No. 5 Wrestling splits at Drexel Duels


November 4, 2018

By: Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 4) - The No. 5 Wheeling Jesuit University wrestling team opened the 2018-19 season with a 51-3 win over Division III Keystone College, before dropping a 28-9 contest with Division I Drexel Sunday afternoon.

"Good day of wrestling for the team overall," said Head Coach Danny Irwin. "it was a positive step forward from how we looked a week ago because our attack rate was higher."

Sophomores Jared Donahue (Vienna, W.Va./Parkersburg) and Aidan Pasiuk (Carrollton, Ohio/Carrollton) each collected a pair of victories individually on the afternoon, while freshman Cole Laya (Fairmont, W.Va/East Fairmont) took home a forfeit and a win at 125. Laya picked up the forfeit win versus Keystone, before picking up a 6-3 decision over Drexel's Antonio Mininno in quadruple overtime in his first-collegiate match.

"Really impressed with the effort and grit that Laya demonstrated through each period, especially from the top position," said Irwin. "He had several big mat returns that set the tone in the match."

"Winning my first college match felt amazing," said Laya. "Especially since it went into quadruple overtime. The feeling was just overwhelming too because I had wrestled and lost to Mininno before in high school. So, I looked at it as my time for redemption." "My focus is to keep my head on straight and work on the small things," added Laya. "I need to get to my ties and offense a little more."

Pasiuk was another big winner for the Cardinals at 185. He opened the day with a win by fall over JJ Hooper of Keystone, before closing the day with a 6-3 decision over Owen Brooks of Drexel.

"Since the national tournament I have been focusing on flowing better, strengthening my positioning, especially when it's late in the match and I'm down and I have to get that takedown to win," said Pasiuk. "I have a goal that I will All-American this year, so I'm focused on bettering myself each day to get me closer to making that happen."

Wheeling Jesuit will look ahead to the Washington & Jefferson invite on Saturday, November 10 and then return to West Virginia for its home-opening match against No. 6 Pitt.-Johnstown on Sunday, November 11 at 4 p.m.

"These two duals definitely sets us up for the big showdown with UPJ next Sunday," said Irwin. "We want over 1,000 fans at it and if we do we will guarantee another 1,000 plus hours of community service to the Ohio Valley community this school year from our program!"

Wheeling Jesuit 51, Keystone College 3
125: Cole Laya (WJU) by forfeit
133: Tyler Warner (WJU) by forfeit
141: Jared Donahue (WJU) WBF Colby Bronzburg (KC), 2:27
149: Tyler Albers (WJU) DEC Jason Jones (KC), 7-4
157: Thomas Michaels (KC) DEC Blake Miller (WJU), 8-4
165: Keegan Driscoll (WJU) WBF Alex Talanca (KC), 3:35
174: Connor Craig (WJU) by forfeit
184: Aidan Pasiuk (WJU) WBF JJ Hooper (KC), 1:55
197: Dalton Hoover (WJU) WBF Donald Stewart (KC), 0:27
HWT: Terrance Fanning (WJU) WBF Cameron Stewart (KC), 1:18

Drexel 28, Wheeling Jesuit 9
125: Cole Laya (WJU) DEC Antonio Mininno (DU), 6-3 (RO3/4)
133: Ty Smith (DU) MAJ Jacob Donahue (WJU), 11-2
141: Jared Donahue (WJU) DEC Nick Widmann (DU), 12-8
149: Trevor Elfvin (DU) DEC Tyler Alberts (WJU), 9-4
157: Evan Barczak (DU) TF Colt Rutter (WJU), 22-7 (w/ riding time)
165: Ebed Jarrell (DU) MAJ Keegan Driscoll (WJU), 10-2
174: Bryan McLaughlin (DU) MAJ Connor Craig (WJU), 13-5
184: Aidan Pasiuk (WJU) DEC Owen Brooks (DU), 6-3
197: No. 9 Stephen Loiseau (DU) TF Dalton Hoover (WJU), 18-0
HWT: No. 14 Joey Goodhart (DU) DEC Terrance Fanning (WJU), 4-2




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