MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt sophomore Noah Adams earned his 10th straight win of the season, as the West Virginia University wrestling team (0-2, 0-1 Big 12) fell to No. 24 Army, 35-4, on Sunday, at Christl Arena, in West Point, New York.
"Army has a solid team," second-year coach Tim Flynn said. "We have to focus on doing the right things every day, both in practice and in competition. We have a long season ahead of us, and we have to continue to improve."
The Black Knights jumped out to an early 12-0 lead after earning three straight wins to begin the match with a decision (125), a major decision (133) and a technical fall (141). Army continued to roll with a pin at 149 pounds, followed by a 4-1 win over Alex Hornfeck at 157 pounds.
Trailing 21-0, No. 19/18/19 Nick Kuissis took on No. 11/15/14 Cael McCormick at 165 pounds, a bout that was widely regarded as the match of the day. Following a scoreless draw in the first period, Kiussis started the second in the defensive position, earning an escape for the 1-0 lead.
Kiussis had control of the final period for the first 20 seconds, but McCormick broke free to tie the match at one-all. With both wrestlers on their feet, McCormick scored a takedown with 12 seconds left, handing Army the 24-0 match advantage.
Following two more Black Knight victories at 174 and 184, respectively, Adams, who is ranked as high as No. 12 on Intermat, earned WVU's first win of the afternoon. The 197-pounded topped J.T. Brown in an 18-10 major decision.
Adams is 10-0 on the season and boasts a 29-15 record in his career.
Army capped the dual with a 5-2 decision in the heavyweight bout.
West Virginia officially kicks off its home slate with the wrestling version of the Backyard Brawl against Pitt on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. ET. The match against the Panthers is Dollar Night, with all tickets and select concessions available for $1 each. Additionally, the team will hold a post-match autograph session on the concourse of the WVU Coliseum.
No. 24 Army 35, West Virginia 4
125: No. 24* Trey Chalifoux (Army) dec. Joey Thomas (WVU), 6-4
133: Andrew Wert Jr. (Army) major dec. Lucas Seibert (WVU), 10-0
141: No. 23* Corey Shie (Army) tech fall. Caleb Rea (WVU), 17-2
149: No. -/22/- P.J. Ogunsanya (Army) win by fall Seth Hogue (WVU), 4:09
157: No. -/19/- Luke Weiland (Army) dec. Alex Hornfeck (WVU), 4-1
165: No. 11/15/14 Cael McCormick (Army) dec. No. 19/18/19 Nick Kiussis (WVU), 3-1
174: No. 13/18/12 Ben Harvey (Army) tech. fall Scott Joll (WVU), 16-0
184: No. 12/21/16 Noah Stewart (Army) dec. Jackson Moomau (WVU), 7-3
197: No. 12/18/17 Noah Adams (WVU) major dec. J.T. Brown (Army), 18-10
HWT: Bobby Heald (Army) dec. Brandon Ngati (Army), 5-2
