Cardinals Wrestling Claims Every Match, Soundly Defeats Scots
December 8, 2017
WHEELING, W.Va. – In a shortened night, the Cardinals did not lose. Justice Avery punctuated the night with a fall as Wheeling Jesuit claimed each of the five matches wrestled and soundly defeated Ohio Valley, 46-6, Friday night.
Following tech fall victories by both Daniel Romero (149) and Connor Craig (157), Avery (174) turned near defeat into his own fall in the final bout. Both Jaylen Hill (133) and Keegan Driscoll (165) added hard-fought decisions in the other two No. 23 Cardinals (3-0) matches.
"Our guys did a good job pushing for points tonight," said WJU head coach Danny Irwin. "But, it was a hectic way to close."
In the final 174-pound match, Avery led 12-1 after one period. Ohio Valley's Ali Capobianco took advantage of being on top to start the second and immediately put Avery in a finishing move. Due to only strong will and a solid bridge, Avery held his shoulders from touching the mat and eventually reversed him and turned it into a fall over Capobianco at 3:32.
"The first period was good, but he hit a nice banana split with me on the bottom. I did all I could to stay off the mat and his leg slipped and I was able to reverse him where he let up and I pinned him. You never stop when you are on the mat," told Avery.
The Cardinals sophomore went out to the lead right away when he shook his opponents hand and immediately took him down in what seemed like the same motion. He turned the move into four near-fall points, before he added a second take down and two series of two near-fall points to go with it for the 12-1 advantage.
Starting the night, Ohio Valley received its only team points when Anthony Tripke was given a forfeit at 125.
At 133, Hill took down Riley White right away for an early 2-0 lead in the first 21 seconds. Tied at 2 heading into the third frame, Hill escaped with one-minute left, but gave away the lead on a stall call, which sent the bout to sudden victory. The WJU senior, though, rushed in for the takedown and 5-3 win in the first 10 seconds of overtime.
"I have been a bit sick, but I was able to gut out a victory. I look to get back to tip-top shape soon from here," explained Hill.
Tyler Warner picked up a 141-pound forfeit to give WJU a 9-6 lead, its first of the night.
Romero wrestled an efficient 149-pound bout against Maverick Meeks. The California native went out to a quick 8-1 lead powered by a four near fall point series and a 12-3 one-period margin. Romero continued the dominance through the second period where he secured one final four-point near fall for the 20-5 tech fall in exactly 5:00.
At 157, Craig followed Romero with the same type of performance. Right away, Craig put Sam Phillips on the mat in 11 seconds and rode it to a 6-0 difference with a four-point near fall. The freshman continued his scoring in the second period with two more four-point near falls to make it 16-2. With 1:43 left in the third, Craig received the final point on an unsportsmanlike roughness call for the 17-2 tech fall final.
As had been the case all evening, Driscoll put the first points on the scoreboard at 165 with a takedown at 2:03 in the first period over TJ Lambiotte. The visitor turned the tables with two escapes and an on the edge takedown in the final seconds of the second frame for a 4-2 lead. Driscoll rallied in the third period with a takedown with 1:01 on the clock and followed it with two near fall points. The 165-pound WJU wrestler added one point off a Lambiotte illegal hold for the 7-4 decision final.
The Cardinals were given three more forfeits for the three upper weights to Aiden Pasiuk (184), Chase Logan (197) and Terrance Fanning (285), which took the final to 46-6.
WJU has a week to prepare for the Lock Haven duals next Saturday, Dec. 16. The Cardinals will face the host NCAA Division I Bald Eagles at 2 p.m. and ranked NCAA Divison III's Messiah at 5:30 p.m.
"We look forward to now facing DI's No. 24 ranked Lock Haven and the No. 5 ranked DIII team in Messiah next weekend," added Irwin.
Match Results
125 Anthony Tripke (OV) by forfeit OV 6-0
133 Jaylen Hill (WJU) dec. Riley White (OV), SV-1 5-3 OV 6-3
141 Tyler Warner (WJU) by forfeit WJU 9-6
149 Daniel Romero (WJU) tech fall Maverick Meeks (OV), 20-5 5:00 WJU 14-6
157 Connor Craig (WJU) tech fall Sam Phillips (OV), 17-2 5:17 WJU 19-6
165 Keegan Driscoll (WJU) dec. TJ Lambiotte (OV), 7-4 WJU 22-6
174 Justice Avery (WJU) fall Ali Capobianco (OV), 3:32 WJU 28-6
184 Aiden Pasiuk (WJU) by forfeit WJU 34-6
197 Chase Logan (WJU) by forfeit WJU 40-6
285 Terrance Fanning (WJU) by forfeit WJU 46-6
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