Mountaineers Take Early Lead At Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 6, 2002) – The West Virginia University wrestling team has seven wrestlers alive in the championship bracket and leads the Las Vegas Invitational after three rounds. The eighth-rated Mountaineers have 44 points, ahead of No.5 Ohio State (40.50), No.3 Minnesota (36.50) and No.6 Michigan.

Fourteenth-ranked Brandon Lauer (133), No.2 Shane Cunanan (141), No.9 Billy Smith (149), Matt Lebe (157), No.1 Greg Jones (174), No.11 Ryan Wilman (184) and No.13 Brent Miller advanced to the quarterfinals. West Virginia scored extra points in several matches to help bolster its total. The Mountaineers had six pins (two by Lauer and Miller) and five major decisions in the first three rounds of wrestling.

Twentieth-ranked Seth Lisa (125) won his first round match before losing 11-7 to No.19 Bobby Lowe of Minnesota. Adrian Thompson (197) won two matches before falling 15-5 to 12th–ranked Anton Talamantes of Ohio State. Both wrestlers remain alive in the consolation bracket.

WVU did not have an entry at 165. Senior Tom McMath is still recovering from a wrist injury and Anthony Regalbuto did not make weight. The tournament will continue tomorrow at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Seth Lisa (125)
Round 1: Defeated Tyler Wilcox (W Wyoming), 14-5
Round 2: Lost to No.19 Bobby Lowe (Minnesota), 11-7

Brandon Lauer (133)
Round 1: Defeated Clarence Davis (NC State), Fall 2:50
Round 2: Defeated Renee Hernandez (Purdue), Fall 3:42

Shane Cunanan (141)
Pigtail: Defeated Chris Bennett (Air Force), 5-3
Round 1: Defeated Shaine Jaime (Cent Wash), 7-3
Round 2: Defeated Bryan Miller (Colby), 13-3

Billy Smith (149)
Round 1: Defeated Josh Peterson (Air Force), Fall 4:12
Round 2: Defeated Mickey Henrey (Cent Oklahoma), 12-4

Matt Lebe (157)
Round 1: Defeated Andrew Shuler (Wyoming), 6-4
Round 2: Advanced by MED FOR

Greg Jones (174)
Round 1: Defeated Matt Monteiro (Bakersfield), 22-10
Round 2: Defeated Tom Meester, Augustana, 8-6

Ryan Wilman (184)
Pigtail: Defeated Ron Renzi (Arizona State), 10-4
Round 1: Defeated Casey Woodall (Adams State), 14-2
Round 2: Defeated Jason Cox (VMI), 11-4

Adrian Thompson (197)
Pigtail: Defeated Tom Whiston (George Mason), Fall 2:11
Round 1: Defeated David Walker (VMI), 9-6
Round 2: Lost to No.12 Anton Talamantes (Ohio State), 15-5

Brent Miller (HWT)
Pigtail: Defeated Joe Amick (Pac Luther), Fall 4:04
Round 1: Defeated Adam Nuru (Mo Valley), Fall 1:13
Round 2: Defeated Justin Staebler (Wisconsin), 5-2


Return to the WV-Mat WVU Main Page