No. 7 Cardinals notch three wins in Rhode Island
December 15, 2018
BRISTOL, R.I. & PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Dec. 15) - The No. 7 Wheeling Jesuit University wrestling team picked up a trio of dual wins Saturday, including two over nationally ranked teams in Division III.
The Cardinals opened the day with a 36-6 win over Division III No. 13 Roger Williams and a 44-6 win over Navy Prep. Wheeling Jesuit closed out its trip to the eastern seaboard with an exciting 23-13 win over Division III No. 3 Johnson & Wales at the Providence Performing Arts Center.
Against Johnson & Wales, the Cardinals notched a huge win in the first tilt of the night when sophomore Jared Donahue (Vienna, W.Va./Parkersburg) earned a 4-2 decision over two-time Division III All-American Joe Ferinde at 141 pounds.
After yielding nine points on a fall and a decision to Johnson & Wales, senior Keegan Driscoll (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) and sophomore Connor Craig (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) tied the match at 9-9 with decisions at 165 and 174, respectively.
Wheeling Jesuit regained the lead when sophomore Aidan Pasiuk (Carrolton, Ohio/Carrolton) held on for a 2-0 win at 184 over Division III No. 3 Khamri Thomas.
After Johnson & Wales took the lead right back with a major decision at 197, the Cardinals finished the night strong in the remaining three bouts.
Senior Terrance Fanning (Bruceton Mills, W.Va./Preston) cruised to a technical fall at 285 pounds.
A third-period takedown and four-point near fall helped freshman Cole Laya (Fairmont, W.Va./East Fairmont) claim a 9-6 decision over Division III No. 2 and defending national champion Jay Albis to clinch the dual victory, while sophomore Tyler Warner (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont) closed the night with a 7-2 decision at 133.
For Laya, it was the second win that day over a nationally ranked opponent and he touched on what he has learned from the first half of his first collegiate season after the match.
"I have learned that I am capable of doing anything," Laya said. "Even though I start out rough at times I have to keep my composure and focus on the main goal. Also today has shown me that I am capable of hanging with the top guys in the country and that you should never quit till the last whistle is blown."
Pasiuk, who also earned a third period fall in his match against Roger Williams earlier in the day, was another individual who helped pace the Cardinals team performance in Rhode Island.
"I thought today went really awesome for the team," said Pasiuk. "From bottom to top we were working to our positions and wrestling how we are suppose too. We beat some pretty good ranked kids today and I think that comes from our consistency in and out of the room. Wrestling in that theater was memorable for me and I'm sure for everyone else. I know we have some big things coming for us in the future, and I'm pumped to be a part of the cardinal culture!"
The team hopes that trip out to Rhode Island helps foster some of the bonds that will help push the team to new heights entering the second half of the season in 2019.
"This trip allows us the become closer as brothers," said Fanning afterwards."It allows us to journey to a part of the country that some of us have never been to before and experience competitive competition while creating memories with one another that will last a lifetime."
Wheeling Jesuit will break for the holidays and return to the mat on Friday, January 4 for the two-day NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Kentucky.
Wheeling Jesuit 23, Johnson & Wales 13
141: Jared Donahue (WJU) DEC #7 Joe Ferinde (JWU) 4-2 0-3
149: #2 Da'mani Burns (JWU) FALL Tyler Alberts (WJU) at 1:33 6-3
157: Thomas Grippi (JWU) DEC Dylan Taylor (WJU) 12-6 (OT) 9-3
165: #7 Keegan Driscoll (WJU) DEC Adrian Gonzalez (JWU) 3-2 9-6
174: Connor Craig (WJU) DEC Michael Gargano (JWU) 9-4 9-9
184: Aidan Pasiuk (WJU) DEC #3 Khamri Thomas (JWU) 2-0 9-12
197: #5 Michael DiNardo (JWU) MAJ DEC Chase Logan (WJU) 13-1 13-12
285: #2 Terrance Fanning (WJU) TECH FALL Jason Gomez (JWU) 16-0 13-17
125: #7 Cole Laya (WJU) DEC #2 Jay Albis (JWU) 9-6 13-20
133: #4 Tyler Warner (WJU) DEC Bobby Jordan (JWU) 7-2 13-23
(JWU wrestlers listed with Division III ranking)
Wheeling Jesuit 36, Roger Williams 6
125: Cole Laya (WJU) DEC Kyle Kaiser (RWU) 6-2
133: Tyler Warner (WJU) MAJ DEC Tristan Haviland (RWU) 14-0
141: Jared Donahue (WJU) FALL Seth Frohnheiser (RWU) (2nd period)
149: Tyler Alberts (WJU) DEC Jack Kelly (RWU) 8-3
157: Tyler Gazaway (RWU) DEC Tyler Jenkins (WJU) 14-10
165: Taylor Shay (RWU) DEC Keegan Driscoll (WJU) 3-2
174: Connor Craig (WJU) FALL Brett Leonard (RWU) (2nd period)
184: Aiden Pasiuk (WJU) FALL Ryan DeLoach (RWU) (3rd period)
197: Chase Logan (WJU) DEC Anthony Malfitano (RWU) 8-6 (OT)
285: Terrance Fanning (WJU) TECH FALL Adam Patsun (RWU) 16-0
RESULTS VERSUS NAVY PREP NOT YET AVAILABLE
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