WVU Exits from NCAA Championships
By Steve Stone
WVU Sports Information Office
March 21, 2008
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Junior Kurt Brenner was West Virginia’s last hope for an All-American bid but fell one win shy during the fourth session of the NCAA Championships on Friday, March 21, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
The Freedom, Pa., native put forth a valiant effort against No. 7 Phillip Keddy of Iowa but was defeated in a 5-3 decision. Brenner fell behind from the start after receiving a stalling penalty in the first period, then gave up a takedown to go down 4-0. The junior battled back and scored on a reversal with two seconds left in the second period to cut the deficit to 4-2. However, Keddy pulled ahead with 1:05 riding time to win a close decision and end Brenner’s season.
Brenner (184) won two matches in the third session, including a pin fall in 6:53 over Stanford’s Zack Giesen in his second match. Leading 9-4 with time winding down in the third period, Brenner turned Griesen over off his initial takedown and left him flat on his back to earn his first career pin at WVU.
The two-time Eastern Wrestling League champion avenged an early-season loss to Purdue’s A.J. Kissel with a 7-4 decision in his first match. The junior was more aggressive from the start and picked up two points in the first period. Leading 4-2 in the third, Brenner scored the match-clinching takedown with 25 seconds left and added 2:42 riding time.
The Mountaineers end a streak of six consecutive seasons in which they’ve earned an All-American bid. Plagued by injuries the entire season -- most notably two-time All-American Brandon Rader – WVU still received solid efforts during the third session that fell short of the honor.
David Jauregui (149) was two wins shy of becoming an All-American after losing to Oklahoma’s William Rowe, 13-7. In the beginning of the third session he defeated Edinboro’s Daryl Cocozzo in his third try this season. The junior downed the Fighting Scot in a 7-3 decision after losing to him once in a dual meet and also in the Eastern Wrestling League championship bout. Jauregui picked up an initial takedown in the first period, then scored on another with 21 seconds left in the second period to take a 4-2 advantage. With 1:11 left in the final period he got two more points and managed to keep his opponent inbounds, all while garnering 2:04 riding time throughout the match.
Zac Fryling (157) lost in the third session to Pitt’s Matt Kocher in a 3-1 decision to end his illustrious career as a Mountaineer. He kept his season alive in his first match of the day with an impressive 9-4 decision over Steve Brown of Central Michigan. Tied 2-2 through two periods, an eventful final period saw Brown score two points to take the lead at 4-3 with just over a minute left. But Fryling managed an escape and scored a takedown of his own with only 27 seconds left and followed with three near fall points.
Dustin Rogers (HWT) dropped out of the field after getting pinned by Bloomsburg’s Mike Spaid, who is seeded No.11. Rogers defeated Ben Berhow of Minnesota in a 7-4 decision in his first bout. In the first period he immediately took Berhow down by both legs and added another two-pointer to jump out to a 4-2 lead. A final takedown in the second period was all he needed to advance to the next round.
Sophomore Donnie Jones (165) concluded his season with a 4-0 loss to Luke Manuel of Purdue. Manuel rode Jones for 1:50 during the second period and scored two points in the waning moments of the final period to end Jones’ first NCAA Tournament run. He finished 1-2 in the championships.
Chance Litton (174) lost a tight 2-1 decision to Lehigh’s Alex Caruso to get knocked out of the field. He fell behind after giving up an escape in the second period, and then was penalized after excessively throwing his opponent down on a takedown attempt. Although he escaped in the third period, he could not muster another point as he ends his run with a 1-2 record.
First round results
149: #8 Jake Patacsil (PURDUE) TECHNICAL David Jauregui (WVU), 16-0 5:43
157: #4 Brandon Becker (INDIANA) DEC Zac Fryling (WVU), 1-0
165: Donnie Jones (WVU) DEC Daniel Atondo (CSB), 9-8
174 : Chance Litton (WVU) DEC Shane Riccio (BUCK), 7-1
184 : #3 Tyrel Todd (UM) DEC Kurt Brenner (WVU), 4-0
197: #7 Hudson Taylor (MARY) FALL Jared Villers (WVU), 5:39
HWT: Dustin Rogers (WVU) DEC Andrew Totusek (OD), 4-2
Second session matches
149: David Jauregui (WVU) DEC Kyle Larson (OSU), 13-12
165: Mack Lewnes (CORN) FALL Donnie Jones (WVU), 4:09
174: Keith Gavin (PITT) DEC Chance Litton (WVU), 4-2
184: Kurt Brenner (WVU) MAJOR Andy O'Laughlin (UNI), 16-8
197: Jared Villers (WVU) MAJOR Justin Bronson (MINN), 12-4
197: Matt Casperson (BSU) FALL Jared Villers (WVU), 3:24
HWT: Ed Prendergast (NAVY) DEC Dustin Rogers (WVU), 5-1 SV2
Third Session Matches
149: David Jauregui (WVU) DEC Daryl Cocozzo (ED), 7-3
149: William Rowe (OK) DEC David Jauregui (WVU), 13-7
157: Zac Fryling (WVU) DEC Steve Brown (CM), 9-4
157: Matt Kocher (PITT) DEC Zac Fryling (WVU), 3-1
165: Luke Manuel (PURD) DEC Donnie Jones (WVU), 4-0
174: Alex Caruso (LEH) DEC Chance Litton (WVU), 2-1
184: Kurt Brenner (WVU) DEC A.J. Kissel (PURD), 7-4
184: Kurt Brenner (WVU) FALL Zack Giesen (STANF), 6:53
HWT: Dustin Rogers (WVU) DEC Ben Berhow (MINN), 7-4
HWT: Mike Spaid (BLOOM) FALL Dustin Rogers (WVU), 0:45
Fourth session match
184: Phillip Keddy (IOWA) DEC Kurt Brenner (WVU), 5-3
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