WVU Falls to No. 7 Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nov. 18, 2016) – No. 9/10 Jacob A. Smith downed a top-10 foe and Christian Monserrat picked up his sixth straight win as the West Virginia University wrestling team suffered a 42-6 defeat at the hands of No. 7 Nebraska at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Friday night.
Smith posted a 2-0 decision over No. 6 Aaron Studebaker, while Monserrat claimed a 9-7 win over Jordan Shearer with a late takedown for the Mountaineers (0-3, 0-0). Smith and Studebaker previously met in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Championships, with Studebaker winning a 3-1 decision.
“Jake had a big win tonight,” WVU coach Sammie Henson said. “That will serve as a huge confidence builder moving forward. Christian continues to find a way to win and grind out matches. We need to work as a team in several areas as the year progresses.”
After a scoreless first period, Smith choose to start the second period in the defensive position and escaped for a 1-0 lead. He started the third on top, riding Studebaker through period. Smith tacked on the point for riding time for the 2-0 decision.
Monserrat improved to 6-0 in his first season as a starter, taking a 9-7 decision over Jordan Shearer at 149. Monserrat struck first, but Shearer escaped and returned the favor for a 3-2 lead. Monserrat scored a reversal, but Shearer again escaped and went for a takedown and took a 6-4 advantage into the second. Starting on bottom, Monserrat escaped then added a takedown, riding Shearer for a 7-6 lead entering the third. Shearer scored an escape in the third to tie the match 7-7, and Monserrat scored a late takedown for the 9-7 win.
Starting at 165, the Mountaineers were forced to forfeit the weight after No. 8/9 Dylan Cottrell suffered a minor injury on the trip. The Huskers then claimed bonus-point victories at both 174 (tech. fall) and 184 (fall) for a 17-0 advantage.
After Smith’s win by decision at 197, Nebraska won by fall at heavyweight and by tech. fall at 125. Cory Stainbrook fought a tough battle at 133, dropping a 7-3 decision to No. 4 Eric Montoya. Montoya scored first-period takedown, but Stainbrook escaped and added a takedown of his own at the end of the first for a 3-2 lead. He started on top and yielded an escape to Montoya, who then added a takedown for a 5-3 advantage. Stainbrook was called for stalling, and Montoya added a point for riding time in taking the 7-3 decision.
Nebraska won by fall at 141 before Monserrat claimed his win at 149. The Huskers then won by tech. fall at 157 to take the 42-6 win.
West Virginia will travel to Las Vegas from Dec. 2-3 for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
No. 7 Nebraska 42, West Virginia 6
165: Dustin Williams (NU) wins by forfeit
174: No. 17 Micah Barnes (NU) tech. fall Ty Millward (WVU), 20-4 (5:52)
184: No. 4 T.J. Dudley (NU) fall Parker VonEgidy (WVU), 2:58
197: No. 9/10 Jacob A. Smith dec. No. 6 Aaron Studebaker (NU), 2-0
HWT: No. 15 Collin Jensen (NU) fall Bryson Begley (WVU), 2:43
125: No. 9 Tim Lambert (NU) tech. fall Devin Brown (WVU), 19-1 (4:48)
133: No. 4 Eric Montoya (NU) dec. Cory Stainbrook (WVU), 7-3
141: No. 15 Colton McCrystal (NU) fall Joe Wheeling (WVU), 4:07
149: Christian Monserrat (WVU) dec. Jordan Shearer (NU), 9-7
157: No. 8 Tyler Berger (NU) tech. fall Dayton Garrett (WVU), 17-1 (2:41)
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