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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Coach Sammie Henson and the No. 21/23 West Virginia University wrestling team return to the mat on Sunday when the Mountaineers host the Mountaineer Quad starting at 10 a.m. at the WVU Coliseum.

 

Six total dual matches will take place at the event, with duals occurring simultaneously on two mats. The schedule will go as follows:

 

West Virginia vs. Drexel

Arizona State vs. Campbell

West Virginia vs. Campbell

Drexel vs. Arizona State

West Virginia vs. Arizona State

Campbell vs. Drexel

 

All times are tentative as there will be a five-minute break between the first round duals and a 15-minute break between the second and third round of duals.

 

Fans can gain admission to the entire day of competition for a cost of $5. High school wrestling teams that pre-registered with the WVU marketing office will receive free admission. Tickets are available at the ticket office or in advance at WVUGame.com.

 

A list of projected starters for all four teams is available in the match notes.

 

In his second year at the helm of the Mountaineers, head coach Sammie Henson looks to build upon an exciting finish to the 2014-15 season that produced West Virginia’s first All-America honoree in eight years and renewed the Mountaineers’ presence on the national scene. In addition to several transfers, some of whom start the season nationally ranked, Henson has brought in one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. West Virginia will start the season ranked No. 21/23 in the nation in various polls, but will look to finish a challenging slate even stronger.

 

Zeke Moisey headlines this group, returning from a stellar true freshman season that ended with a Cinderella run through the NCAA tournament. Moisey, who went 32-14 last season, upset four ranked opponents at the 2015 NCAA Championships to become WVU’s first All-American since 2007 and the first unseeded wrestler to qualify for the NCAA finals since 2003. Sophomore Ryan Elliott saw limited tournament action last year and is joined in the room by freshmen Devin Brown and Jonathan Ragsdale. Brown ranked in the top 10 of his high school weight of 113 and was a top-100 recruit, while Ragsdale is a three-time Georgia state champion and U.S.A. Weightlifting National Champion.

 

“We look to build on the success of last year’s NCAA tournament and bring the same mindset, intensity and passion that Zeke Moisey is known for into the 2015-2016 season,” says Henson.

 

Starter Cory Stainbrook returns for his junior season after going 14-19 as a sophomore. Stainbrook was a 2014 NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds and will be joined on the mat by redshirt freshman Joe Wheeling, who has bumped up from 125 and will look to crack the lineup this year. FloNationals Champion Keegan Moore and Virginia state champion JD Gregory join the veteran duo in this weight class.

 

“Corey continues to train with the consistency that makes him a wrestler to watch in 2015-2016,” says Henson. “We look for him to be a contender for All-American status this year.”

 

With starter Michael Morales wrapping up his career at last year’s NCAA championships, the Mountaineers will look for someone to step into this role. Transfer Tony DeAngelo, who came from Missouri with Henson, sat out last season with an injury but will look to push for the starting spot. Christian Monserrat, who redshirted as a freshman but saw tournament action, will challenge DeAngelo for the starting spot. Louis Colonna saw action in six matches last year at 149 pounds, but will classify at 141 as a sophomore. Idaho state champion Ryan Klemp and fellow freshman Caleb Mariakis will provide depth at this weight as they push the upperclassmen for the starting spot.

 

“This weight class is very competitive with Missouri transfer Tony DeAngelo and redshirt freshman Christian Monserrat,” says Henson. “Tony earns his spot as starter leading into the Mountaineer Quad through an intersquad wrestle-off.  With these two battling, they will elevate each other to the NCAA elite.”

 

A slew of wrestlers filled this spot last season and, as with 141, the Mountaineers will be looking for a full-time starting candidate as they enter the 2015-16 season. James Dekrone started three tournaments and seven duals a year ago before suffering an injury, but returns for his senior season. He was joined in the room last year by Jake S. Smith, who was forced to sit out after transferring from Appalachian State. Smith won the Wolfpack Open as a freshman for Appalachian State and wrestled unattached in a trio of tournaments last season. Highly touted newcomer Patrick Duggan, who was ranked in the top 10 at his high school weight of 145 pounds, could also be in the mix. Returners Williams Jenkins and Ty Millward saw action at tournaments last season and will provide depth, as well as Oklahoma City product Zachary Moore and local wrestler Ryan Lopez, who joins the team as a freshman out of University High in Morgantown.

 

“Jake S. Smith, who transferred from Appalachian State, will earn the spot after an intersquad wrestle offs against James Dekrone,” says Henson. “Jake’s unusual style of wrestling will be hard to beat, as he is tenacious with his mat skills.”

 

Following the departure of starter Brutus Scheffel, transfer Dylan Cottrell will look to step into the lineup at 157. Cottrell was ranked 10^th in the nation as a redshirt freshman for Appalachian State in 2014, earning an NCAA bid as the SoCon Champion at 149 pounds. He sat out last season after transferring to WVU in January, and has bumped up to 157 pounds and will enter the season ranked No. 15 via InterMat, No. 17 by FloWresting and No. 18 by TheOpenMat.com.

 

“Dylan Cottrell, another transfer from Appalachian State, will be a force to be reckoned with,” says Henson. “We expect All-American status in his first year wearing the Old Gold and Blue.”

 

Ross Renzi returns for his senior campaign after going 12-14 on the season with a fall and a major decision. Wheeling could also provide depth at this weight. Tim Wheeling is another veteran with experience at both 157 and 165, and Zach Heeter has wrestled in tournaments for the Mountaineers. A pair of newcomers in FloNationals Champion Connor Flynn and Palmer Begley will also compete.

 

“Ross Renzi looks to end his career at the NCAA Championships,” says Henson. “He has the ability to go with anyone in the country but it will depend on his ability to stay healthy and be consistent with this training. He will be challenged by fellow senior teammate Tim Wheeling, who also looks to end his career at the NCAAs.”

 

Parker VonEgidy transferred to West Virginia from Missouri in December and immediately took over the starting spot. He’s joined by freshmen Dustin Gray, Landon Mumford and Kyle Rogers, all three of whom will look to push him on the mat.

 

“Parker VonEgidy has responded well to training this fall and has worked with the passion he needs to excel this year,” says Henson. “It will come down to his ability to maintain his weight and deal with adversity. If he can do these things, the rest of the country should watch out.”

 

NCAA qualifier Bubba Scheffel will look to make is third NCAA tournament and his second at 184 pounds. Scheffel took third at last year’s Big 12 Championships and earned an at-large bid following a challenging schedule that featured competition against most of the top wrestlers in his weight all season long. Leonardo Trindade and Bailey Faust provide depth at this weight.

 

“Bubba had some good wins last year and we look to see him lay it on the line and have fun this year,” says Henson. “Bubba needs to believe in his training, enjoy the experience and success we will look for him to have in 2015-16.”

 

NCAA qualifier Jacob A. Smith returns for his junior year ranked as high as tenth in the national polls at 197 pounds. Smith was the 2015 Big 12 runner-up, and went on to a 2-2 mark at the NCAA Championships. Bryson Begley got valuable practice experience last season and will look to push Smith at practice.

 

“Jake Smith had an incredible year but we need and expect him to be an All American in 2015-16,” says Henson. “He has to finish the tournaments and believe he belongs with the nation’s elite.”

 

Two-time Big 12 runner-up A.J. Vizcarrondo returns for his senior season. Vizcarrondo returns with a chip on his shoulder after being slighted for selection into the 2015 NCAA Championships despite pinning nationally ranked Ross Larson of Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. Austin Myers could challenge Vizcarrondo as he comes to WVU off a high school career in which he was ranked in the top-5 of his weight class and won a title at FloNationals. Senior Chris Nelson is also a valuable presence in the room.

 

“A.J. is coming off the best summer he has ever had and with new upcoming freshmen Austin Myers, his wrestling has went to a new level,” says Henson. We look for big things to come from AJ this year.”