Jones Wins All-Star Classic
February 2, 2004
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – West Virginia University’s Greg Jones continued his dominance on the mat at 184-pounds with a 10-6 victory over Ben Heizer of Northern Illinois in the 38th Annual National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Jones
Jones, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country, scored the first points of the match with a double-leg takedown. After an escape by No. 2 ranked Heizer, Jones notched another takedown to lead 4-1 after one period.
“I did a good job of setting the tempo early,” says Jones. “That kind of made the difference in the match and I was able to wrestle the way I wanted to.”
Heizer, an All-American a year ago, opened the second period with an escape to trial 4-2. Jones scored his third takedown with ten seconds remaining in the period to lead 6-2.
NCAA champion Jones tallied one more takedown in the third period for his tenth point of the match. Heizer would score a takedown and pair of escapes as Jones secured a 10-6 decision to end the match.
Jones and Heizer have already met once this season at the 41st Midlands Wrestling Championships in Evanston, Ill. Jones won the 184-pound title in a sudden victory tiebreaker match, 2-1, over Heizer.
“I think I’ve gotten a lot better since our match in December,” says Jones of their previous meeting. “I feel good about how I am wrestling and look forward to getting back to work with my teammates in Morgantown.”
The NWCA All-Star Classic, presented by the United States Marines Corps, pits the nation’s top collegiate wrestlers against each other in challenge matches that is often seen as a preview of the upcoming NCAA finals.
Jones is the first grappler in WVU history to make a second appearance at the NWCA All-Star Classic. A year ago, Jones defeated Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State, 7-3.
Jones and the Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum against EWL rival Pitt.
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