WEST VIRGINIA CLINCHES EWL REGULAR SEASON CROWN
Mountaineers Pound Fighting Scots, 31-3
EDINBORO (February 24, 2002) – West Virginia completed a perfect 7-0 Eastern Wrestling League season and ended Edinboro's three-year reign as regular season champions with a 31-3 triumph over the Fighting Scots. The Mountaineers, ranked 10th by the NWCA and 11th by InterMat, improve to 12-2 overall, while Edinboro ends the dual meet season with a 10-4 record, and was 5-2 in EWL action. The loss snapped a three-match Boro winning streak against the Mountaineers, including a 38-6 win in Morgantown a year ago.
The match began at 174 lbs., but the much-anticipated matchup of the Boro's second-ranked Josh Koscheck (Waynesburg, PA/Waynesburg) against third-ranked Greg Jones did not take place. Koscheck, one of four seniors recognized prior to the match and the defending national champion, was not cleared to wrestle due to a staph infection. Jones made short work of his replacement, Vinnie Courts (Middletown, PA/Cumberland Valley), pinning the freshman at 1:41.
The Mountaineers captured the next three matches, as well. Ryan Wilman, ranked 20th, handed Matt Camino (Solon, OH/Solon) a 6-3 defeat at 184 lbs. David Shunamon (Tewksbury, MA/ Tewksbury), ranked eighth at 197 lbs., was upset by Brent Miller, dropping a 9-6 decision. Tied at 5-5 after a takedown by Shunamon, Miller scored a reversal and then two back points midway through the third period to register the upset. Ryan Kehler, the 14th-ranked heavyweight, was a 7-3 winner over Josh Pearce (Greenville, PA/Commodore Perry) thanks to a pair of third period takedowns.
Trailing 15-0, Edinboro finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a 13-6 win by freshman Shawn Bunch (Leavenworth, KS/Leavenworth) over Nathan Kendjorsky. Bunch, ranked 20th at 125 lbs., improved to 15-4 thanks to three takedowns and three back points, plus 2:24 in riding time.
West Virginia closed out the match by winning the final five matches. Cory Ace (Franklin, PA/ Franklin), ranked 15th, scored a first period takedown against 19th-ranked Brandon Lauer, and escaped to start the second for a 3-0 lead. Lauer turned the tide in the second period with a takedown, followed by back-to-back moves for two-point back points and an 8-3 lead. He went on to post an 11-8 decision.
At 141 lbs., eighth-ranked Shane Cunanan held off 13th-ranked Chad Caros (Franklinville, NY/Suffern), 3-1, thanks to a takedown with 26 seconds remaining. Mike Torriero was a 24-13 winner over Michael Ashby (Mentor, OH/Mentor) at 149 lbs. Joe Carr, ranked 7th at 157 lbs., followed with a 7-3 win over Ryan Yates (Lower Burrell, PA/Burrell). Carr improved to 26-3 with the win.
The final match of the day was one of the few to live up to its advanced billing, as fifth-ranked Tom McMath used a second period takedown to hand 10th-ranked Matt King (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville) a 3-2 setback. King recorded three escapes, but was unable to register a takedown while falling to 19-3. McMath is now 27-2.
*By Draw: Match started at 174 pounds.
174 #3 Greg Jones (WVU) (26-2) fall over Vinnie Courts (EUP)(6-7), 1:41
184 Ryan Wilman (WVU) (18-13) dec. Matt Camino (EUP)(8-12), 6-4
197 Brent Miller (WVU) dec. #8 David Shunamon (EUP), 9-6
HWT #14 Ryan Kehler (WVU)(14-3) dec. Josh Pearce (EUP)(14-8), 7-3
125 #20 Shawn Bunch (EUP)(16-4) dec. Nathan Kendjorsky (WVU)(7-9), 13-6
133 #19 Brandon Lauer (WVU)(18-9) dec. #15 Cory Ace (EUP)(15-8), 11-8
141 #8 Shane Cunan (WVU)(24-7) dec. #13 Chad Caros (EUP) (20-9), 3-1
149 Michael Torriero (WVU) major dec. Michael Ashby (EUP)(1-8), 24-13
157 #7 Joe Carr (WVU)(13-7) dec. Ryan Yates (EUP)(26-3), 7-3
165 #5 Tom McMath (WVU) dec. #10 Matt R. King (20-4), 3-2
Records: Edinboro is 10-4; West Virginia is 12-2.
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