CLEVELAND, Ohio – The West Virginia University wrestling team completed day one at the South Beach Duals on Saturday, held at the Broward County Convention Center, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The Mountaineers (1-6, 1-1 Big 12) suffered a 26-13 setback to Virginia (6-4, 0-0 ACC) before dropping a 23-16 match to Michigan State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten).  
 
Redshirt senior Christian Monserrat, redshirt sophomore Matthew Schmitt and sophomore Nick Kiussis each posted a 2-0 record on the day. Schmitt improved to 8-0 on the season, while Monserrat remains undefeated in dual action with a 7-0 mark.
 
"We are getting better," first-year coach Tim Flynn said. "Schmitt wrestled well for being off for a while, and Monserrat always puts up a good fight. Kiussis wrestled very well, and [true freshman Josh] Ramirez had a big win against Michigan State. I'm looking forward to building off today's positives in tomorrow's matches vs. North Dakota State and Purdue."
 
The Mountaineers started their day against the Cavaliers, with redshirt freshman Joey Thomas falling to No. 5 Jack Mueller in 2 minutes, 25 seconds. Down 6-0 in team scoring, Schmitt returned to the mat for the first time since Nov. 4 and earned a 5-2 decision over Louie Hayes at 133 pounds. However, the Cavaliers pushed their lead back to six with a win by decision at 141 pounds. Monserrat then collected a 10-0 major decision in the next bout to cut the Mountaineers' deficit to two at 9-7. Redshirt junior Zachary Moore lost a 16-1 technical fall to Jake Keating at 157 pounds.
 
Kiussis came out strong in the next match, keeping the Mountaineers within four by winning a 9-2 decision over No. 18 Cam Coy at 165 pounds. Virginia scored a win by decision at 174 pounds before freshman Jackson Moomau suffered an injury at 184 pounds to give the Cavaliers a 13-point advantage at 23-10.
 
Redshirt freshman Noah Adams then dropped a hard-fought 9-5 decision to No. 7 Jay Aiello at 197 pounds. In the final bout of the evening, junior Brandon Ngati used an escape in the second period to cap the dual with a Mountaineer victory. However, the team score was in favor of UVA, as the Cavaliers walked away with the 26-13 triumph.
 
In West Virginia's final match of the day, Schmitt was the first to put the Mountaineers on the board, as he scored a 3-2 decision over Michigan State's Anthony Tutolo at 133 pounds. The Spartans increased their lead to five with a win by decision at 141 pounds. WVU then won three of the next four bouts to come within one, down 17-16 with three matches remaining.
 
However, a forfeit at 184 pounds put MSU ahead by five in team scoring once again. Adams picked up his first victory of the day and notched his fourth major decision of the season with an 11-0 victory over Brad Wilton at 197 pounds, but another Mountaineer injury in the final bout of the evening handed the Spartans the 26-13 team victory.
 
The squad will look to cap the two-day event with an 11 a.m. match vs. No. 20 North Dakota State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) on Sunday, Dec. 30, followed by a dual with No. 13 Purdue (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) at 1 p.m.
 
Live video and stats will be available through TrackWrestling.com. Direct links to the video stream and live stats can be found on the wrestling schedule page on WVUsports.com.
 
Following the South Beach Duals, the Mountaineers start the new year with a Big 12 road match against Oklahoma, on Jan. 4, at 7:30 p.m. ET. WVU will meet OU for the 10th time in program history, as the Mountaineers upset the Sooners, 24-12, last season at the WVU Coliseum, their first win over Oklahoma since 1986.
 
Virginia 26, West Virginia 13
125: No. 5/5/5 Jack Mueller (UVA) wins by fall Joey Thomas (WVU), F 2:25
133: No. 14/-/- Matthew Schmitt (WVU) dec. No. -/19/- Louie Hayes (UVA), 5-2
141: No. 17/14/17 Sam Krivus (UVA) dec. Luke Martin (WVU), 10-4
149: Christian Monserrat (WVU) major dec. Michael Murphy (UVA), 10-0
157: Jake Keating (UVA) tech. fall Zachary Moore (WVU), 16-1
165: Nick Kiussis (WVU) dec. No. -/-/18 Cam Coy (UVA), 9-2
174: Robert Patrick (UVA) dec. Josh Ramirez (WVU), 9-5
184: Chance McClure (UVA) wins by injury default Jackson Moomau (WVU), INJ 3:31
197: No. 9/8/7 Jay Aiello (UVA) dec. Noah Adams (WVU), 9-5
HWT: Brandon Ngati (WVU) dec. Tyler Love (UVA), 1-0
 
Rankings are listed as follows: The Open Mat/FloWrestling/Intermat
 
Michigan State 23, West Virginia 16
125: No. 9/9/9 RayVon Foley (MSU) tech. fall Joey Thomas (WVU), 19-4
133: No. 14/-/- Matthew Schmitt (WVU) dec. Anthony Tutolo (MSU), 3-2
141: Austin Eicher (MSU) dec. Luke Martin (WVU), 8-3
149: Christian Monserrat (WVU) dec. Jaden Enriquez (MSU), 8-6
157: Jake Tucker (MSU) dec. Zachary Moore (WVU), 3-0
165: Nick Kiussis (WVU) dec. Austin Hiles (MSU), 5-1
174: Josh Ramirez (WVU) dec. Drew Hughes (MSU), 4-2 [SV-1]
184: No. 14/-/15 Cameron Caffey (MSU) wins by forfeit
197: Noah Adams (WVU) major dec. Brad Wilton (MSU), 11-0
HWT: Chase Beard (MSU) wins by injury default David Smith (WVU), INJ 2:33
 
Rankings are listed as follows: The Open Mat/FloWrestling/Intermat
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.