WVU Scores Shutout At Clarion
By Tim Goodenow for
WVU Sports Information Office
January 16, 2005
CLARION, Pa. - Wrestling for the second time in 24 hours, the 16th-ranked West Virginia University wrestling team earned a 43-0 shutout at Clarion on Sunday afternoon at Tippin Gymnasium.
The Mountaineers showed no signs of slowing down in the quick turn around of league action. WVU’s 43 points were the biggest margin of victory since a 48-0 drubbing against Cleveland State in 1998.
Seth Lisa began the day with a solid 4-0 decision over Clarion’s Chris Lape at 133 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Lisa escaped to open the second and hit a single-leg takedown for a 3-0 lead. Lisa, ranked 20th in the nation, then rode Lape the entire final period for a riding time advantage and 4-0 decision.
Tenth-ranked Brandon Lauer scored an impressive victory over Clarion’s Frank Edgar at 141 pounds. Edgar, ranked 14th in the nation, held an early 2-1 lead before Lauer countered an Edgar shot attempt. All-American Lauer defended a single-leg shot into a cradle for the fall at 1:57 over Edgar.
Mike Torriero raced out to a 6-4 lead on three takedowns in the open period at 149 pounds. Senior Torriero tallied a quick reversal off the whistle to start the middle period. After an escape by Clarion’s Nate Geesaman, Torriero collected two more takedowns for a 12-6 advantage. Torriero then pulled away in the final period with two more takedowns for a 17-11 decision.
Junior Matt Lebe picked up a forfeit at 157 pounds to extend WVU’s team lead to 18-0.
At 165 pounds, Zac Fryling tallied three takedowns and three back points for a 9-2 lead after one period over CU’s Marcus Surin. After a scoreless middle period, Fryling began the final period with a single-leg takedown to go up 11-3. Sophomore Fryling then hit a five-point move in the final minute in posting a 17-4 major decision victory.
Keeping the pressure on at 174 pounds was Mountaineer Eric Mullen. Mullen notched a takedown and three-point near fall 30 seconds into the match for a 5-0 lead. Mullen and Clarion’s Chris Goings traded escapes to begin the final two periods before a second takedown by Mullen in the third secured the 9-7 decision.
Two-time NCAA champion Greg Jones picked up six team points at 184 pounds. Jones held an early 5-0 lead on a takedown and near fall in the first period against CU’s Dave Gardner. Senior Jones added five more points with a second takedown and three back points. Jones held a 13-1 lead before Gardner took an injury default at 5:42.
Keeping the shutout alive, 197 pound Jared Villers won a tough 5-2 decision over Clarion’s Charlie Cilinski. Sophomore Villers led 4-0 in the first period with a takedown and two-point near fall. The two grapplers were scoreless in the middle period and Cilinski scored a takedown at the buzzer with Villers victorious.
Sophomore Matt Holsopple picked up his first collegiate win with a solid 11-4 decision at heavyweight. Holsopple, who has been with the wrestling team for less than a week, scored a takedown just 15 seconds into his match against Andrew Thompson. Mountaineer Holsopple rode Thompson for over a minute in the middle period and scored a takedown with 5 seconds remaining to take a 6-3 lead. Two more takedowns for Holsopple in the closing period sealed the 11-4 decision.
Closing the night for West Virginia was 125-pounder Shawn Cordell. The true freshman scored a takedown on the edge of mat for 2-0 lead. Cordell led 2-1 before Toby Seger took an injury default at 2:31.
The shutout against Clarion was WVU’s first since a 34-0 victory over Bloomsburg on Jan. 11, 2003.
West Virginia returns to action with the prestigious NWCA Cliff Keen National Duals on Jan. 22-23 at Cleveland State.
No. 16 West Virginia 43 (2-2, 2-0 EWL)
Clarion 0 (3-7-1, 0-1 EWL)
133: #20 Seth Lisa (WVU) DEC Chris Lape (CU), 4-0
141: #10 Brandon Lauer (WVU) FALL #14 Frank Edgar (CU), 1:57
149: Mike Torriero (WVU) DEC Nathan Geasaman (CU), 17-11
157: #10 Matt Lebe (WVU) FOR
165: Zac Fryling (WVU) MAJOR Marcus Surin (CU), 17-4
174: Eric Mullen (WVU) DEC Chris Goings (CU), 9-7
184: #1 Greg Jones (WVU) INJ DEF Dave Gardner (CU) 5:42
197: Jared Villers (WVU) DEC Charlie Cilinski (CU), 5-2
285: Matt Holsopple (WVU) DEC Andrew Thompson (CU), 11-4
125: Shawn Cordell (WVU) INJ DEF Toby Seger (CU), 2:31
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