WVU Downs Clarion
CLARION, Pa. (February 6, 2015) – A pin by Michael Morales and a pair of major decisions guided the West Virginia University wrestling team to a 26-9 victory over Clarion at Tippin Gym on Friday evening.
The win moved the Mountaineers to 7-7 overall on the season and marks the fifth consecutive match they have taken from Clarion. It was also the squad’s first action in two weeks.
“We had some good moments tonight with our guys committing to riding and staying in the game with our feet,” said first-year head coach Sammie Henson. “We need to wrestle with more passion and aggressiveness to get to the next level. Tomorrow will be a tough match, and we need to have the right mindset from the start.”
West Virginia got off to a slow start, dropping bouts at 165 and 174 as the Golden Eagles took a 6-0 lead. Bubba Scheffel stopped the skid at 184, earning a 3-1 decision over Danny Sutherland in sudden victory. Scheffel escaped in the second to take a 1-0 lead, but Sutherland matched his feat in the third as the two ended regulation tied 1-1. Scheffel scored a takedown in the closing seconds of the first overtime period that was challenged by Clarion. However, the ruling on the mat was upheld and the Mountaineers cut the deficit to three at 6-9.
Jake A. Smith also needed an extra period before earning a 3-1 decision against Ryan Darch in sudden victory at 197 pounds. Darch took a 1-0 lead after escaping in the second, but Smith tied the bout 1-1 with an escape in the third. Smith then earned the takedown in the extra period to tie the score 6-6.
After a scoreless first period, A.J. Vizcarrondo dominated the final two periods for a 6-1 decision over Josh Davis at heavyweight. After registering an escape to start the second, Vizcarrindo scored a takedown to take a 3-0 lead. He added another takedown before tacking on the riding time point in earning the win and giving WVU a 9-6 lead.
Zeke Moisey also dominated at 125, winning a 15-6 major decision over Hunter Jones. Moisey recorded four takedowns in the first period, entering the second with an 8-3 lead and more than a minute of riding time. He added two more in the second for a 12-5 advantage, then added a reversal in the third in addition to the riding time point for the major. Cory Stainbrook followed suit with a 14-2 major decision over Matthew Liggett at 233. Stainbrook led 2-0 after a takedown in the first and added an escape, a pair of takedowns and a penalty point after two stalling calls on Liggett to enter the third period up 8-1. Scoring two more takedowns in the third, he added another stalling point in addition to riding time as West Virginia pushed its lead to 17-6.
Morales picked up his fourth pin of the season at 141, putting John Pezze’s back to the mat midway through the second period. Morales scored an early takedown in the first period and nearly go the pin then, but came away with a trio of back points for a 5-0 lead. Pezze chose neutral for the start of the second, and Morales quickly went on the offensive, scoring the takedown before getting the pin in 4:12 to put the Mountaineers in front 23-6.
Making his debut at 149 pounds, Roman Perryman earned a hard-fought 4-2 decision over Brodie Zacherl. Zacherl struck first with a takedown in the first period, but Perryman registered an escape to keep it a one-point bout. Perryman added another escape in the second, tying the score 1-1 thought Zacherl had accrued more than a minute of riding time. Starting on top in the third, Perryman rode out Zacherl and erased his riding time as the bout looked like it was headed to overtime. However, Perryman battled to the end, adding a pair of last-second nearfall points to earn the 4-2 win.
Evan DeLong claimed a 4-3 victory over Brutus Scheffel at 157, but the Mountaineers left with the 26-9 victory.
West Virginia returns to the WVU Coliseum on Saturday where they will host No. 8 Iowa State in Big 12 action at 6 p.m. The Mountaineers will celebrate Cradles for Cancer in support of breast cancer awareness. All Fans are encouraged to wear pink.
West Virginia 26 Clarion 9
165: Slade Horner (CU) dec. Tim Wheeling (WVU), 7-2
174: Michael Pavasko (CU) dec. Parker VonEdigy (WVU), 3-2
184: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) dec. Danny Sutherland (CU), 3-1 SV-1
197: Jake A. Smith (WVU) dec. Ryan Darch (CU), 3-1 SV-1
HWT: A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU) dec. Josh Davis (CU), 6-1
125: Zeke Moisey (WVU) major dec. Hunter Jones (CU), 15-6
133: Cory Stainbrook (WVU) major dec. Matt Liggett (CU), 14-2
141: No. 12/13 Michael Morales (WVU) pinned John Pezze (CU), 4:12
149: Roman Perryman (WVU) dec. Brodie Zacherl (CU), 4-2
157: Evan DeLong (CU) dec. George Scheffel (CU), 4-3
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