West Liberty Matmen Go 3-1 at East Coast Duals
LAURINBURG, N.C. - West Liberty's No. 20-ranked wrestling team wrapped up its weekend at the East Coast Duals in impressive style Saturday with a 50-0 blanking of host St. Andrew's Presbyterian College.
After sweeping their two matches on Friday night, the shutout win gave Coach Brian Davis's Hilltoppers a 3-1 record in the two-day event. West Liberty's only loss came on Saturday morning when No. 2 Newberry (S.C.) handed the Hilltoppers a 30-9 setback.
West Liberty dominated the St. Andrew's match from the opening whistle as decisions by Steve Riner (125) and Nick Wykoff (133) got the Hilltoppers off to a 6-0 lead. Doug Surra (141) and Matt Cunningham (149) followed with back-to-back pins and the Hilltoppers were on their way.
Mitch Smith earned a decision at 157 pounds and Jarrod Shaw (165) wrapped up the match with a 20-5 technical fall against Mike Frazzitta. St. Andrew's forfeited the final four weight classes.
There were a couple of bright spots for the Hilltoppers in their opening loss to powerful Newberry.
Smith got West Liberty on the board in impressive fashion by pinning Sean Byrnes at 1:42 of a match between the No. 1 and 2-ranked 157-pounders in the East Region.
The Hilltoppers' standout 157-pounder won all four of his matches during the tournament and solidified his No. 1 regional ranking and No. 5 national spot with the first-period fall. Byrnes had entered the match ranked No. 2 in the East Region and No. 6 nationally.
Brandon Neifeld provided West Liberty's other points with a 3-2 upset of Josh Whitelock at 174 pounds. Whitelock entered the match ranked No. 3 in the East.
Newberry spent the weekend firmly establishing its claim as the team to beat in the East Region. The South Carolina school ran its dual-meet record to a sparkling 19-2 by sweeping all four of its matches against Top 20 teams.
The only team to go 4-0 on the weekend, Newberry stuffed No. 8 Pitt-Johnstown, 22-8, on Friday night before dispatching the No. 20 Hilltoppers on Saturday morning. Newberry followed the win against West Liberty with a 29-12 rout of No. 16 Shippensburg and a 42-6 romp past No. 18 Kutztown.
The Hilltoppers travel to Gannon for a dual meet on Wednesday before returning home to host a dual with Findlay at the ASRC on Jan. 30. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. starts.
EAST COAST DUALS
Newberry 30 West Liberty 9
125: Gerald Jenkins (New) d. Steve Riner (WL), 6-2
133: Sheridan Moran (New) d. Nick Wykoff (WL), 4-1
141: Tony Washington (New) d. A.J. Gavin (WL), 9-1
149: Latra Collick (New) d. Matt Cunningham (WL), 15-2
157: Mitch Smith (WL) p. Sean Byrnes (New), 1:42
165: Brandon Kelly (New) d. Jarrod Shaw (WL), 8-4
174: Brandon Neifield (WL) d. Josh Whitelock (New), 3-2
184: Bryant Blanton (New) d. Mitch Knapp (WL), 3-2
197: Keeno Griffin (New) d. Matt Hill (WL), 10-2
285: Cy Wainwright (New) p. Cody Tominack (WL), 2:39
West Liberty 50 St. Andrews 0
125: Steve Riner (WL) d. Matt Fletcher (SA), 5-4
133: Nick Wykoff (WL) d. Casey Gashaw (SA), 5-1
141: Doug Surra (WL) p. Dan Butcher (SA), 5:57
149: Matt Cunningham (WL) p. Troy Baranik (SA), 1:32
157: Mitch Smith (WL) d. Greg Todd (SA), 9-5
165: Jarrod Shaw (WL) tf. Mike Frazzitta (SA), 20-5
174: Justin Goneau (WL) won by forfeit
184: Mitch Knapp (WL) won by forfeit
197: Matt Hill (WL) won by forfeit
285: Cody Tominack (WL) won by forfeit
West Liberty 19 Anderson 17
125: CJ Hamilton (And) d. Steve Riner (WL), 9-1
133: Nick Wykoff (WL) d. Chris Francis (And), 10-1
141: Ron Lofton (And) d. A.J. Gavin (WL), 8-7
149: Nick DiCarlo (And) d. Matt Cunningham (WL), 12-4
157: Mitch Smith (WL) d. Jonathan Jackson (And), 5-2
165: Jarrod Shaw (WL) p. Trevor Sanford (And), 6:42
174: John Hamrick (And) d. Justin Goneau (WL), 3-1
184: Mitch Knapp (WL) d. Luis Audelo (And), 3-1
197: Zach Anderson (And) d. Matthew Hill (WL), 6-5
285: Cody Tominack (WL) d. Jonah Adams (And), 14-12
West Liberty 26 Belmont Abbey 12
125: Chris Neidermeier (BA) d. Steve Riner (WL), 6-0
133: Nick Wykoff (WL) d. Colby Yates (BA), 11-1
141: Doug Surra (WL) d. Jake Calvin (BA), 12-4
149: Appolon Jean-Paul (BA) d. Matt Cunningham (WL), 7-1
157: Mitch Smith (WL) d. Corey White (BA), 6-1
165: Seth Phalen (WL) p. Nick Rees (BA), 6:15
174: Adam Phillips (BA) d. Brandon Neifield (WL), 6-1
184: Mitch Knapp (WL) d. Jerami Bartley (BA), 4-2
197: Tim Stanton (BA) d. Matthew Hill (WL), 2-1 (OT)
285: Cody Tominack (WL) won by forfeit
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