Friday, January 25
Orem, Utah
5:00 P.M.
West Virginia University
vs
CSU Bakersfield
Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
WVU to Face CSU Bakersfield, Utah Valley
January 24, 2019 05:00 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – As five Mountaineers appear in the season's first coaches' panel rankings, the West Virginia University wrestling team travels to Orem, Utah, for a pair of duals at Lockhart Arena on Friday, Jan. 25.
The Mountaineers (2-11, 2-4 Big 12) will face CSU Bakersfield (4-5, 0-0 Pac-12) in a 5 p.m. ET neutral-site matchup before they take on host Utah Valley (8-7, 0-1 Big 12) in a 9 p.m. ET dual.
Friday's neutral-site contest with CSUB will be streamed live for free on GoUVU.com. Additionally, WVU's match with UVU will be broadcasted live on the WAC Digital Network. Live stats for both duals will be provided on TrackWrestling.com. Direct links to the video stream and live stats can be found on the wrestling schedule page on WVUsports.com.
"It's a longer road trip," said first-year coach Tim Flynn. "We're trying to save the travel time of going back and forth. We'll have to be careful with working them out while we are there. We'll have to make sure they are ready to go, because we don't have a lot of trips like this. It'll be different for them, especially preparing for the second bout."
West Virginia is coming off a tough loss to No. 16 Iowa State on Sunday, dropping a 36-3 contest to the Cyclones at the WVU Coliseum. Sophomore Nick Kiussis picked up the Mountaineers' lone victory of the day with a 3-2 decision over Logan Schumacher at 165 pounds.
"I think they are holding up well," Flynn said of his squad. "Sometimes it's hard to stay positive when you are taking some losses. You have to remember that there are kids that didn't lose a lot in high school. It takes a little bit to keep them positive and keep them going.
"It hardens a man going through a tough season. They always say whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. I think having a really tough conference like the Big 12 is a challenge for young kids. If you can get through it and stay strong mentally, I think it can help you in the long run. I know it does."
The Mountaineers enter the week with a trio of wrestlers ranked at their respective weight class in the latest Intermat rankings. Redshirt sophomore Matthew Schmitt (133) sits at No. 15, while redshirt senior Christian Monserrat (149) checks in at No. 16. Kiussis moved up one spot to No. 19 following a win in sudden victory over then-No. 19 Andrew Shomers of Oklahoma State on Friday. Kiussis has won seven of his last eight duals for a 16-5 record, while Monserrat has a team-best 38 match points on the year.
The Roadrunners own a 2-0 lead over the Mountaineers in the all-time series, as CSU Bakersfield claimed a 19-18 win on Jan. 4, 2017, in Bakersfield, California. Of note, the first meeting between the two squads took place in 1999.
CSU Bakersfield most recently suffered a 17-16 setback to Northern Colorado on Jan. 20, in Bakersfield, California. Sean Nickell is the lone Roadrunner to check into this week's Intermat Top-20 Poll, sitting at No. 20 for the second consecutive week. The 133-pound grappler has won seven of his last nine matches for a 15-7 record on the year. Of note, all seven of Nickell's losses this season have come against ranked opponents.
Friday's match between the Wolverines and the Mountaineers marks the second all-time meeting between the two squads, as Utah Valley earned a 24-9 win over West Virginia on Nov. 3, 2017, at a netural site. The Big 12 Conference added UVU as an affiliate member during the 2015-16 academic year.
Utah Valley, who is receiving votes in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches' Top-25 Poll, is coming off a 26-10 loss to Big 12 foe Fresno State on Jan. 18, in Orem, Utah. The Wolverines enter the week with five probable starters ranked in their respective weight classes in the latest Intermat rankings. Demetrius Romero is the 11th-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, while Matt Findlay (141) and Tate Orndorff (HWT) each check in at No. 12 in their respective weight classes. Additionally, Kimball Bastian sits at No. 13 at 174 pounds and Tanner Orndorff ranks at No. 14 at 197 pounds. Romero leads UVU with a 18-2 record, while Tate Orndorff is 16-4 and Findlay is 13-1.
Of note, the first of four coaches' panel rankings for the 2018-19 season was released on Thursday, with five Mountaineer wrestlers appearing in the top 33 of their respective weight classes. The final rankings will be used in determining qualifiers for the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held in Pittsburgh, at PPG Paints Arena, from March 21-23.
Schmitt ranks 14th at 133 pounds, while Monserrat sits at No. 20 in his respective pool of 149 pounds. Kiussis, who leads the team with 16 wins, ranks 18th at 165 pounds. Additionally, redshirt freshman Noah Adams (197) and junior Brandon Ngati (HWT) each enter the coaches' panel rankings for the first time in their careers at No. 32 in their respective weight classes.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches' rankings to earn spots in their qualifying tournaments for the NCAA Championships. The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. To be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days.
Looking ahead, WVU will close out the month of January with a Big 12 match at Wyoming on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. ET. Wyoming holds a 1-0 all-time series advantage, though the squads have not faced each other head-to-head since 2009.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Mountaineers (2-11, 2-4 Big 12) will face CSU Bakersfield (4-5, 0-0 Pac-12) in a 5 p.m. ET neutral-site matchup before they take on host Utah Valley (8-7, 0-1 Big 12) in a 9 p.m. ET dual.
Friday's neutral-site contest with CSUB will be streamed live for free on GoUVU.com. Additionally, WVU's match with UVU will be broadcasted live on the WAC Digital Network. Live stats for both duals will be provided on TrackWrestling.com. Direct links to the video stream and live stats can be found on the wrestling schedule page on WVUsports.com.
"It's a longer road trip," said first-year coach Tim Flynn. "We're trying to save the travel time of going back and forth. We'll have to be careful with working them out while we are there. We'll have to make sure they are ready to go, because we don't have a lot of trips like this. It'll be different for them, especially preparing for the second bout."
West Virginia is coming off a tough loss to No. 16 Iowa State on Sunday, dropping a 36-3 contest to the Cyclones at the WVU Coliseum. Sophomore Nick Kiussis picked up the Mountaineers' lone victory of the day with a 3-2 decision over Logan Schumacher at 165 pounds.
"I think they are holding up well," Flynn said of his squad. "Sometimes it's hard to stay positive when you are taking some losses. You have to remember that there are kids that didn't lose a lot in high school. It takes a little bit to keep them positive and keep them going.
"It hardens a man going through a tough season. They always say whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. I think having a really tough conference like the Big 12 is a challenge for young kids. If you can get through it and stay strong mentally, I think it can help you in the long run. I know it does."
The Mountaineers enter the week with a trio of wrestlers ranked at their respective weight class in the latest Intermat rankings. Redshirt sophomore Matthew Schmitt (133) sits at No. 15, while redshirt senior Christian Monserrat (149) checks in at No. 16. Kiussis moved up one spot to No. 19 following a win in sudden victory over then-No. 19 Andrew Shomers of Oklahoma State on Friday. Kiussis has won seven of his last eight duals for a 16-5 record, while Monserrat has a team-best 38 match points on the year.
The Roadrunners own a 2-0 lead over the Mountaineers in the all-time series, as CSU Bakersfield claimed a 19-18 win on Jan. 4, 2017, in Bakersfield, California. Of note, the first meeting between the two squads took place in 1999.
CSU Bakersfield most recently suffered a 17-16 setback to Northern Colorado on Jan. 20, in Bakersfield, California. Sean Nickell is the lone Roadrunner to check into this week's Intermat Top-20 Poll, sitting at No. 20 for the second consecutive week. The 133-pound grappler has won seven of his last nine matches for a 15-7 record on the year. Of note, all seven of Nickell's losses this season have come against ranked opponents.
Friday's match between the Wolverines and the Mountaineers marks the second all-time meeting between the two squads, as Utah Valley earned a 24-9 win over West Virginia on Nov. 3, 2017, at a netural site. The Big 12 Conference added UVU as an affiliate member during the 2015-16 academic year.
Utah Valley, who is receiving votes in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches' Top-25 Poll, is coming off a 26-10 loss to Big 12 foe Fresno State on Jan. 18, in Orem, Utah. The Wolverines enter the week with five probable starters ranked in their respective weight classes in the latest Intermat rankings. Demetrius Romero is the 11th-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, while Matt Findlay (141) and Tate Orndorff (HWT) each check in at No. 12 in their respective weight classes. Additionally, Kimball Bastian sits at No. 13 at 174 pounds and Tanner Orndorff ranks at No. 14 at 197 pounds. Romero leads UVU with a 18-2 record, while Tate Orndorff is 16-4 and Findlay is 13-1.
Of note, the first of four coaches' panel rankings for the 2018-19 season was released on Thursday, with five Mountaineer wrestlers appearing in the top 33 of their respective weight classes. The final rankings will be used in determining qualifiers for the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will be held in Pittsburgh, at PPG Paints Arena, from March 21-23.
Schmitt ranks 14th at 133 pounds, while Monserrat sits at No. 20 in his respective pool of 149 pounds. Kiussis, who leads the team with 16 wins, ranks 18th at 165 pounds. Additionally, redshirt freshman Noah Adams (197) and junior Brandon Ngati (HWT) each enter the coaches' panel rankings for the first time in their careers at No. 32 in their respective weight classes.
Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured by winning percentage, rating percentage index (RPI) and coaches' rankings to earn spots in their qualifying tournaments for the NCAA Championships. The coaches' rankings are compiled by a vote of coaches representing each qualifying tournament. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. To be eligible for the rankings, wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days.
Looking ahead, WVU will close out the month of January with a Big 12 match at Wyoming on Sunday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. ET. Wyoming holds a 1-0 all-time series advantage, though the squads have not faced each other head-to-head since 2009.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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