WVU’s Ryan Takes Sixth Place

By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Department

PRIMM, Nev. (December 5, 2009) – West Virginia University redshirt-sophomore wrestler Matt Ryan continued his success on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, earning sixth place at 184 pounds.

Ryan’s first match of the day came against Navy’s Andrew Buck. Ryan earned a quick two points on a double-leg takedown just moments into the first period. After Buck escaped, the Buck went ahead with a takedown for a 3-2 lead. Buck, who was accumulating riding time, got too high on Ryan’s back and the WVU wrestler slid him off and got the reversal. Just seconds later, Ryan rolled Buck onto his back and got the fall just 2:05 into the match.

Facing No. 1-seed Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in his next match, Ryan fell behind 2-0, but then went ahead on back-to-back takedowns to finish the first period ahead, 5-4. Ryan chose the defensive position to start the second period and Pucillo accumulated the full two minutes of riding time. Pucillo then chose the down position for the third session and earned an escape point early in period. At the 5:56 mark, Pucillo was able to flip Ryan on his back and get the victory by fall.

An Eighty-Four, Pa., native, Ryan would have faced fifth-seeded Steve Bosak of Cornell for fifth place, but Ryan withdrew with a medical forfeit and earned sixth place at 184 pounds.

The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Dec. 11, at home against No. 15-ranked Penn State. The first bout is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET.

Consolation Bracket Matt Ryan (WVU) FALL Andrew Buck (Navy), 2:05 (No. 1 seed) Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) FALL Matt Ryan (WVU), 5:56

WVU Battles at Cliff Keen Invitational

By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Office

PRIMM, Nev. (December 4, 2009) – Four members of the West Virginia University wrestling team won two matches apiece on the first day of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Friday at Star of the Desert Arena. Redshirt sophomore Matt Ryan advances to the second day of the tournament in the 184-pound consolation bracket on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Ryan will face ninth-seed Andrew Buck of Navy Saturday morning.

An Eighty-Four, Pa., native, Ryan pinned his first opponent in 1:14, but lost his second match to fifth-seed Steve Bosak of Cornell. Ryan, however, regained his composure and went on to win three-straight matches, including wins over Oklahoma’s Erich Schmidtke (fall at 4:05) and No. 11-seed Brice Arand of Oregon State (7-3 decision).

Redshirt senior Donnie Jones (165), junior Brandon Williamson (HWT) and redshirt sophomore Ryan Goodman (157) were the other three who won two matches apiece.

Williamson, a No. 6 seed, earned a 4-0 decision over his first opponent, Jim Powers of Cal Poly, and then went on to defeat No. 11-seed Eloheim Palma of NC State, 2-0.

Jones, who was a No. 4 seed, blew through his first two bouts. The Slickville, Pa., native earned a 24-9 technical fall over Drexel’s Alex Rinaldi and then posted a 14-6 major decision over Arizona State’s T. Edwards.

An unseeded wrestler, Goodman went 2-2 at the tournament. He posted victories over Illinois’ Kyle Dooley (6-4) and CSU Pueblo’s Louie DeSantis (10-3).

Redshirt senior Chance Litton (165) was bounced out of the tournament after a pair of close losses. He coasted to a 7-3 decision over Buffalo’s Matt Bogardus and then drew No. 10-seed David Rella of Ohio State. The pair had their fair share of scoring, with the match tied at nine apiece heading into sudden victory. Rella, however, was able to score a takedown in the extra period for the victory.

The Mountaineers currently sit in 26th place among the 42-team tournament. Action resumes at on Saturday at noon ET.

125
(No. 8 seed) Nikko Triggas (Ohio State) FALL Anthony Curcio (WVU), 3:33

Consolation Bracket
Kyle Gilchrist (Columbia) dec. Anthony Curcio (WVU), 12-5

157
Ryan Goodman (WVU) dec. Kyle Dooley (Illinois), 6-4 Joe Booth (Drexel) dec. Ryan Goodman (WVU), 5-3

Consolation Bracket
Ryan Goodman (WVU) dec. Louie DeSantis (CSU Pueblo), 10-3 Robert Ward (NC State) dec. Ryan Goodman (WVU), 10-3

165
(No. 4 seed) Donnie Jones (WVU) tech. fall Alex Rinaldi (Drexel), 24-9
(No. 4 seed) Donnie Jones (WVU) major dec. T. Edwards (Arizona State), 14-6
(No. 5 seed) Paul Young (Indiana) dec. (No. 4 seed) Donnie Jones (WVU), 9-5

Consolation Bracket
Oscar Huntley (Navy) fall (No. 4 seed) Donnie Jones (WVU), 1:03

174
(No. 7 seed) Chance Litton (WVU) dec. Matt Bogardus (Buffalo), 7-3
(No. 10 seed) David Rella (Ohio State) dec. (No. 7 seed) Chance Litton (WVU), 11-9 (sv)

Consolation Bracket
Enock Francois (California Baptist) dec. (No. 7 seed) Chance Litton (WVU), 4-3

184
Matt Ryan (WVU) FALL Mark Martinez (New Mexico), 1:14
(No. 5 seed) Steve Bosak (Cornell) dec. Matt Ryan (WVU), 7-1

Consolation Bracket
Matt Ryan (WVU) dec. Casey Eldredge (Utah Valley), 7-3
Matt Ryan (WVU) FALL Erich Schmidtke (Oklahoma), 4:05
Matt Ryan (WVU) dec. (No. 11 seed) Brice Arand (Oregon State), 7-3

197
(No. 6 seed) Matt Casperson (Boise State) major dec. Kyle Rooney (WVU), 13-1

Consolation Bracket
Tony Chavarria (CSU Pueblo) dec. Kyle Rooney (WVU), 3-2

HWT
(No. 6 seed) Brandon Williamson (WVU) dec. Jim Powers (Cal Poly), 4-0
(No. 6 seed) Brandon Williamson (WVU) dec. (No. 11 seed) Eloheim Palma (NC State), 2-0
(No. 3 seed) Nathan Fernandez (Oklahoma) dec. (No. 6 seed) Brandon Williamson (WVU), 6-0

Consolation Bracket
Kyle Frey (Drexel) dec. (No. 6 seed) Brandon Williamson (WVU), 6-0

Return to the WV-Mat front page