top-20 grapplers in the NCAA at 149 pounds, ranked 14th in his weight by Intermat Wrestling. A two-time NCAA National Qualifier, Morales finished third at last season’s Big 12 Championships before posting a 1-2 record at the NCAA Championships in March. He defeated No. 17 Mikey Racciato of Pitt to earn Big 12 Wrestler of the Week honors in February before ending the season ranked 18th in the nation with a 20-9 record. Morales is one of two Big 12 wrestlers in the top-20 at 149, but is slated to drop down to 141 pounds for the 2014-15 season.
“Mike has made the decision to go down to 141 for his senior season and lay it on the line,” said Henson. “His attitude has been great this fall, and we look for big things from him this year.”
Duo to Debut at New Weights
A pair of WVU starters will once again take the mat for the Mountaineers, but will do so at different weights. A 2014 National Qualifier at 149 pounds, Michael Morales will drop down to 141 pounds to occupy the spot left by Colin Johnston. Redshirt sophomore James Dekrone, a junior college transfer, is slated to start at 149. In addition, the 2014 WVU Rookie of the Year Cory Stainbrook will move up to wrestle at 133 pounds after qualifying for the nationals at 125 in 2014.
Four Mountaineers Look to Return to NCAAs
A quartet of WVU grapplers will look to make the 2015 NCAA National Championships after qualifying for the 2014 tournament. Sophomore Cory Stainbrook, earned his spot with a fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, will look to earn a berth at 133 pounds after competing at 125 last season. Also wrestling at a new weight this season, Michael Morales will look to make it for the third time in four seasons, wrestling at 149 this year. Bubba Scheffel qualified at 174 after setting a program-record with 15 wins by fall on the season. Heavyweight A.J. Vizacarrondo qualified with a second-place Big 12 finish and will look to improve upon his 1-2 record at the event.
West Virginia Adds 10 Newcomers
Seven freshman and three transfers arrived in Morgantown this fall to bolster the Mountaineer lineup. Christian Monserrat (Methuen, Mass./Methuen), Robert Elliott (Fairmont, W.Va./North Marion), James Hamlin (Morgantown, W.Va./University), Andrew Konovalchik (North Andover, Mass./Brooks School), Zeke Moisey (Northampton, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) and Jake A. Smith (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) will join the Mountaineers for their rookie season. Tony DeAngelo, a transfer from Missouri who competed in six tournaments for the Tigers last season, joined the squad this fall. Jake S. Smith transferred to West Virginia from Appalachian State, where he won the Wolfpack Challenge. Former NJCAA National Champion James Dekrone joins the Mountaineers from Nassau Community College in New York.
Gold-Blue Spring Festival Fan Recap
Sunday, April 19
John Neider | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Zac Alley | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 18
Saturday, April 18
