With the win, WVU improves to 9-6 for the year and 4-2 in the Eastern Wrestling League while the Vikings fall to 3-13, 0-6 in the EWL.
“We treat each opponent the same,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull. “We preach that the next one in front of us is the most important one. You have to treat each opponent the same and I think we did a good job with that tonight.”
Sophomore No. 21 Shane Young gave the team three points with a 6-1 decision over Cleveland State’s Ben Willeford. Young had two takedowns in the match with an escape and 2:05 of riding time for the win.
WVU redshirt freshman No. 13 Nathan Pennesi increased the lead to 7-0 with a 15-4 major decision over CSU’s Nick Flannery. Pennesi had seven near-fall points, two takedowns and a reversal in the match along with riding time.
West Virginia then earned two consecutive victories by fall as freshman Michael Morales earned a pin in 1:58 over CSU’s Josh Palivoda while redshirt senior No. 20 Brandon Rader added another in 4:52 over Viking Lawrence Cavello. The victories increased the Mountaineer lead to 19-0 after four bouts. Morales had a takedown before the fall while Rader had two takedowns and three near-fall points before the victory.
At 157 pounds, WVU’s redshirt junior Ryan Goodman earned his third major decision of the year with an 11-3 win over CSU’s Matt Donohoe to increase the team lead to 23-0. Goodman had three takedowns, a reversal and two near-fall points along with 2:46 of riding time in the win.
Redshirt senior No. 20 Donnie Jones added four points for the team with a 15-4 major decision over CSU’s No. 29-ranked Robbie Michaels. Jones has now won nine matches in a row and six consecutive EWL bouts to go a perfect 6-0 during the EWL dual meet season heading into the EWL Championships.
“Donnie’s match was critical for us,” Turnbull says. “Their guy (Michaels) had beaten a ranked Ethan Headlee from Pitt and has a good record this season. Donnie put it on him very well and it was a nice way for Donnie to go out. It was very fitting for both Donnie and (Brandon) Rader to get wins tonight for the final time at home.”
Alex Meade increased the WVU lead to 30-0 with a 13-6 decision over Aric Thurn of Cleveland State. Meade had five takedowns in the bout and a reversal in the match.
WVU’s No. 20 Matt Ryan quickly provided the team with another six points following a victory by fall in just 43 seconds over CSU’s Corbin Boone to increase the lead to 36-0. Senior Kyle Rooney added another fall over CSU’s Nick Anthony in 3:32 to give the team a 42-0 margin with one bout remaining.
Heavyweight Philip Mandzik assured a sweep with an 18-10 major decision over CSU’s Chris Weber. Mandzik scored eight takedowns in the final two periods with two escapes early on while allowing two takedowns and five escapes.
“No one outworks Philip,” Turnbull says. “He might not be the most athletic guy in the room, but he gives it his all every time out. If he loses to a guy, he’ll say, ‘I can get him next time.’ You have to love that attitude.”
The Mountaineers next compete at the EWL Championships on March 6 in Bloomsburg, Pa.
Results:
125: No. 21 Shane Young (So., 26-7) dec. Ben Willeford (Fr., 10-20), 6-1 3-0
133: No. 13 Nathan Pennesi (r-Fr., 23-5) maj. dec. Nick Flannery (Fr., 12-17), 15-4 7-0
141: Michael Morales (Fr., 15-10) won by fall Josh Palivoda (Jr., 6-17), 1:58 13-0
149: No. 20 Brandon Rader (r-Sr., 12-8) won by fall Lawrence Cavello (Jr., 12-19), 4:52 19-0
157: Ryan Goodman (r-Jr., 12-15) maj. dec. Matt Donohoe (Fr., 12-16), 11-3 23-0
165: No. 20 Donnie Jones (r-Sr., 17-3) maj. dec. No. 29 Robbie Michaels (Sr., 20-8), 15-4 27-0
174: Alex Meade (r-So., 5-2) dec. Aric Thurn (So., 9-18), 13-6 30-0
184: No. 20 Matt Ryan (r-Jr., 17-6) won by fall Corbin Boone (Fr., 5-18), 0:43 36-0
197: Kyle Rooney (Sr., 9-10) won by fall Nick Anthony (So., 4-18), 3:32 42-0
HWT: Philip Mandzik (Jr., 9-17) maj. dec. Chris Weber (So., 7-19), 18-10 46-0
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