WLU Wrestlers Celebrate Senior Night with Shutout
February 6, 2019
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University wrestling team celebrated Senior Night in impressive fashion here Wednesday with a 50-0 shutout win against Ohio Valley University at the ASRC.
Coach Mitch Smith's Hilltoppers picked up six forfeits from the short-handed Flying Scots and swept the four contested matches to complete the abbreviated whitewash.
"It was a little different having so few matches but I was pleased overall," Smith said. "The guys put up a lot of points in the matches we did wrestle with a couple of major decisions so it was a pretty good night."
Corey Secrist got the Black and Gold off to a quick start with a 9-2 win at 125 pounds. After a scoreless opening period, Secrist controlled the final two frames to pick up the convincing win over OVU's Anthony Tripke.
Forfeits followed at 133, 141 and 149 before senior 157-pounder Josh Cornell hit the mat against the Fighting Scots' Sam Phillips. Cornell was in command from the start, jumping out to a quick early lead and pulling away to a 13-2 major decision.
"It was great to have a chance to honor our two seniors tonight," Smith said. "Josh Cornell and Josh Ridgeway have been a big part of our program for the last four years. I was really happy to see Josh come away with a major decision on his Senior Night. That was pretty special."
After two more forfeits at 165 and 174, West Liberty's Isaiah Myers took on the visitors' Hunter Moore in what proved to be the match of the night at 184 pounds. Momentum swung back and forth throughout before Myers finished strong to earn a 7-6 decision.
The final match action of the night came at 197 pounds with the Hilltoppers' Logan Kemp – the nation's No. 6-ranked 197-pounder – coasted to a 10-1 major decision against OVU senior Tyler Koreski. The win pushed Kemp's season record to a sparkling 16-2.
"I think our team is starting to come together and gaining some momentum down the stretch," Smith said. "Our goal from the start of the season is to be wrestling really well in February in order to peak at the regional tournament and I think we're on the right track."
West Liberty closes out its regular season schedule on the road Feb. 13 with a 7 p.m. dual at Waynesburg before returning home in preparation for hosting the 2019 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 Tournament on Feb. 23 at the ASRC.
WRESTLING
West Liberty 50, Ohio Valley 0
125: Corey Secrist (WLU) d. Anthony Tripke, 9-2
133: Steven Slack (WLU) won by forfeit
141: DeAndre Reed (WLU) won by forfeit
149: Miles Mazik (WLU) won by forfeit
157: Josh Cornell (WLU) md. Sam Phillips, 13-2
165: Jacob Ramsey (WLU) won by forfeit
174: Chance Morgan (WLU) won by forfeit
184: Isaiah Myers (WLU) d. Hunter Moore, 7-6
197: #6 Logan Kemp (WLU) md. Tyler Koreski, 10-1
285: Francesco Borsellino (WLU) won by forfeit
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