Jones and WVU Pin Down Ohio, 25-15

By Tim Goodenow
WVU Sports Information Office

February 11, 2005 MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Two West Virginia freshmen, Shawn Cordell and Codie Gustines, gave the 21st-ranked Mountaineer wrestling team a much needed lift in the opening bouts in leading WVU past Ohio, 25-15, on Friday evening at the WVU Coliseum.

With his Mountaineer team falling hit hard by a rash of injuries and illness, head coach Craig Turnbull turned to his bench for help.

Cordell, who has manned the 125 pound slot in the new year, won his third straight match with a solid 2-1 sudden victory decision over Ohio's Caleb Metcalfe. The third period ended with a 1-1 tie and neither wrestler was able to score in overtime until Cordell recorded another escape during the second ride-out period to win the match 2-1.

Gustines followed with an impressive win at 133 pounds in his first dual meet of his young career. The Charles Town, W.Va., native raced out to a 5-0 lead in the opening period on a takedown and a three-point nearfall. The Mountaineer rookie battled to a scoreless final two periods with Matt Smith for a 5-0 decision, putting WVU up 6-0 after two bouts.

Ohio scored its first points of the evening behind Jim Fowler at 141 pounds. He took a 5-0 lead into the middle period against Mountaineer Vince Gioiella before earning a fall at 4:17.

The Bobcats took its only lead of the night with a victory at 149 pounds to go up 9-6. Ohio's Mike Allen took an early 2-1 lead on WVU's Teddy Adams. Allen extended his lead to 5-1 with an escape and takedown in the second period before posting an 8-3 decision.

The Mountaineers then reeled off five straight victories from 157 - 197 pounds, including bonus point wins from Matt Lebe and Greg Jones, to seal the victory.

A highly anticipated match between No. 7 ranked Lebe and No. 4 ranked Jake Percival did not take place at 157 pounds. Lebe was forced to wrestle Ohio's Aaron Gomool while Percival remained in Athens with the flu. Junior Lebe took an 11-5 lead after two periods on five takedowns and a stalling point. The Jeannette, Pa., native posted his team-leading sixth major decision of the season with an 18-6 victory.

Zac Fryling and Eric Mullen posted important wins at 165 and 174 pounds to put West Virginia on top 16-9 in the team score. Fryling held an 8-4 lead on Ohio's Tony DeAnna after two periods of action. The WVU sophomore collected two more takedowns and riding time for a 13-6 decision.

Mullen picked up his 13th victory of the year with a 5-1 decision over Bobcat Ryan Knapp. After a scoreless opening period, Mullen notched the bout's first takedown for a 2-0 lead. A second takedown in the final minute produced a 5-1 win and set the stage for national champion Jones to seal the dual meet victory.

Two-time NCAA champion Jones put the contest away with his fourth (and second consecutive) fall of the season. Jones held a 7-3 lead after two periods on three takedowns. The patient senior set Ohio's Brian Cesear up for the fall at 5:21 that put WVU up 22-9.

At 197 pounds, Jared Villers used a takedown in the opening period for the bout's only score in tallying a 3-0 decision over Joel Weimer. Sophomore Villers earned over two minutes in riding time for the third point and his second consecutive dual meet win.

Ohio won the night's final bout with a fall by Jeremiah Beltran at 6:46 over Matt Holsopple.

WVU improved to 4-5 overall while Ohio dropped to 9-11 on the season.

West Virginia resumes Eastern Wrestling League action with a dual meet at Lock Haven on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

No. 21 West Virginia 25 (4-5, 3-0 EWL)
Ohio 15 (9-11-1, 2-1 MAC)
125: Shawn Cordell (WVU) DEC Caleb Metcalf (OU), 2-1 SV-2
133: Codie Gustines (WVU) DEC Matt Smith (OU), 5-0
141: Jim Fowler (OU) FALL Vince Gioiella (WVU), 4:17
149: Mike Allen (OU) DEC Teddy Adams (WVU), 8-3
157: #7 Matt Lebe (WVU) MAJOR Aaron Gomool (OU), 18-6
165: Zac Fryling (WVU) DEC Tony DeAnna (OU), 13-6
174: Eric Mullen (WVU) DEC Ryan Knapp (OU), 5-1
184: #1 Greg Jones (WVU) FALL Brian Cesear (OU), 5:21
197: Jared Villers (WVU) DEC Joel Weimer (OU), 3-0
285: Jeremiah Beltran (OU) FALL Matt Holsopple (WVU), 6:46

Official: Clifford Carrier
Attendance: 703


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