Cardinals Celebrate Senior Night with Victory over Storm
2/11/2018
WHEELING, W.Va. For one final time in front of the McDonough Center crowd, the Cardinal seniors were celebrated. Two-time All-American Dustin Warner capped the success Wheeling Jesuit evening on the mat with a fall in 35 seconds to punctuate a 34-12 dual victory over Lake Erie College.
Warner was joined by teammate Justice Avery (174) of the Cardinals, who registered a fall during the match, while senior Kollin Clark started the night with a pin of his own in an exhibition bout. Connor Craig posted a tech fall, Daniel Romero and Terrance Fanning logged major decisions as the other bonus-point WJU wins and Tyler Warner shutout his 141-pound opponent, 3-0.
"It was a good way to finish the season and it was awesome to celebrate this group of men tonight. They are a pretty special group, who were part of building this program from the ground up," explained WJU head coach Danny Irwin. "I am especially happy for Kollin Clark. From day one, he came with a smile to every practice and worked hard."
Irwin continued, "Definitely, a good way for us to bounce back after last week (the loss at Seton Hil). Where we did not execute there, we executed to pull back our opponents to the center and it was good to see the results of it."
Starting off the night, Clark took a 6-0 first-period lead and turned it into a second-frame fall over the Storm's Quam Jackson. Clark, then turned around and joined his fellow group of 15 WJU seniors to be honored before the regular slate of bouts began.
"It was a great night and great to see all the parents here. It was good to go out with a bang," told Clark with a smile.
Joining Warner and Clark, WJU honored Romero, Logan Bowman, Brad Kakos, Nate Starkey, Kale Rayner, Skylar, Terrell, Kyle Harris, Tyler Knul, Peyton Geary, TJ Smith, Jaylen Hill, Reyse Wallbrown and Sawyer Leppla as seniors and the group's contributions to the fifth-year Cardinal wrestling program.
WJU now has a week off before it heads to NCAA Division II Super Region I Tournament held at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24.
"Tonight will give us confidence heading to the biggest weekend of the year at the regional," added Irwin.
Match Commentary:
141 Starting here so his brother could have the final match of the night, Tyler Warner waited until 28 seconds left in the first period to spin around Sean O'Hearon into a takedown. Tyler added an immediate second-period escape and held his LEC foe scoreless for the 3-0 decision WJU 3-0
149 Once he starting going he did not stop, Romero turned a potential giving up of two points into his own takedown at 2:07 in the first period. The senior registered his second and a four-point nearfall with 26 seconds left for an 8-1 lead. In the second, Romero added two more takedowns and went on for the solid 17-6 major decision over Andrew Lieb. WJU 7-0
157 For the 11th time this season, Connor Craig posted a tech fall victory. The Cincinnati freshman rushed Malachi Strickland three seconds into the bout for a take down and continued his usual pressure to the tune of a 12-0 margin after a period. Craig had another takedown 19 seconds into the second and continued with his final one at 1:09 in the frame for the 19-1 final in 4:51 WJU 12-0
165 Subbing into the lineup and taking part in his first dual action, WJU's Tristan Brady did not disappoint. Against the nationally-ranked Nick Vandermeer, Brady fell behind 8-0 in the first period. The first-year Cardinal, though, used his prowess on top and turned it into not one, but two four-point near fall series to tie the match, 8-8. Vandermeer scored a reversal in the final second-period moments and took away the 11-8 decision. WJU 12-3
174 Justice Avery swept the shorter Josh Pappas' leg for a takedown only 22 seconds into his match. The Cardinal sophomore never trailed from there. Avery turned his second takedown into a fall in 2:16 for the night's first pin. WJU 18-3.
184 WJU's Aiden Pasiuk received a forfeit WJU 24-3
197 Chase Logan started strong for WJU with a takedown 17 seconds into his match with Lake Erie's Chris Droege. After a four-point near fall for Logan, Droege reversed him and tied the match, 6-6, on his own near fall. Logan reversed back to the advantage with 24 seconds left in the first period to take an 8-6 lead. Droege put the second frame's only points on a takedown in the opening second to tie the bout, 8-8, and reversed Logan at 1:38 left in the third for what would be an 11-8 final after riding time. WJU 24-6
285 Terrance Fanning controlled the heavyweight match the entire time against the Storm's Brandon Houle. Fanning turned a 6-0 first-period lead into a wider second-period margin by escaping at the start and then pulling Houle back from the edge into the center to take him down. The Cardinal 285-pounder finished with a 13-2 major decision. WJU 28-6
125 Lake Erie's Jason Brewster received a forfeit WJU 28-12
133 The biggest match of the night was the finale for two-time All-American Dustin Warner. The most decorated Cardinal wrestler to date did not disappoint as he took down Forrest Glogouski 27 seconds into the match and turned it into a fall in 35 seconds. WJU 34-12
Match Results
Wheeling Jesuit 34, Lake Erie College 12
141 Tyler Warner (WJU) dec. Sean O'Hearon (LEC), 3-0 WJU 3-0
149 Daniel Romero (WJU) major dec. Andrew Lieb (LEC), 17-6 WJU 7-0
157 Connor Craig (WJU) tech fall Malachi Strickland (LEC), 19-1 4:51 WJU 12-0
165 Nick Vandermeer (LEC) dec. Tristan Brady (WJU), 11-8 WJU 12-3
174 Justice Avery (WJU) fall Josh Pappas (LEC), 2:16 WJU 18-3
184 Aiden Pasiuk (WJU) by forfeit WJU 24-3
197 Chris Droege (LEC) dec. Chase Logan (WJU), 11-3 WJU 24-6
285 Terrance Fanning (WJU) major dec. Brandon Houle (LEC), 13-2 WJU 28-6
125 Jason Brewster (LEC) by forfeit WJU 28-12
133 Dustin Warner (WJU) fall Forrest Glogouski (LEC), 0:35 WJU 34-12
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