NO.8 WVU DROPS CLARION, 23-12

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (December 7, 2001) * The No.8 West Virginia University wrestling team (1-1, 1-0) downed Clarion (0-1, 0-1) 23-12 in an Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) showdown Friday night at the Coliseum.

Clarion started the match with an upset as Dom Surra defeated No.10 Billy Smith 6-5 at 149. The Mountaineers regrouped, though, as No.8 Joe Carr (157), No.7 Tom McMath (165), No.6 Greg Jones (174) and Ryan Wilman (184) scored 15 straight points to give WVU the 15-3 advantage. Carr and Wilman won by decision while McMath recorded a five-point technical fall and Jones scored a four-point technical fall.

The Golden Eagles mounted a surge at 197 and heavyweight where No.19 Eric Mausser and No.15 John Testa each recorded decisions to cut the lead to 15-9. WVU's Ricky LaForge stopped the Clarion comeback with a 9-0 major decision over Starlin Jiminez and essentially put the match out of reach. The Golden Eagles and Mountaineers traded victories in the last two matches, with Clarion's No.5 Rad Martinez downing No.14 Brandon Lauer 10-4 and WVU's No.15 Shane Cunanan scoring a 21-9 major decision over Jared Moss.

"I'm pleased with the win because Clarion was very prepared to wrestle with us," head coach Craig Turnbull said. "They brought in a lineup that concerned me and we had to fight for extra points and had to keep them from scoring those points."

The Mountaineers return to action December 29-30, at the Midlands Tournament in Chicago, Ill.


West Virginia 23, Clarion 12 Team Score
149 - Dom Surra (C) dec. #10 Billy Smith (W), 6-5 0-3
157 - #8 Joe Carr (W) dec. Jim Perry (C), 11-4 3-3
165 - #7 Tom McMath (W) tech. fall (6:16) Jamie Durkin (C), 24-7 8-3
174 - #6 Greg Jones (W) tech. fall (6:11) Ryan Pataky (C), 24-9 12-3
184 - Ryan Wilman (W) dec. Marcus Surin (C), 10-3 15-3
97 - #19 Eric Mausser (C) dec. Brent Miller (W), 3-0 15-6
HWT - #15 John Testa (C) dec. #16 Ryan Kehler (W), 5-3 15-9
125 - Ricky LaForge (W) maj. dec. Starlin Jiminez (C), 9-0 19-9
133 - #5 Rad Martinez (C) dec. Brandon Lauer (W), 10-4 19-12
141- #15 Shane Cunanan (W) maj. dec. Jared Moss (C), 21-9 23-12


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