Mountaineers Slip Past Ohio

February 15, 2004

ATHENS, Ohio – The 19th-ranked West Virginia (8-4, 5-0) wrestling team used a strategic attack and an impressive run from 165 through 197 pounds to defeat Ohio, 23-22, Sunday afternoon in Athens, Ohio.

“This was truly a dual meet crafted prior to today’s match,” says WVU assistant coach Zeke Jones. “Coach (Craig) Turnbull did an excellent job of laying out a plan where we could win this important dual meet.”

Trailing 16-6 after five bouts, Turnbull altered his lineup by moving sophomore Matt Lebe to 165-pounds. Lebe taillied a takedown and near fall to lead 5-0 after one period over Tony DeAnna. The Mountaineer sophomore used a strong third period to secure his sixth major decision of the year. Lebe’s 12-0 shutout cut WVU’s defecit to 16-10.

Also, moving up one weight-class, Zac Fryling scored WVU’s second major decision in as many bouts. Fryling took a 5-1 lead through one period of action. True freshman Fryling would score seven takedowns in earning a 15-5 victory.

The Mountaineers took their first lead of the match at 184-pounds. Greg Jones kept his unbeaten record alive at 17-0 with fall at 5:40 over Nick Terbay. NCAA Champion Jones scored four takedowns to lead 10-2 after two periods. Jones would ride Terbay from the opening whistle in the final period for his team-leading seventh fall of the year.

“Moving Fryling and Lebe up allowed us to take two more wins,” adds coach Jones. “Those two extra points, along with Greg’s pin, gave us enough team points to win the dual meet and rest our heavyweight for one more match until next week.”

At 197-pounds, Matt Daddino scored the match’s first points with a takedown at the edge of the mat for a 2-0 advantage. Leading 4-3, Daddino was called for stalling to knot the score at 4-4. Daddino opened the third period with an escape to post a 5-4 decision over Joel Weimer.

Senior Casey Brewster won his third consecutive match for West Virginia to open the meet at 125-pounds. The Nashville, Tenn., native posted a 4-1 decision over Matt Smith for WVU’s first win of the day. Brewster tallied a takedown in the first and opened the middle period with an escape to lead 3-0. After more than two minutes of riding time, Smith escaped at the buzzer as Brewster earned a 4-1 decision.

After a West Virginia forfeit at 133-pounds, sophomore Nate Lingle took to the mat for his first dual meet action of the year. Lingle trailed 5-1 entering the third period before taking a 11-3 major decision loss to Jon Spires.

With WVU trailing early 10-3, senior Mike Torriero used three takedowns in the first period to take an early 7-4 lead. Torriero opened with an escape and held on for an 8-5 decision.

Ohio’s two-time All-American Jake Percival scored a pinfall at 2:29 over WVU’s Teddy Adams. With the contest in hand, West Virginia forfeited their match at heavyweight to OU’s Jeremiah Beltran.

The Mountaineers improve to 29-12-1 all-time against the Bobcats. The contest with Ohio is the third longest in series history for West Virginia wrestling.

West Virginia returns to action on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m., for an EWL showdown at conference foe Edinboro.

West Virginia 23 (8-4, 5-0 EWL)
Ohio 22 (8-5, 2-2 MAC)
125: Casey Brewster (WVU) Dec Matt Smith (OU) 4-1
133: Anthony Carrizales (OU) Forfeit
141: Jon Spires (OU) Major Nate Lingle (WVU) 11-3
149: Mike Torriero (WVU) Dec Brandon Shriner (OU) 8-5
157: #3 Jake Percival (OU) Fall Teddy Adams (WVU) 2:21
165: #8 Matt Lebe (WVU) Major Tony DeAnna (OU) 12-0
174: Zac Fryling (WVU) Major John Konyesni (OU) 15-5
184: #1 Greg Jones (WVU) Fall Nick Terbay (OU) 5:40
197: #14 Matt Daddino (WVU) Dec Joel Weimer (OU) 5-4
285: Jeremiah Beltran (OU) Forfeit

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