WVU Opens EWL Competition with Win

By Scott Castleman
WVU Sports Information Office

January 20, 2006

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Despite being shorthanded due to several injuries the West Virginia University wrestling team kicked off its EWL dual meet competition with an important 22-14 win over Bloomsburg at the WVU Coliseum on Friday evening.

The Mountaineers (2-4, 1-0 EWL) earned the win over the Huskies (7-5, 1-1 EWL) without three starters in the lineup at the 125, 141 and heavyweight classes.

Bloomsburg took advantage of WVU’s misfortune by claiming wins in each of those bouts as well as the 184 match. However, the rest of the Mountaineers would rally to claim six victories.

Senior Seth Lisa got the ball rolling with a critical 9-4 decision over Ricky Donald in the 133-pound bout to cut the Huskies’ early lead to 4-3. But an 11-0 major decision by Brad Forbes over Teddy Adams put the Mountaineers into an 8-3 hole.

“After getting beat at the 141-pound weight class we knew we were going to have to make a run,” said head coach Craig Turnbull.

Freshman David Jauregui started that run in the 149-pound bout with an 8-4 decision over George Hickman for his fourth consecutive dual meet win. Senior All-American Matt Lebe then put West Virginia ahead for good in the 157-pound match with a 12-4 major decision over Aric Furhman.

With his team leading 10-8, redshirt freshman Larry Hall (165-pounds) provided the most exciting finish to bout of the season for the Mountaineers. After jumping out to a 5-0 lead on Frank Beasley the Jeannette, Pa., native had to battle to a 6-6 tie at the end of regulation.

Neither grappler scored through the first two periods of overtime and Beasley broke the deadlock with an escape to make take a 7-6 lead. Hall was not finished though, as he was able to get a hold on one of Beasley’s legs with less than 12 seconds remaining and wrestle Beasley to the mat for a takedown just before time expired for the 8-7 win.

“Larry did a nice job in a very tough situation,” said Turnbull. “He’s young and the more experience we get him will really pay off for him as well as the team later on.”

174-pounder Kurt Brenner padded the lead with a 12-3 major decision over Andrew Jordan in the following match and sophomore Jared Villers was able to put the meet away with a 15-0 technical fall against Chris Swan just 1:48 into his bout.

The win over Bloomsburg lengthened the Mountaineers 14-match home unbeaten streak against EWL opponents that began back in 2001. The last conference opponent to defeat WVU in the Coliseum was Cleveland State on Feb 18, 2001.

The Huskies have also not beat West Virginia since 2001.

WVU returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 22, when it hosts EWL foe Clarion at 1 p.m. in the WVU Cloiseum.

Bloomsburg Match Results (W, 22-14)
125: Justin Thomas (BU) MAJOR Scott Stuart (WVU), 13-4
133: Seth Lisa (WVU) DEC Ricky Donald (BU), 9-4
141: Brad Forbes (BU) MAJOR Teddy Adams (WVU), 11-0
149: David Jauregui (WVU) DEC George Hickman (BU), 8-4
157: Matt Lebe (WVU) MAJOR Aric Furhman (BU), 12-4
165: Larry Hall (WVU) DEC Frank Beasley (BU), 8-7
174: Kurt Brenner (WVU) MAJOR Andrew Jordan (BU), 12-3
184: Nate Shirk (BU) DEC Chance Litton (WVU), 3-2
197: Jared Villers (WVU) TECH Chris Swan (BU), 1:48 15-0
HWT: Mike Spaid (BU) DEC Matt Holsopple (WVU), 9-2

Official: Bernie Chapman
Attendance: 528




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