WVU fell behind 6-0 after back-to-back decisions by Lock Haven at 184 and 197. Senior heavyweight Ryan Kehler cut the deficit to 6-4 after his 9-1 major decision over Tim Boetsch. After another Lock Haven took a decision at 125 to make the score 9-4, Brandon Lauer started the Mountaineer rally with a 8-4 decision over Chris Spealler.
Shane Cunanan, ranked 13th in the nation, kept the Mountaineers rolling with his 10-6 upset victory over ninth-ranked Mike Maney to give WVU its first lead of the night at 10-9. LHU's Jamarr Billman, ranked second in the nation at 149, managed a 7-4 decision over Billy Smith to give Lock Haven its final lead of the night at 12-10. WVU moved into its strongest part of its lineup and reeled of three consecutive decisions at 157, 165 and 174 to close the match. Tenth-ranked Joe Carr won 4-1, No.5 Tom McMath won 5-3 and No.3 Greg Jones capped the Mountaineer victory with a 10-5 win.
"I thought tonight was a terrific match between two very good teams," head coach Craig Turnbull said of the match that featured nine decisions and one major decision. "Lock Haven came to wrestle because they kept us from scoring extra points where we thought we could. I am proud of our guys the way they kept battling."
WVU will take to the mat tomorrow, February 9, at 4:00 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va., for another EWL tilt with Virginia Tech.
No.11 West Virginia 19, No.16 Lock Haven 12 Team Score
184 - #18 Josh Millard (LH) dec. Ryan Wilman (WV), 8-5 3-0
197 - Avery Zerkle (LH) dec. Brent Miller (WV), 2-0 6-0
HWT - #19 Ryan Kehler (WV) maj.dec. Tim Boetsch,9-1 6-4
125 - #20 Trap McCormack (LH) dec. Nathan Kendjorsky (WV), 11-7 9-4
133 - #18 Brandon Lauer (WV) dec. Chris Spealler (LH), 8-4 9-7
141 - #13 Shane Cunanan (WV) dec. #9 Mike Maney (LH), 10-6 9-10
149 - #2 Jamarr Billman (LH) dec. #20 Billy Smith (WV), 7-4 12-10
157 - #10 Joe Carr (WV) dec. Jason Gilligan (LH), 4-1 12-13
165 - #7 Tom McMath (WV) dec. Chris Haines (LH), 5-4 12-16
174 - #3 Greg Jones (WV) dec. Ed Pawlak (LH), 10-5 12-19