Rogers Seals Deal in WVU Victory

By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Office

CLARION, Pa. (January 24, 2009) – Behind heavyweight fifth-year senior Dustin Rogers’ pin at the 2:08 mark, the West Virginia University wrestling team earned its second straight victory in EWL action, defeating Clarion 22-14 on Saturday night at W.S. Tippin Gym. The Mountaineers improve to 5-4 overall, 2-0 in league play.

Rogers, a Corning, Calif., native, earned a quick takedown against Clarion’s Roman Husam to jump ahead 2-0 in the first period. After riding Husam, Rogers was able to flip Husam on his back, pinning the Clarion heavyweight for the second year in a row. On the same day last year, Rogers pinned Husam at the 39-second mark. Rogers leads WVU with four fall victories this season.

The Mountaineers, who started the match down 8-0, came from behind again for the second straight day, this time starting with freshman 141-pounder Colin Johnston. The Eighty Four, Pa., native’s first period scoring was too much as he posted a 5-4 victory over Sal Lascari. Johnston registered two takedowns in the first session and earned another point after garnering 1:49 in riding time for his fourth victory of the season.

Fifth-year senior David Jauregui followed Johnston’s victory with a near major decision, registering a 13-6 win over Clarion’s Greg Lewis. Ranked No. 19 nationally at 149 pounds, Jauregui scored six takedowns through the match. Jauregui’s first takedown came less than 20 seconds into the first period, another one no more than 40 seconds later and tacked on his final one in the first frame. The Santa Ana, Calif., native earned another point with 3:16 in riding time.

After dropping a close 5-3 decision at 157 pounds, WVU won four of the next five bouts.

At 165 pounds, redshirt-junior Donnie Jones earned a 15-6 major over Dominic Ross. Even though Ross had momentum coming into the match with a 2-0 mark on the day, Jones delivered on his second major decision in as many days (earned a 9-1 major on Jan. 23 at Bloomsburg). Through the two periods of action, Jones was ahead 9-4, and continued to add to his point total in the third session. Electing to choose the defensive position in the third period, Jones earned an escape and then recorded two more takedowns plus 1:32 in riding time for the victory. Jones improves to 4-2 this season.

Down by just one, 11-10, WVU had the ability to take the lead with a Kurt Brenner win at 174 pounds. Not to disappoint, the 13th-ranked Brenner came through. Despite a vicious hand fight with Clarion’s Scott Joseph, Brenner notched a takedown in the first and then recorded four more points in the second en route to the 6-1 decision, while giving WVU the 13-11 lead.

With just a two-point margin, WVU needed a win from WVU’s Lance Bryson at 184 pounds for a safe lead. After going scoreless through the first period, Bryson took it upon himself to go on the offensive and it proved to be successful. After earning an escape point to go ahead 1-0, Bryson earned two more points via takedown and tacked on another in the third with less than seconds left for the 5-2 victory.

The Mountaineers return to action on Sunday, Jan. 31 at EWL foe Lock Haven. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at Thomas Field House.
WVU 22 Clarion 14
125: #20 Jay Ivanco (CLA) MAJOR Tyler Smith (WVU), 12-3
133: Cameron Moran (CLA) MAJOR Tyler Oravec (WVU), 13-4
141: Colin Johnston (WVU) DEC Sal Lascari (CLA), 5-4
149: #19 David Jauregui (WVU) DEC Greg Lewis (CLA), 13-6
157: Hadley Harrison (CLA) DEC Ryan Goodman (WVU), 5-3
165: Donnie Jones (WVU) MAJOR Dominic Ross (CLA), 15-6
174: #13 Kurt Brenner (WVU) DEC Scott Joseph (CLA), 6-1
184: Lance Bryson (WVU) DEC Clint Podish (CLA), 5-2
197: Jamie Luckett (CLA) DEC Kyle Rooney (WVU), 5-2
285: Dustin Rogers (WVU) FALL Roman Husam (CLA), 2:08


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