Win Streak Snapped
February 20, 2004
EDINBORO, Pa. – The Fighting Scots of Edinboro upset 17th-ranked West Virginia, 25-13, ending the Mountaineers 19-match Eastern Wrestling League winning streak Friday evening at McComb Fieldhouse.
West Virginia dips to 8-5 overall and 5-1 in conference action. The Mountaineers last regular season EWL loss came against Cleveland State, 22-19, on February 18, 2001.
Edinboro improves to 10-3 overall and 7-0 in EWL action and earned the regular season EWL title. The Mountaineers had won the previous two EWL championships.
Casey Brewster opened the meet at 125-pounds against Chris Pruden. Brewster opened the match with a single-leg takedown in taking an early 2-0 lead after one period. The senior Mountaineer opened the second with a reversal from the defensive position to lead 4-0. Brewster would use a strong third period in earning a 10-2 major decision victory.
Filling a hole in the Mountaineer lineup, Nathan Kendjorsky stepped in at 133-pounds. The sophomore fell behind 4-1 after one period to two-time NCAA qualifier Jacob Gray. Gray finished the match in taking a 16-1 technical fall.
West Virginia regained the lead in senior Joe Clarke’s return to the mat. Clarke took an early 2-0 lead in the opening period. Adding to his lead, Clarke posted another takedown and near fall in taking a 6-2 advantage. Clarke held on for a 7-5 win as WVU took a 7-4 overall team lead.
At 149-pounds, Edinboro’s Deonte Penn tallied a 2-0 lead over Mike Torriero. The senior Mountaineer quickly scored a reversal and three-point near fall to lead 5-2. Moments later, Penn scored a pinfall at 1:16 for Edinboro.
Matt Lebe won his sixth consecutive match in a competitive bout at 157-pounds. Sophomore Lebe battled Eric Ring to scoreless first and second periods. Lebe notched the winning point on a second stalling call in taking a 1-0 victory.
Edinboro increased their team lead to 19-10 with back-to-back wins by nationally ranked wrestlers at 165 and 174-pounds. The Scots All-American and the nation’s third ranked wrestler Matt King posted a 12-4 major decision over true freshman Zac Fryling. EUP’s Nate Yetzer, ranked seventh in the country, added a 15-5 major decision over Mountaineer Doug Studenic.
Narrowing the overall lead, Greg Jones used two takedowns in taking a 4-2 lead after one period. NCAA Champion Jones increased his lead to 6-2 on a two-point near fall in the second. Jones used an escape in the third and riding time to post an 8-3 decision. Jones’ three team points narrowed the deficit o 19-13.
Two nationally ranked wrestlers felt each other out in a scoreless first period at 197-pounds. WVU’s Matt Daddino fell behind 3-0 against Mike LaBella. No. 16 ranked Daddino scored an escape in the second and third to make it 3-2. Daddino, a junior, had his five-match win streak stopped as No. 18 ranked LaBella won 6-2.
West Virginia used 197-pounder Ryan Wilman at heavyweight in the final bout. Wilman dropped a 7-2 decision to 18-th ranked Joe Hennis.
West Virginia closes out the regular season against Cleveland State at 2 p.m., on Sunday, February 22, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Edinboro 25 (10-3, 7-0 EWL)
West Virginia 13 (8-5, 5-1 EWL)
125: Casey Brewster (WVU) Major Chris Pruden (EUP) 10-2
133: Jacob Gray (EUP) Tech Fall Nathan Kendjorsky (WVU) 16-1
141: #17 Joe Clarke (WVU) Dec Ron Doppelheuer (EUP) 7-5
149: Deonte Penn (EUP) Fall Mike Torriero (WVU) 1:16
157: #7 Matt Lebe (WVU) Dec Eric Ring (EUP) 1-0
165: #3 Matt King (EUP) Major Zac Fryling (WVU) 12-4
174: #7 Nate Yetzer (EUP) Major Doug Studenic (WVU) 15-5
184: #1 Greg Jones (WVU) Dec Alex Clemsen (EUP) 8-3
197: #18 Mike LaBella (EUP) Dec #16 Matt Daddino (WVU) 6-2
285: #18 Joe Hennis (EUP) Dec Ryan Wilman (WVU) 7-2
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