Four WVU Wrestlers Remain in Top 20

By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Office

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (December 2, 2008) – Four West Virginia University wrestlers remained in the Top 20 in the individual rankings of the USA Today/InterMat poll, released today. Fifth-year senior David Jauregui holds the highest Mountaineer ranking, with a spot at No. 5 in the 149-pound division.

Jauregui compiled a 2-0 record at the “Sprawl & Brawl” dual meets on Nov. 23 in Vestal, N.Y. In his first match of the day, the Santa Ana, Calif., native defeated Columbia’s Matt Dunn, 11-7. Jauregui tallied three takedowns in the bout. He then went on to take a 7-5 decision against North Carolina’s Nick Stabile in his second bout.

Fifth-year senior Kurt Brenner also holds a Top 15 ranking, earning a spot at No. 11 at 174 pounds. Much like Jauregui, Brenner registered a 2-0 mark at the dual meets. The Freedom, Pa., native scored a major decision for the Mountaineers after crushing Columbia’s Travis Creagen, 21-8. In his second bout, Brenner beat North Carolina’s Ben Fiacco, 3-1. Brenner totaled 10 takedowns through two matches.

At the heavyweight position, Dustin Rogers owns the No. 15 national ranking. Rogers fell in a close 10-6 decision against then-ranked No. 19 Ryan Flores of Columbia. The Corning, Calif., native battled back and upset North Carolina’s Justin Dobies, ranked No. 13 at the time, 5-3.

Rounding out the rankings is redshirt-junior Donnie Jones. At 165 pounds, Jones holds the No. 17 ranking. The Slickville, Pa., owned a 10-9 overall record in 2007, going 5-1 in Eastern Wrestling League matches. Jones won his first career postseason match at the 2008 NCAA Tournament against Cal State Bakersfield’s Daniel Atondo, 9-8.

The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Dec. 5, in Las Vegas, Nev., at the 27th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. WVU will compete in the two-day event, which features more than 45 schools and national powerhouses such as Cornell, Michigan and Illinois.
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