WVU Blanks Duquesne

By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Office

PITTSBURGH (January 18, 2009) – The West Virginia University wrestling team blanked non-conference foe Duquesne, 57-0, on Sunday morning at the Palumbo Center. Fifth-year senior Dustin Rogers (HWT) and freshman Lance Bryson (184) both registered fall victories as WVU improves to 3-4 overall this season.

The Mountaineers started the match ahead 18-0 via an injury default at 125 pounds and then forfeits at 133 and 141 pounds.

“We spoke after the match last night that what we needed was in front of us, an opportunity to wrestle the next day and really get our best match out,” Coach Craig Turnbull said. “The approach was good. The warm-up was good. The people that wrestled, their intensity was good. I wasn't as concerned about the opponent as I was for us to see that our approach and preparation were positive.”

Fifth-year senior David Jauregui’s match against Duquesne’s Josh Pascazi at 149 pounds was the first actual bout of the morning. Ranked No. 20 nationally, Jauregui continued his success in dual meets. In the first period, the Santa Ana, Calif., native registered three takedowns and was up 6-2 at the end of the first session. Jauregui then added to his total with two more takedowns and a three near fall points in the second session. In the final period, Jauregui earned an escape point to get out of the defensive position and then posted another three takedowns in the final period for the 21-5 tech fall. Jauregui owns a 6-0 dual meet record.

Redshirt-freshman Mark Tsikerdanos’ bout against Nate Reinhart at 157 pounds was the next match to take place. Tsikerdanos quickly went to work, earning two takedowns, the second of which proved to be fatal. At the 2:09 mark, he rolled Reinhart on his back for the pin, giving the Mountaineers the 29-0 lead.

At 165 pounds, Donnie Jones registered the Mountaineers’ second tech fall of the morning. A junior from Slickville, Pa., Jones tallied four takedowns to lead 9-2 after two periods of action. Jones bettered that in the third period alone, recording six takedowns en route to the 22-6 victory.

WVU earned 12 more points as fifth-year senior Kurt Brenner won by default over Duquesne’s Tony Clark at 174 pounds and sophomore Kyle Rooney won by forfeit at 197 pounds.

The Mountaineers continued to act as the aggressors as Bryson earned his first collegiate victory by fall. After being ahead 2-1 after the first period, Bryson earned two three-point near falls and a takedown to increase his lead to 10-2. Choosing neutral to start the third period, Bryson earned a takedown and just moments later at the 5:43 mark, pinned Duquesne’s Ryan Sula.

In the final bout of the morning, Rogers recorded his team-leading third fall victory of the season. Using his 33-pound advantage, the Corning, Calif., native earned a takedown and never let go of control. After earning two near fall points, Rogers slid Simmons toward the edge of the circle at pinned him at the 2:41 mark.

The 57-0 victory by the Mountaineers is the first time since 2005 that WVU has blanked an opponent (Jan. 16 against Clarion, 43-0) and is also the most points WVU has scored since 1983-84 season when it posted a 60-0 decision against Ohio.

“I think again, to me, regardless of who we wrestled, we needed to wrestle again,” Turnbull added. “We need the opportunity to prepare well and approach the match with good intensity, and I think we accomplished that. Now we need to build on that during practice and try to get our best matches out next weekend.”

Duquesne falls to 2-4 with the loss.

The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Jan. 23, at Bloomsburg to begin Eastern Wrestling League action. The match is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson Field House.

WVU 57 Duquesne 0
125: Tyler Smith (WVU) WBD Taylor Wilde (DUQ)
133: Tyler Oravec (WVU) WBF
141: Colin Johnston (WVU) WBF
149: No. 20 David Jauregui (WVU) TECH Josh Pascazi (DUQ), 21-5
157: Mark Tsikerdanos (WVU) FALL Nate Reinhart (DUQ), 2:09
165: Donnie Jones (WVU) TECH Matt Gregg (DUQ), 22-6
174: Kurt Brenner (WVU) WBD Tony Clark (DUQ)
184: Lance Bryson (WVU) FALL Ryan Sula (DUQ), 5:43
197: Kyle Rooney (WVU) WBF
285: Dustin Rogers (WVU) FALL John Simmons (DUQ), 2:41


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