Wrestling Preps for Rutgers, Iowa State

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Jan. 24, 2013) – Looking to get its 2012-13 dual meet season back on track, the West Virginia University wrestling team returns to the Coliseum this weekend, as it takes on non-conference foe Rutgers on Friday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m., and Iowa State on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 3 p.m.

“Each of these dual meets will be extremely challenging for us,” says coach Craig Turnbull. “Rutgers boasts a lineup that is solid from top to bottom. They have wrestled a number of good opponents this year, including beating Lehigh for the first time since 1950. Lehigh had won the last 38 matchups against them. As for Iowa State, they present a challenge because they have been in these types of situations before, having wrestled against top-tier competition in the Big 12. We expect to have our hands full this weekend.

The Mountaineers (1-5, 0-2 Big 12) are coming off losses to No. 2 Oklahoma State and then-No. 14 Oklahoma, while the Scarlet Knights (13-2, 6-0 EIWA) and the Cyclones (4-3, 0-1 Big 12) are riding three-match winning streaks.

The match against the ISU will be WVU’s first home Big 12 Conference match of the season.

“This is one of the reasons to come to West Virginia to be part of this program,” Turnbull says. “To know to that we are going to have Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Iowa State in our gym, along with non-conference foes such as Penn State, Rutgers and Maryland, is something that is very advantageous. Our guys will not be seeing the best competition for the first time at nationals – we have it right here in our gym throughout the season.”

The Mountaineers face each team knowing they will be without Brutus Scheffel (149) in the starting lineup and working on a short week, having traveled home from Oklahoma on Monday evening.

In place of Scheffel, the Mountaineers will turn to Tre Miller-Scott, Tim Wheeling or Roman Perryman in place of Scheffel.

“We will have to make sure that we manage that weight class as well as we can, and we are going to need a solid effort from whoever is chosen to wrestle,” Turnbull says. “From a team standpoint, we haven’t quite seen the type of effort that we have been looking for in our dual meets this season. Hopefully, the challenge that these teams present will allow us to rise to the occasion.”

Friday’s match is designated WVU Faculty and Staff Night, with all West Virginia University Faculty and Staff invited to attend the match free of charge.

Saturday’s match is designated as a Dollar Day, with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for purchase for just $1.

Fans unable to attend Friday or Saturday’s match can follow the Mountaineers via a free WebStream presented by Kroger at WVUsports.com.

Saturday’s match will also be shown on tape delay on ROOT Sports at a later date.


Projected Lineups

WVU (1-5, 0-2 Big 12)
125: Shane Young (7-2)
133: Colin Johnston (5-7)
141: No. 12 Nathan Pennesi (17-7)
149: Tre Miller-Scott (6-9) OR Roman Perryman (0-2) OR Tim Wheeling (4-5)
157: Jason Luster (4-7)
165: Ross Renzi (6-9) OR Dominic Prezzia (5-8)
174: Bubba Scheffel (7-2)
184: Lance Bryson (8-7)
197: A.J. Vizcarrondo (5-7)
HWT: Phil Mandzik (8-11)

Rutgers (13-2, 6-0 EIWA)
125: Joseph Langel (17-5) OR Sean McCabe (7-11)
133: Vincent Dellefave (17-6) OR Maverick Passaro (2-2)
141: No. 20 Trevor Melde (15-6)
149: Ken Theobold (12-8) OR Mario Mason (8-4)
157: No. 16 Scott Winston (20-6)
165: Nick Visicaro (11-4) OR Anthony Volpe (6-6)
174: No. 12 Greg Zannetti (20-4)
184: No. 11 Dan Rinaldi (20-3)
197: Dan Seidenberg (7-8) OR Hayden Hrymack (9-11)
HWT: Billy Smith (22-5)

Iowa State (4-3, 0-1 Big 12)
125: Ryak Fink (6-6)
133: John Meeks (5-6)
141: No. 19 Luke Goettl (8-7)
149: Max Mayfield (6-8)
157: Logan Molina (13-11)
165: No. 18 Michael Moreno (17-5)
174: No. 17 Tanner Weatherman (10-4)
184: No. 19 Boaz Beard (6-4)
197: Kyven Gadson (13-2)
HWT: No. 19 Matt Gibson (11-4)


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