WVU Wrestling Plays Host to Non-Conference Foe Ohio
By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Office
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (February 13, 2009) – After competing on the road for five consecutive contests, the West Virginia University wrestling finally returns home to begin a three-match homestand, beginning with non-conference foe Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 14. The battle between the Mountaineers and Bobcats is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the WVU Coliseum.
"Traditionally and historically, we have had very challenging matches with Ohio. They have often wrestled us very well,” Coach Craig Turnbull said. “I remember going there during one of Greg's (Jones) years and we had to scrap and Greg had to scrap to beat someone that wasn't ranked. They are generally a team that fights you very hard and you have to be prepared to do the same. They seem to challenge us."
WVU (6-4-1, 3-0-1 EWL) is coming off a 15-15 tie at Eastern Wrestling League foe Pitt on Feb. 7. Despite the week off, Coach Turnbull knows the match at-hand against Ohio could prove to be a challenge.
"I think they have a very similar lineup to Clarion and we had to work hard against Clarion. I think our team recognizes that it's a very blue-collar team,” Turnbull added. “We have to be ready to work. We can't assume a team is any lighter and we can't approach it any differently. Ohio has a strong lineup to where we are going to have to battle. They have a few very solid guys and it's going to take a very good effort from us. I'm looking forward to us getting back out there with the direction of the team at this point."
Before Ohio (8-6-1, 2-0 MAC) faces WVU, it will travel to Kent State for a league dual with the Golden Flashes tonight at 7 p.m.
The Bobcats recently faced two Atlantic Coast Conference schools. The squad lost to North Carolina, 26-12, but followed that with a 30-12 victory over NC State, winning seven of the 10 bouts (two wins came via forfeit).
Seth Morton (149) and Eric Schuth (197) both registered bonus decisions for Ohio, with Morton taking an 8-0 victory and Schuth getting a pin at the 4:40 mark.
Clay Tucker (157) and Nick Purdue (174) lead the team with 16 victories apiece. Four of Tucker’s wins have come by tech fall, while another four have come via major decision; five of Purdue’s victories have come via major decision.
Head Coach Joel Greenlee is in his 12th season with the Bobcats and has led the program to a 130-101-5 overall record. The Bobcats finished last year’s campaign with a 6-16 overall record, 0-5 in league action. However, the team lost only two starters and returns 10 letterwinners from last season, including lone NCAA qualifier Germane Lindsey (141).
Against Pitt, the Mountaineers did not drop a bout from 149 to 174 pounds.
Fifth-year senior David Jauregui, ranked No. 19 at 149 pounds, took an 8-6 decision over Mark Powell to improve to 9-2 overall and put WVU’s first three points on the board. Redshirt-freshman Ryan Goodman was the next Mountaineer to record a victory, registering a 2-1 decision after garnering 1:23 in riding time.
Redshirt-junior Donnie Jones recorded a 4-2 victory over Ethan Headlee at 165 pounds and fifth-year senior, No. 12-ranked Kurt Brenner followed that with a 10-5 decision at 174 pounds. Dustin Rogers, a fifth-year senior ranked 18th nationally, capped off the match with a 3-2 upset over then-No. 8 ranked Zach Sheaffer at the heavyweight position.
All-time, the Mountaineers hold a 31-14-1 advantage and are 6-3 against the Bobcats since 2000.
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