WVU Wrestling Cruises to Victory
By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Office
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (January 31, 2010) – Winning eight of the 10 bouts, including four bonus decisions, the West Virginia University wrestling team cruised to a 32-12 victory over Eastern Wrestling League foe Lock Haven Sunday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
“Some of the teams we wrestled earlier this year were very good, such as Indiana, Penn State,” coach Craig Turnbull says. “I think our guys have learned things from that tough beginning part of the schedule. Some of the guys are starting to apply that and are getting rewarded for that. Their intensity, approach toward the match and the expectation that they are going to find a way to win is starting to be something they are learning how to do. I would say it's the most complete match from 125 to heavyweight, and that's good to see.”
Freshman Shane Young continued his hot streak by earning his fifth-straight victory this afternoon with a 4-0 decision over Nick Hyatt. The Jeannette, Pa., native picked up a quick takedown in the first and then one right before the buzzer at the end of the match to improve to 12-5 on the season, 3-0 in the EWL.
The Mountaineers (2-7, 2-1 EWL) extended the team score lead to 7-0 with 16-4 major decision from sophomore Colin Johnston. Ranked 18th at 133 pounds, Johnston put on a takedown clinic, registering six in the win. Johnston recorded two in the first period, plus a three-point fall to lead 7-1. After earning another takedown in the second, Johnston went back to work in the third, adding his final three of the match, plus a point for riding time. The Eighty Four, Pa., native notched his 18th victory of the year, improved to 3-0 in league action, and has earned 26 dual points for the Mountaineers this season.
After Lock Haven, which falls to 2-6, 1-3 in EWL, won the 141-pound bout, the Mountaineers rattled off wins at the next four weight classes.
Senior Mike Rowe started the streak at 149 pounds. Similar to Johnston, Rowe recorded two takedowns plus a three-point near fall in the opening period. Rowe added on to his total with two more takedowns in the second period, one in the third, plus riding time for the 14-4 major decision. The dual meet victory was the first of Rowe’s career as a Mountaineer.
After an impressive victory from redshirt sophomore Kyle Eason at 157 pounds, Donnie Jones, a redshirt senior, recorded his quickest pin of the year at 165 pounds. After a physical hand fight with Kevin Dufresne to start the match, Jones recorded a takedown to go ahead 2-0. Only 37 seconds into the bout, Jones rolled Dufresne onto his back for the win, bettering his record to 15-9.
"They really are getting better,” Turnbull says of Rowe and Eason, “but it's sometimes hard to convince them. You're taught that winning is good and losing is bad, but the qualitative evaluation is that they are getting better. You have to hope that it sinks in, they keep faith and keep working hard."
Redshirt sophomore Matt Weston also picked up his first dual match victory of the year at 174 pounds, defeating Derek Caldwell, 9-5.
The Bald Eagles earned their only other win at 184 pounds, as the Mountaineers won the final two bouts of the match.
Junior Kyle Rooney (197) won his second-straight match against EWL competition. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native recorded a quick takedown and a then a two-point near fall to open the bout. Lock Haven’s Henry Turner chose the defensive position to start the second period, which proved to be costly, as Rooney was able to slowly tilt Turner onto his back for the pin at 3:26.
To end the meet, junior Brandon Williamson posted a 4-0 decision over Dan Craig at the heavyweight position. With his third-straight victory, Williamson moves to 12-6 overall, 3-0 against EWL competition.
The Mountaineers conclude their four-match home stand on Saturday, Feb. 6, against No. 18/23-ranked Pitt. Action at the WVU Coliseum is set to begin at 7 p.m.
WVU 32 Lock Haven 12
125: Shane Young (WVU) dec. Nick Hyatt (LHU), 4-0
133: #18 Colin Johnston (WVU) major dec. Evan Kolb (LHU), 16-4
141: Owen Wilkinson (LHU) pinned Christian Hartsell (WVU), 2:02
149: Mike Rowe (WVU) major dec. Zach Kell (LHU), 14-4
157: Kyle Eason (WVU) dec. Seth Creasy (LHU), 5-2
165: Donnie Jones (WVU) pinned Kevin Dufresne (LHU), 0:37
174: Matt Weston (WVU) dec. Derek Caldwell (LHU), 9-5
184: Jeremie Cook (LHU) pinned Robert DeSano (WVU), 5:36
197: Kyle Rooney (WVU) pinned Henry Turner (LHU), 3:26
HWT: Brandon Williamson (WVU) dec. Dan Craig (LHU), 4-0
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