MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University wrestling team started the 2021 season with a pair of wins over Kent State and Ohio before dropping a hard-fought match to No. 8 Virginia Tech on Sunday, at the WVU Coliseum, in Morgantown.
 
The Mountaineers posted a 22-9 win over the Golden Flashes to start the day, followed by a 36-3 victory over the Bobcats. The last time WVU scored 30 or more points in a match was against Harvard at the Pitt Duals in 2017. Despite two wins under its belt, WVU suffered a 24-10 setback to the No. 8-ranked Hokies in the squad's final dual of the day.
 
"I thought the first match was flat," third-year coach Tim Flynn said. "I thought we were a lot better than that, but we were a little flat. The first match didn't look great. The second match looked a lot better. The third match, we ran into a team that quite frankly is a bit better than we are right now. I like where we are at. I think we can get a lot better, but I thought it was a good start."
 
Redshirt junior Noah Adams and true freshman Peyton Hall each recorded a 3-0 mark in their respective weight classes to start the season.
 
Adams, who is ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds by a trio of media outlets, claimed an 11-5 victory over Kent State's Colin McCracken before he walked away with a win by forfeit against Ohio. Adams then capped the day with a 7-4 decision over Virginia Tech's Andy Smith. With a trio of season-opening wins, the Coal City, West Virginia, native extended his win streak to 35 – a streak that dates back to last season.
 
At 165 pounds, Hall earned a decision and two major decisions in his collegiate debut, including a win over No. 22 Colt Yinger of Ohio. The Chester, West Virginia, native finished the weekend with 10 takedowns and a pair of reversals.
 
Classmate Brayden Roberts also donned the Old Gold and Blue for the first time in his career at 149 pounds. The Parkersburg, West Virginia, native posted two wins before suffering an 11-3 setback to No. 12 Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech in his final match of the day.
 
Additionally, redshirt sophomore Alex Hornfeck (157), sophomore Scott Joll (174) and redshirt freshmen Jeffrey Boyd (141) and Michael Wolfgram (HWT) each tallied a 2-1 record to start the year.
 
Several Mountaineers also participated in extra matches throughout the day, including true freshmen Colton Drousias (125), Caleb Dowling (157), Jace Bradbury (197) and Pitt transfer Ryan Sullivan (141).
 
Looking ahead, West Virginia will welcome Bucknell and No. 19 Oklahoma to Morgantown for a tri-meet on Sunday, Jan. 17, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
 
West Virginia 22, Kent State 9
125: Jake Ferri (Kent State) dec. No. 12/12/13 Killian Cardinale (WVU), 4-3
133: Joey Thomas (WVU) dec. Patrick Gould (Kent State), 4-3
141: Jeffrey Boyd (WVU) dec. Avry Mutschler (Kent State), 9-5
149: Brayden Roberts (WVU) dec. Kody Komara (Kent State), 4-3
157: Alex Hornfeck (WVU) major dec. Ian Senz (Kent State), 11-1
165: Peyton Hall (WVU) dec. James Limongi (Kent State), 9-3
174: No. 13/11/11 Andrew McNally (Kent State) dec. Scott Joll (WVU), 8-3
184: Tyler Bates (Kent State) dec. Anthony Carman (WVU), 6-4 [SV-1]
197: No. 1/1/1 Noah Adams (WVU) dec. Colin McCracken (Kent State), 11-5
HWT: Michael Wolfgram (WVU) dec. Jacob Cover (Kent State), 12-6
 
West Virginia 36, Ohio 3
125: No. 12/12/13 Killian Cardinale (WVU) wins by forfeit
133: No. -/21/- Mario Guillen (Ohio) dec. Joey Thomas (WVU), 8-3
141: Jeffrey Boyd (WVU) dec. Conor McCrone (Ohio), 8-3
149: Brayden Roberts (WVU) dec. Alex Mosconi (Ohio), 4-0
157: Alex Hornfeck (WVU) dec. Kamal Adewumi (Ohio), 10-4
165: Peyton Hall (WVU) major dec. No. -/22/22 Colt Yinger (Ohio), 9-0
174: Scott Joll (WVU) major dec. Logan Stanley (Ohio), 11-2
184: Jackson Moomau (WVU) dec. Carson Brewer (Ohio), 3-1 [SV-1]
197: No. 1/1/1 Noah Adams (WVU) wins by forfeit
HWT: Michael Wolfgram (WVU) major dec. Jordan Earnest (Ohio), 13-4
 
No. 8 Virginia Tech 24, West Virginia 10
125: No. 18/9/16 Sam Latona (Tech) dec. No. 12/12/13 Killian Cardinale (WVU), 3-2
133: No. 9/7/10 Korbin Myers (Tech) dec. Joey Thomas (WVU), 8-2
141: Sam Hillegas (Tech) dec. Jeffrey Boyd (WVU), 7-4
149: No. 13/16/12 Bryce Andonian (Tech) major dec. Brayden Roberts (WVU), 11-3
157: No. -/-/33 Connor Brady (Tech) dec. Alex Hornfeck (WVU), 8-2
165: Peyton Hall (WVU) major dec. Jordan Florence (Tech), 13-4
174: Scott Joll (WVU) dec. Dakota Howard (Tech), 13-8
184: No. 2/2/2 Hunter Bolen (Tech) major dec. Anthony Carman (WVU), 18-6
197: No. 1/1/1 Noah Adams (WVU) dec. Andy Smith (Tech), 7-4
HWT: Hunter Catka (Tech) major dec. Michael Wolfgram (WVU), 17-3
 
Extra Matches
125: Joey Prata (Tech) major dec. Colton Drousias (WVU), 12-0
133: Brendon Fenton (Kent State) dec. Lucas Seibert (WVU), 8-6
141: Ryan Sullivan (WVU) tech. fall Raphael Rodriguez (Kent State), 18-2 [TF-0:00]
141: Collin Gerardi (Tech) dec. Ryan Sullivan (WVU), 5-1
157: Caleb Dowling (WVU) dec. Andrew Knick (Ohio), 8-5
157: Clayton Ulrey (Tech) dec. Caleb Dowling (WVU), 7-4
184: Anthony Carman (WVU) major dec. Colin McNamara (Ohio), 12-3
197: Stan Smeltzer (Tech) wins by fall Jace Bradbury (WVU), F 4:19
HWT: Sean Mullican (WVU) major dec. Jacob Padilla (Ohio), 18-5
 
Rankings are listed as follows: Intermat/FloWrestling/The Open Mat
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.