PEMBROKE, N.C. – The West Liberty University wrestling team dropped a pair of matches here Friday as the Super Region I Duals got under way at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

Coach Brian Davis’s Hilltoppers opened with a 32-11 loss to No. 4-ranked Newberry (S.C.) – the region’s top-ranked team – before coming out on the short end of a 21-13 count in their second match against King (Tenn.).

In the opener, Newberry came out of the gate with a pair of first-period falls at 125 and 133 and never looked back.

Brian Leggett and Jarrod Shaw picked up decisions for West Liberty at 149 and 165, respectively, while Matt Littleton won by fall at 174 to conclude the Hilltopper scoring.

Preston Foster (125) and Matt Cunningham (141) scored decisions before Seth Phalen (157) and Shaw (165) tacked on major decisions to stake West Liberty to a 14-9 lead in the match against King (Tenn.) but the Hilltoppers couldn’t hang on for the victory.

The Tennessee squad closed out the match with four straight narrow decisions to escape with the 8-point nod.

West Liberty closes out the Super Region I Duals with a trio of matches on Saturday. The Hilltoppers take on St. Andrews (N.C.) in a 9 a.m. match before closing out with back-to-back afternoon tilts against Belmont Abbey (N.C.) and Anderson (S.C.).


PEMBROKE, N.C. – The West Liberty wrestling team battled back from a double-digit deficit to edge St. Andrews (N.C.), 24-21, here Saturday morning as the Super Region I Duals concluded at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

The Hilltoppers weren’t as fortunate in the afternoon matches, dropping a 28-16 verdict to Belmont Abbey (N.C.) and coming out on the short end of a 24-12 tally against Anderson (S.C.).

West Liberty’s strength in the upper weights proved to be the difference in the morning dual against St. Andrews.

The North Carolina school took an 18-6 lead into the final four matches only to see the Hilltoppers turn the tables.

Matt Littleton (174), Derrick Williams (184) and Mitch Knapp (197) all scored first-period falls to flip the scoreboard and give West Liberty a 24-18 lead going into the 285-pound finale. St. Andrews was only able to pull out a decision at 285, leaving the Carolinians three points short.

Knapp, the Hilltoppers’ returning All-American, had a big day for West Liberty. Ranked No. 3 in the nation at 197 pounds, the senior standout recorded two pins and a technical fall in his three matches on the day.

A.J. Gavin also impressed at 149 pounds, winning all three of his matches for the Hilltoppers with all three going into the books as major decisions.

The West Liberty wrestling team goes back on the road Friday for a 7 p.m. dual meet at Findlay (Ohio).

No. 4 Newberry 32, West Liberty 11
125 John McDonald (New) p. Preston Foster (WLU) 1:38
133 William Young (New) p. Pete McAtee (WLU) 0:59
141 Deral Brown (New) d. Matt Cunningham (WLU) 14-4
149 Brian Leggett (WLU) d. Dale DeBacco (New) 11-5
157 Sean Byrnes (New) d. Seth Phalen (WLU) 9-6
165 Jarrod Shaw (WLU) d. Braden Carter (New) 5-1
174 Matt Littleton (WLU) p. Blake Ridenour (New) 5:55
184 Bryant Blanton (New) d. Derrick Williams (WLU) 14-0
197 John Reed (New) d. Mitch Knapp (WLU) 2-1 (TB)
285 Corey Anderson (New) p. Drake Kowcheck (WLU) 6:21

King 21, West Liberty 13
125 Preston Foster (WLU) d. Richard Williams (King) 11-5
133 Caleb Myers (King) p. Pete McAtee (WLU) 2:52
141 Matt Cunningham (WLU) d. Francisco Bisono (King) 8-3
149 Nicolas Stella (King) d. Brian Leggett (WLU) 11-8
157 Seth Phalen (WLU) d. John Brasher (King) 10-2
165 Jarrod Shaw (WLU) d. Patrick Spano (King) 13-5
174 Jonathan Forbes (King) d. Matt Littleton (WLU) 7-5
184 Brandon Tressler (King) d. Derrick Williams (WLU) 8-5
197 Charles Morgan (King) d. Mitch Knapp (WLU) 3-2
285 Dondricus Anderson (King) d. JD Ramsey (WLU) 3-1 (TB2)

West Liberty University 24 St. Andrews Presbyterian 21
125 Eric Brown (St. Andrews Presbyterian) DEC Preston Foster (West Liberty University) 13 - 9
133 Sterling Perry (St. Andrews Presbyterian) DEC Pete McAtee (West Liberty University) 8 - 3
141 Matt Cunningham (West Liberty University) DEC Matt Fletcher (St. Andrews Presbyterian) 6 - 0
149 AJ Gavin (West Liberty University) MD Ranson Lee (St. Andrews Presbyterian) 12 - 2
157 Troy Baranik (St. Andrews Presbyterian) FALL 0:00
165 Richard Manwarren (St. Andrews Presbyterian) Def Jarrod Shaw (West Liberty University)
174 Matt Littleton (West Liberty University) FALL James Green (St. Andrews Presbyterian) (1:35)
184 Derrick Williams (West Liberty University) FALL Caleb Mitcler (St. Andrews Presbyterian) (2:07)
197 Mitch Knapp (West Liberty University) FALL Kevin Hall (St. Andrews Presbyterian) (1:23)
285 Justin Hoover (St. Andrews Presbyterian) DEC Drake Kowcheck (West Liberty University) 3 - 0

Belmont Abbey 28 West Liberty University 16
125 Shane Summerlin (Belmont Abbey) MD Preston Foster (West Liberty University) 19 - 8
133 Patrick Mestrez (Belmont Abbey) DEC Pete McAtee (West Liberty University) 4 - 1
141 Will James (Belmont Abbey) DEC Matt Cunningham (West Liberty University) 7 - 6
149 AJ Gavin (West Liberty University) MD Frank Alley (Belmont Abbey) 14 - 4
157 Appolon Jean-Paul (Belmont Abbey) FALL 0:00
165 Jake Varilek (Belmont Abbey) FALL 0:00
174 Ryan Gregory (Belmont Abbey) FALL Matt Littleton (West Liberty University) 2:12
184 Derrick Williams (West Liberty University) DEC Jerami Bartley (Belmont Abbey) 3 - 2
197 Mitch Knapp (West Liberty University) FALL (0:00)
285 Drake Kowcheck (West Liberty University) DEC Kyle Spar (Belmont Abbey) 8 - 2

West Liberty University 12 Anderson University 24
125 Cory Monteforte (Anderson University) DEC Preston Foster (West Liberty University) 6 - 3
133 John Perry (Anderson University) DEC Pete McAtee (West Liberty University) 11 - 5
141 Ian Harper (Anderson University) DEC Matt Cunningham (West Liberty University) 6 - 3
149 AJ Gavin (West Liberty University) MD Eric DeAngelis (Anderson University) 9 - 1
157 Seth Phalen (West Liberty University) DEC Nicholas Giulliette (Anderson University) 5 - 4
165 Brian Onofrio (Anderson University) FALL 0
174 Trevor Sanford (Anderson University) DEC Matt Littleton (West Liberty University) 12 - 7
184 Sean O'Connell (Anderson University) DEC Derrick Williams (West Liberty University) 6 - 4
197 Mitch Knapp (West Liberty University) TF5 Jordan Denmark (Anderson University) 23 - 5 ( (6:23))
285 Chase Duke (Anderson University) DEC Drake Kowcheck (West Liberty University) 2 - 0


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