Toppers Split Tri

February 7, 2015

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The West Liberty University wrestling team split a triangular with American International and Shippensburg here Saturday afternoon at Heiges Fieldhouse.

Coach Brian Davis' Hilltoppers (3-7) opened with a 35-3 rout of American International but saw a stirring rally fall just short in a 21-19 loss to the host Raiders.

In the first match against AIC (1-9), the Hilltoppers dominated from start to finish. Zach Brown opened with an 8-1 win at 125 pounds and Joey Wagstaff set the tone at 133 with a second-period pin of American International's Cole Ludorf. When Cole Nace followed with a double-overtime win at 141, West Liberty was on its way.

Anthony Craig (149) and David Schlieper (165) notched major decisions with decisions coming from Joel Paolo (157), Danny Doyle (184) and Aaron Silverio (285).

In the second match, host Shippensburg (5-11)dominated the lighter weights to build a huge lead before holding off a furious Hilltopper charge to escape with the win.

The Raiders used a fall, a technical fall, a major decision and two decisions to build a 21-0 lead only to see West Liberty come storming back.

Schlieper got WLU off the schneid with an 8-2 win at 165 pounds and Eric Antesberger followed with a 13-0 major decision at 174.

Danny Doyle's 3-2 win at 184 cut the lead to 21-10 and Nate Dawson's first-period fall at 197 pulled the Hilltoppers within range at 21-16. West Liberty heavyweight Aaron Silverio pulled out a 1-0 win at 285 but it wasn't quite enough to complete the comeback.

The West Liberty wrestlers return to action on Friday night with a 7 p.m. match at Gannon.

West Liberty 35, American International 3
125: Zach Brown (WLU) d. Connor Liebel (AIC), 8-1
133: Joe Wagstaff (WLU) p. Cole Ludorf (AIC), 4:36
141: Cole Nace (WLU) d. Anthony Milano (AIC), 4-1, 2OT
149: Anthony Craig (WLU) md. Nicholas DeMore (AIC), 13-4
157: Joel Paolo (WLU) d. Brandon Walsh (AIC), 2-0
165: David Schlieper (WLU) md. Michael Schulze (AIC), 13-0
174: Eric Antesberger (WLU) wins by forfeit
184: Danny Doyle (WLU) d. P.J. Baker (AIC), 8-4
197: Sheldon Rhoden (AIC) d. Nate Dawson (WLU), 4-0
285: Aaron Silverio (WLU) d. Soslan Khamitcaev (AIC), 1-0

Shippensburg 21, West Liberty 19
125: Dante Steffenino (SU) p. Zach Brown (WLU), 5:30
133: Karl Lightner (SU) tf Joe Wagstaff (WLU), 15-0
141: Cody Blankenship (SU) d. Anthony Craig (WLU), 7-1
149: Cameron Throckmorton (SU) md. Cole Nace (WLU), 11-2
157: Mike Springer (SU) d. Joel Paolo (WLU), 7-5
165: David Schlieper (WLU) d. Arthur Watkins (SU), 8-2
174: Eric Antesberger (WLU) md. Colton Rebert (SU), 13-0
184: Danny Doyle (WLU)d. Kyle Taylor, 3-2
197: Nathan Dawson (WLU) p. Jalal Paige (SU), 1:58
285: Aaron Silverio (WLU) d. Derek Earnest (SU), 1-0


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