Sunday, February 23
Morgantown, W.Va.
1:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
19
vs
20
Utah Valley
Photo by: Tyson Murray/All-Pro Photography
Adams Caps Undefeated Regular Season
February 23, 2020 05:02 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt sophomore Noah Adams of the West Virginia University wrestling team finished the regular season with a perfect 29-0 record, as WVU dropped a heartbreaker to Utah Valley, 20-19, at the WVU Coliseum, on Sunday.
Adams, a native of Coal City, West Virginia, became the first Mountaineer since three-time NCAA Champion Greg Jones to complete the season sweep. Jones finished the 2004-05 campaign with a 25-0 record and went on to claim the national championship at 184 pounds.
Jones, a 2019 inductee into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, holds the program record for the longest win streak, with 51, after he captured his second career national championship following a 26-0 season in 2003-04.
Junior Nick Kiussis (165), redshirt sophomores Joey Thomas (125) and Adams (197), sophomore Caleb Rea (141) and redshirt freshman Alex Hornfeck scored individual victories in the bout against the Wolverines.
The Mountaineers finished the season with a 4-12 record, with a 1-7 mark in Big 12 matches.
"I just got done talking to the team, and I told them this season we have missed a lot of opportunities," WVU coach Tim Flynn said. "We just blew it today. We had that match, and it's on everyone. We need to find ways to score and finish matches. Hopefully, we can figure something out before the Big 12 Championship in two weeks."
For the second consecutive match, Thomas gave WVU a 3-0 lead after he battled to a 5-3 decision over William Edelblute. Thomas, a native of Mount Airy, Maryland, used a takedown in the first and second period and grabbed the riding time point to secure the win. He moved to 15-14 this season overall and 7-9 in dual matches this season as a result.
Utah Valley (3-11, 2-7 Big 12) took a 5-3 lead after Lucas Seibert surrendered a technical fall at the 6:51 mark to No. 15 Taylor Lamont.
WVU regained the edge as Rea contributed six points with a pin against Kainalu Estrella at the 6:10 mark. Rea led throughout as he registered two takedowns, and a pair of back points in the first, before earning a couple of two-point near-falls and a four-point nearfall in the second. The Weirton, West Virginia, native closed the match in the 1:10 into the third when he put Estrella on his back and secured the fall to give WVU a 9-5 advantage.
The pin marked Rea's fifth of the season, tying Adams for the most this season. He capped the regular season with a 15-13 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in Big 12 duals.
UVU responded with a pin of its own as freshman Liam Lusher fell in 2:32 to Cameron Hunsaker at 149.
At 157, Hornfeck retook the lead for the Mountaineers with a 4-1 decision over Jed Loveless. The Mars, Pennsylvania, native took a 3-0 lead in the second period with an escape and a takedown. Loveless scored his lone point of the match with an escape in the third, but Hornfeck fought off every takedown attempt and earned the riding time point to pick up the win.
The win improved Hornfeck's winning streak to four matches and moved him to 16-13 this season and 5-3 in conferences matches. He ranks second on the team in wins and major decisions (5).
No. 27 Kiussis extended the WVU lead to 16-11 after he secured a 20-10 major decision over Koy Wilkinson at 165. Kiussis, a native of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, registered a season-high five takedowns in the match and added two reversals and four near-fall points to cruise to the win. Kiussis moved to 11-10 on the year as a result.
The back-and-forth continued as UVU picked up decisions at 174 and 184, to take a 17-16 advantage in the match.
Adams, who is ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Coaches Poll, gave WVU its final win of the night with a 10-4 decision over No. 19 Tate Orndorff. Adams earned two takedowns in the first and second periods and allowed Orndorff to escape his control each time to take an 8-4 lead into the third period. After choosing to start the third from the bottom position, Adams tallied an escape and earned the riding time point at the end of regulation to register the win.
The win improved Adams to 29-0 in the campaign and marked his 11th win over a ranked opponent this season. He leads WVU in wins (29) and major decision victories (6) while tying for the team lead with five pins and two technical falls this season.
The Wolverines secured the win in dramatic fashion as senior Brandon Ngati fell to Utah Valley's Chase Trussell, 4-3, in the third tie-breaking period. Ngati jumped out to an early 2-1 lead after registering a takedown and allowing Trussell to escape in the first period before Trussell tied the match at two in the second with another escape. Following a scoreless third and sudden-victory periods, each grappler earned an escape in the second overtime. In the third tiebreak period, Trussell recorded another escape and Ngati was unable to counter as UVU earned the 20-19 win.
Looking ahead, West Virginia will take a week off from competition before heading to the 2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championship on March 7-8. The event will take place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Utah Valley 20, West Virginia 19
125: Joey Thomas (WVU) dec. Jake Svihel (UVU), 3-2
133: No. 15 Taylor Lamont (UVU) TF Lucas Seibert (WVU), 26-11 (6:51)
141: Caleb Rea (WVU) F Kainalu Estrella (UVU), 6:10
149: Cameron Hunsaker (UVU) F Liam Lusher (WVU), 2:32
157: Alex Hornfeck (WVU) dec. Jed Loveless (UVU), 4-1
165: No. 27 Nick Kiussis (WVU) MD Koy Wilkinson (UVU), 20-10
174: No. 15 Kimball Bastion (UVU) dec. Scott Joll (WVU), 14-7
184: Ashton Seely (UVU) dec. Jackson Moomau (WVU), 4-3
197: No. 2 Noah Adams (WVU) dec. No. 19 Tanner Orndorff (UVU), 10-4
285: Chase Trussell (UVU) dec. Brandon Ngati (WVU), 4-3 (TB-3)
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Adams, a native of Coal City, West Virginia, became the first Mountaineer since three-time NCAA Champion Greg Jones to complete the season sweep. Jones finished the 2004-05 campaign with a 25-0 record and went on to claim the national championship at 184 pounds.
Jones, a 2019 inductee into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, holds the program record for the longest win streak, with 51, after he captured his second career national championship following a 26-0 season in 2003-04.
Junior Nick Kiussis (165), redshirt sophomores Joey Thomas (125) and Adams (197), sophomore Caleb Rea (141) and redshirt freshman Alex Hornfeck scored individual victories in the bout against the Wolverines.
The Mountaineers finished the season with a 4-12 record, with a 1-7 mark in Big 12 matches.
"I just got done talking to the team, and I told them this season we have missed a lot of opportunities," WVU coach Tim Flynn said. "We just blew it today. We had that match, and it's on everyone. We need to find ways to score and finish matches. Hopefully, we can figure something out before the Big 12 Championship in two weeks."
For the second consecutive match, Thomas gave WVU a 3-0 lead after he battled to a 5-3 decision over William Edelblute. Thomas, a native of Mount Airy, Maryland, used a takedown in the first and second period and grabbed the riding time point to secure the win. He moved to 15-14 this season overall and 7-9 in dual matches this season as a result.
Utah Valley (3-11, 2-7 Big 12) took a 5-3 lead after Lucas Seibert surrendered a technical fall at the 6:51 mark to No. 15 Taylor Lamont.
WVU regained the edge as Rea contributed six points with a pin against Kainalu Estrella at the 6:10 mark. Rea led throughout as he registered two takedowns, and a pair of back points in the first, before earning a couple of two-point near-falls and a four-point nearfall in the second. The Weirton, West Virginia, native closed the match in the 1:10 into the third when he put Estrella on his back and secured the fall to give WVU a 9-5 advantage.
The pin marked Rea's fifth of the season, tying Adams for the most this season. He capped the regular season with a 15-13 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in Big 12 duals.
UVU responded with a pin of its own as freshman Liam Lusher fell in 2:32 to Cameron Hunsaker at 149.
At 157, Hornfeck retook the lead for the Mountaineers with a 4-1 decision over Jed Loveless. The Mars, Pennsylvania, native took a 3-0 lead in the second period with an escape and a takedown. Loveless scored his lone point of the match with an escape in the third, but Hornfeck fought off every takedown attempt and earned the riding time point to pick up the win.
The win improved Hornfeck's winning streak to four matches and moved him to 16-13 this season and 5-3 in conferences matches. He ranks second on the team in wins and major decisions (5).
No. 27 Kiussis extended the WVU lead to 16-11 after he secured a 20-10 major decision over Koy Wilkinson at 165. Kiussis, a native of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, registered a season-high five takedowns in the match and added two reversals and four near-fall points to cruise to the win. Kiussis moved to 11-10 on the year as a result.
The back-and-forth continued as UVU picked up decisions at 174 and 184, to take a 17-16 advantage in the match.
Adams, who is ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Coaches Poll, gave WVU its final win of the night with a 10-4 decision over No. 19 Tate Orndorff. Adams earned two takedowns in the first and second periods and allowed Orndorff to escape his control each time to take an 8-4 lead into the third period. After choosing to start the third from the bottom position, Adams tallied an escape and earned the riding time point at the end of regulation to register the win.
The win improved Adams to 29-0 in the campaign and marked his 11th win over a ranked opponent this season. He leads WVU in wins (29) and major decision victories (6) while tying for the team lead with five pins and two technical falls this season.
The Wolverines secured the win in dramatic fashion as senior Brandon Ngati fell to Utah Valley's Chase Trussell, 4-3, in the third tie-breaking period. Ngati jumped out to an early 2-1 lead after registering a takedown and allowing Trussell to escape in the first period before Trussell tied the match at two in the second with another escape. Following a scoreless third and sudden-victory periods, each grappler earned an escape in the second overtime. In the third tiebreak period, Trussell recorded another escape and Ngati was unable to counter as UVU earned the 20-19 win.
Looking ahead, West Virginia will take a week off from competition before heading to the 2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championship on March 7-8. The event will take place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Utah Valley 20, West Virginia 19
125: Joey Thomas (WVU) dec. Jake Svihel (UVU), 3-2
133: No. 15 Taylor Lamont (UVU) TF Lucas Seibert (WVU), 26-11 (6:51)
141: Caleb Rea (WVU) F Kainalu Estrella (UVU), 6:10
149: Cameron Hunsaker (UVU) F Liam Lusher (WVU), 2:32
157: Alex Hornfeck (WVU) dec. Jed Loveless (UVU), 4-1
165: No. 27 Nick Kiussis (WVU) MD Koy Wilkinson (UVU), 20-10
174: No. 15 Kimball Bastion (UVU) dec. Scott Joll (WVU), 14-7
184: Ashton Seely (UVU) dec. Jackson Moomau (WVU), 4-3
197: No. 2 Noah Adams (WVU) dec. No. 19 Tanner Orndorff (UVU), 10-4
285: Chase Trussell (UVU) dec. Brandon Ngati (WVU), 4-3 (TB-3)
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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