MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A trio of West Virginia natives led the way as the WVU wrestling team closed out its home slate with a 30-6 win over Clarion at the WVU Coliseum on Friday evening in Morgantown.
No. 17 Dylan Cottrell of Spencer earned his team-best 14th bonus-point victory with a first-period pin, while redshirt freshman Ryan Elliott of Fairmont won by decision in his first career dual match start. Charleston’s Jacob A. Smith, ranked No. 9/10 in the nation, recorded his 27th win of the season in leading the Mountaineers (7-10, 0-4) past the Golden Eagles (6-12, 2-4 EWL).
“I’m so proud of the way our men stayed to the game plan on Senior Night,” said coach Sammie Henson. “I have to give the best match of the night to Ryan Elliott. His first start as a Mountaineer and he starts us of with the ‘W.’ It’s a great sign of family, and we love the way our West Virginia natives represent their home state.”
West Virginia celebrated Senior Night during its final match of the season in the Coliseum. Ross Renzi (174), Bubba Scheffel (184), A.J. Vizcarrondo (HWT) and Chris Nelson (HWT) were honored during the dual.
Elliott got the Mountaineers off to a hot start with a 10-4 decision over Patrick DeWitt at 125. He used a first period takedown for a 2-0 lead before adding seven points in the second, including another takedown and four near fall points, to pad his advantage at 9-2. DeWitt opted for a neutral start to the third and scored a takedown, but Elliott claimed riding time in taking the win as WVU jumped out in front, 3-0.
Cory Stainbrook added three more team points to the board with a 7-4 decision over Roshaun Cooley at 133. Cooley scored first on a takedown but Stainbrook escaped and went for two, taking a 3-2 lead into the second. Stainbrook repeated his scoring in the second, making it 6-2 before adding riding time in the third to close out the win and put the Mountaineers on top 6-0.
Clarion got on the board with a decision at 141 pounds to put the score at 6-3 before Zachary Moore became the first of two freshmen to tally a win in sudden victory. Wrestling at 149, Moore trailed Brodie Zacherl, 1-0, after two periods but tied the score with an escape in the third. The bout headed to sudden victory, where Moore scored the takedown and four back points in earning the 7-1 decision as WVU led 9-3.
Cottrell made quick work of Jake Keller at 157, picking up his third pin of the year in 1:36. Connor Flynn then grabbed another win in overtime at 165, scoring the takedown for a 3-1 decision over Evan Delong. The Golden Eagles took another win at 174, but WVU remained on top 18-6.
Scheffel used a pair of takedowns and a reversal in winning an 8-2 decision against Dom Rigous at 184 before Smith held Dustin Conti scoreless with a 4-0 decision at 197 pounds to put the Mountaineers ahead 24-6. Vizcarrondo found himself trailing 8-2 after two periods in the heavyweight bout against Zach Deluca, but would win by injury forfeit as WVU took the dual 30-6.
West Virginia will wrap up the regular season on Saturday when the Mountaineers travel to Edinboro for a 7 p.m. dual at McComb Fieldhouse.
West Virginia 30, Clarion 6
125: Ryan Elliott (WVU) dec. Patrick DeWitt (CU), 10-4
133: Cory Stainbrook (WVU) dec. Roshaun Cooley (CU), 7-4
141: No. 18/19 Brock Zacherl (CU) dec. Tony DeAngelo (WVU), 4-3
149: Zachary Moore (WVU) dec. Brodie Zacherl (CU), 7-1 SV-1
157: No. 17 Dylan Cottrell (WVU) pinned Jake Keller (CU), 1:36
165: Connor Flynn (WVU) dec. Evan Delong (CU), 3-1 SV-1
174: Michael Pavasko (CU) dec. Ross Renzi (WVU), 6-2
184: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) dec. Dom Rigous (CU), 8-2
197: No. 9/10 Jacob A. Smith (WVU) dec. Dustin Conti (CU), 4-0
HWT: A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU) def. Zach Deluca (CU), injury forfeit (6:16)
