No. 7 Cardinals take down #11 UIndy, 22-14
November 29, 2018
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 29) - Led by six victories on the mat, the No. 7 Wheeling Jesuit University wrestling team earned a 22-14 win over No. 11 Indianapolis in a dual Thursday night.
The Cardinals (2-2), ranked No. 7 in the most recent National Wresting Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II poll, were led by senior Keegan Driscoll (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) at 165 and sophomore Connor Craig (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) at 174. With the score 9-8 in the dual, Driscoll picked up a major-decision (9-1) and Craig followed up with a fall at 23 seconds to give WJU 10 points and a solid cushion heading into the final three weight classes.
"Keegan Driscoll demonstrated what we need out of everyone as he pushed for another takedown as time expired to give us bonus points," said Head Coach Danny Irwin. "That was a solid opponent too, but it shows the consistency of work Keegan is putting in everyday."
"Connor Craig is like dynamite! He can put you in a bad situation instantaneously and he did that tonight. Most would think that Connor pulled an upset, but it is the second nationally ranked opponent he has beaten and there is no one out there he can't go toe to toe with."
The Cardinals built a 9-0 lead three matches into the dual with decisions by freshman Cole Laya (Fairmont, W.Va./East Fairmont) and sophomores Tyler Warner (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont) and Jared Donahue (Vienna, W.Va./Parkesburg).
"We got wins in the first three matches which I expected," added Irwin. "In those matches we showed really good composure after giving up the first takedown in all three of them."
Senior Terrance Fanning (Bruceton Mills, W.Va./Preston), who is now ranked No. 2 at heavyweight, closed out the night with a decision (7-3) to put the finishing touches on the victory.
"Overall we need to come out harder which would have lead to bonus points for us rather then decisions."
The team has a full weekend slate ahead. Part of the team will travel back to UIndy for the Little State Invite at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, while the remainder of the team will prepare for a dual against rival-West Liberty inside the McDonough Center on Sunday, December 2 at 7 p.m.
Wheeling Jesuit 22 Indianapolis 14
125 Cole Laya WJ d 11-4 D.J. Smith IN
133 Tyler Warner WJ d 6-2 Ana Abduljelil IN
141 Jared Donahue WJ d 8-4 Angelo Robles IN
149 Kyle Barkovich IN md 11-3 Tyler Alberts WJ
157 Blaze Lowery IN md 13-4 Tyler Jenkins WJ
165 Keegan Driscoll WJ md 9-1 Zach Fry IN
174 Connor Craig WJ F 0:23 Cayden Whitaker IN
184 Brody Conner IN d 3-2 Aidan Pasiuk WJ
197 Duane Deerwester IN d 2-1 Chase Logan WJ
285 Terrance Fanning WJ d 7-3 Dylan Faulkenberg IN
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