MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  – Zeke Moisey and A.J. Vizcarrondo each claimed a win, but the West Virginia University wrestling team struggled to down Iowa State, falling to the No. 8-ranked Cyclones, 29-7, at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday evening.

 

The match marked the Mountaineers’ (7-8, 0-3) first time at home since November 13, when they hosted Arizona State in their first dual of the season. More than 1,200 fans supported the squad and the Cradles for Cancer effort to raise breast cancer awareness. Four survivors, including coach Sammie Henson’s wife Stephanie, were honored during the dual while both teams donned pink socks for the wrestlers and ties for the coaching staff.

 

“I’m pumped up about having the fans here and supporting a cause that personally means a lot to me and my wife, and what we went through,” said Henson. “It meant a lot for us for everyone to show up in pink, and it meant a lot to have Iowa State also wear pink and support it. It was really exciting to have fans like that.”

 

Starting at 184, Iowa State took the first two bouts to take 9-0 lead in the match. Vizcarrondo shifted the momentum for the Mountaineers with a 5-4 decision over Quean Smith at heavyweight. Smith took a 2-1 lead with a takedown in the first, and added an escape in the second. Vizcarrondo earned a penalty point off a pair of stalling calls in Smith, but still trailed 3-2 entering the third period. Vizcarrondo registered an escape to start the final stanza, then added a takedown with 20 seconds remaining. Despite giving up an escape with seconds to go, he took the win and got West Virginia on the board down 9-3.

 

Moisey kept the momentum going at 125 with a major decision against Kyle Larson. Despite Larson scoring early with a takedown, Moisey escaped then returned the favor to lead 3-2 entering the second period. Starting on top in the second, he gave up and escape to Larson before adding another takedown for a 5-3 advantage through five minutes of action. The third period was full of plenty of action, as Moisey escaped to start things off before sending Larson to the mat for two. Larson escaped only to be taken down once more. Moisey gave up another escape before registering his fifth takedown of the match. He tacked on the riding time point in earning the 13-5 major.

 

At 133, Cory Stainbrook gave No. 6-ranked Earl Hall a fight before ultimately dropping a 4-2 decision. The first period was a draw, with neither registering a point. Stainbrook had choice in the second and starting in the defensive position but recorded an escape for a 1-0 lead. However, Hall countered with a takedown an added a pair of quick back points for a 4-1 advantage. Stainbrook escape to cut the deficit to two before both were called for stalling. Hall chose to start the third in the neutral position, and the two battled to a scoreless third as Hall earned the win.

 

No. 12/13 Michael Morales dropped a heartbreaker at 141 pounds, losing a 13-10 decision to Dante Rodriquez in the third period. Morales scored the first takedown of the match, but gave up an escape to carry a 2-1 lead into the second. Starting on bottom, he was awarded a point for an illegal headlock by Rodriguez, then escaped and sent Rodriguez to the mat for two points and a 6-1 lead. Rodriguez started the third with a reversal, then added a pair of nearfall points to cut the deficit to one at 6-5. Morales registered a reversal, before Rodriguez countered with one of his own to keep it a one-point bout. Morales escaped to push his lead to 9-7, but Rodriguez scored the takedown to tie the match 9-9. Morales escaped again, but Rodrigues added four more to his score with a takedown and a pair of back points in the closing seconds to earn the 13-10 win.

 

The Cyclones took the next four matches in earning the 29-7 win, pushing their record to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12.

 

“We were in three or four matches that we lost,” said Moisey following the dual. “I think we could have won those matches. If we win those matches, the score would have been very different.”

 

West Virginia returns to the Coliseum next Sunday, Feb. 15, to host the Ohio Bobcats in a 1 p.m. dual. In addition to hosting a free youth clinic for youth wrestling clubs eighth grade and under, the squad will celebrate the careers of six graduating seniors prior to the match.