Mountaineers Win EWL Opener
By Tim Goodenow
WVU Sports Information Office
January 15, 2005
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The 16th-ranked West Virginia University wrestling team won its Eastern Wrestling League opener at Bloomsburg, 22-16, on Saturday at Nelson Fieldhouse.
The Mountaineers needed bonus points in four of five matches in the evening dual from Seth Lisa, Mike Torriero, Matt Lebe and Greg Jones to seal the win.
Bloomsburg opened the meet with a major decision at 125 pounds. Huskie Mike Sees ran an early 6-2 lead on WVU’s Shawn Cordell. Freshman Cordell tallied two back points to cut the deficit to 11-6 before Sees closed the match at 20-10.
Junior Lisa put the Mountaineers on the scoreboard first with an impressive 11-0 major decision victory at 133 pounds. Lisa took an early 5-0 lead on a takedown and three-point near fall in the open period. Lisa, ranked 20th in the nation, tallied two more takedowns over Joe Hasseman to seal the win.
West Virginia took its first team lead, 7-4, with a win at 141 pounds. All-American Brandon Lauer earned a 11-5 decision over Brad Forbes. Junior Lauer led 7-3 on a takedown, reversal and three-point near fall midway through the second period. Leading 8-2 heading into the final period, Lauer gave up an escape and takedown but hit a reversal to make it 11-5 for the win.
Senior Torriero was impressive at 149 pounds taking a quick 6-1 lead over Mark Piermattei in the opening three minutes. Torrriero escaped from the defensive position in turning a single-leg into a near fall to push his lead to 13-2. A takedown 50 seconds into the third period was enough for a technical fall at 19-2.
WVU extended its lead to 16-4 with a major decision at 157 pounds. Junior Lebe took an early 6-2 lead after one period on three takedowns. Tenth-ranked Lebe did not give up an offensive point to Chris Tate. Tow takedowns in the final period secured the major decision at 13-5.
Bloomsburg won a pair of match at 165 and 174 pounds. Zac Fryling started slow at 165 pounds but knotted the score at 5-5 to close the second period against Jim Bertulis. Bertulis scored a takedown to go up 9-8 and Fryling could not score in the final 30 seconds.
After a scoreless opening period at 174 pounds, Bloomsburg’s 14th-ranked Bryce Hasseman went up 3-0 on an escape and takedown. Mountaineer Ryan Wilman escaped to open the third and could not score, falling 3-1.
Two-time national champion Jones extended the team score to 16-10 with a win at 184 pounds. Jones notched a takedown over Jesse Hasseman just 15 seconds into the match before picking up a near fall and second takedown. Senior Jones hit a cradle for his second fall of the season at 2:33.
At 197 pounds, Mountaineer Jared Villers wrestled to a scoreless first period with Chad Hoare. Villers reversed Hoare from the defensive position to start the second period. Hoare then tallied four takedowns in winning 8-3.
Wrestling in his first collegiate match, heavyweight Matt Holsopple wrestled well despite giving up nearly up 60 pounds to Bloomsburg’s Mike Spaid. Holsopple, who had not strapped on a singlet since high school, scored the matches first takedown to lead 2-0. Spaid then took advantage of his size in notching a 7-4 decision.
West Virginia resumes conference action tomorrow afternoon at Clarion with an EWL contest at 2:00 p.m.
No. 16 West Virginia 22 (1-2, 1-0 EWL)
Bloomsburg 16 (3-5, 0-2 EWL)
125: Mike Sees (BU) MAJOR Shawn Cordell (WVU), 20-10
133: #20 Seth Lisa (WVU) MAJOR Joe Hasseman (BU), 11-0
141: #10 Brandon Lauer (WVU) DEC Brad Forbes (BU), 11-5
149: Mike Torriero (WVU) TECH Mark Piermattei (BU), 19-2 5:50
157: #10 Matt Lebe (WVU) MAJOR Chris Tate (BU), 13-5
165: Jim Bertulis (BU) DEC Zac Fryling (WVU), 9-8
174: #14 Bryce Hasseman (BU) DEC Ryan Wilman (WVU), 3-1
184: #1 Greg Jones (WVU) FALL Jesse Hasseman (BU), 2:33
197: Chad Hoare (BU) DEC Jared Villers (WVU), 8-3
285: Mike Spaid (BU) DEC Matt Holsopple (WVU), 7-4
Official: Fred Richardson
Attendance: 254
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