Mountaineers Down Midland, Fall at No. 17 ISU

AMES, Iowa (November 15, 2013) – The West Virginia University wrestling team tallied one victory in its double-dual meet at Iowa State. The Mountaineers defeated Midland, 34-6, before falling to the Cyclones, 22-12.

Against Midland, No.17 senior Nathan Pennesi (133) started an eight-bout win streak for WVU against No. 4 Aspen Kmiec. In his first match of the season, Pennesi scored four takedowns, two in the final period, and a reversal. He won by a major decision, 11-3, scoring the riding time point.

Pennesi tied the second match against ISU at three after earning a 4-2 decision. He took Earl Hall to the mat in the first period and then tallied two escape points for the victory.

Senior Colin Johnston (141) extended his win streak to six with two victories today. He defeated Midland's Chauncey Ziemann by major decision, 13-0. Taking a 4-0 advantage into the final period, Johnston brought Ziemann to the mat, scoring a two-point near fall and a three-point near fall.

Johnston then gave the Mountaineers' their only lead against the Cyclones with a 5-3 decision over Gabe Moreno. Tied at two in the third period, Johnston scored a reversal and riding time advantage.

After sitting last weekend out, junior Mike Morales (149) recorded three separate near falls in the 16-2 major decision win over Midland's Tyler Boyer.

Junior Brutus Scheffel (157) continues to lead the Mountaineers in wins, along with Johnston, scoring three takedowns en route to a 9-3 decision against No. 10 Tyler McMichael. Scheffel and Johnston have eight wins on the season.

Sophomore Ross Renzi (165) brought No. 6 Sterling Terry to the mat twice in the first period and once again in the second. Renzi held on for a 7-3 decision, extending his win streak to seven matches dating back to Nov. 2. His streak came to an end shortly after, losing by decision, 4-1, to No. 4 Michael Moreno of ISU.

Sophomore Bubba Scheffel's (174) seventh win of the season came against No. 12 Conor Harvey. Scheffel scored three takedowns, two in the second period. Scheffel's 11-1 victory was the first of the season that was not by fall.

At 184 pounds, senior Mac Mancuso won by injury default after taking Asaiah Dyer to the mat in the first period.

Freshman Leo Trindade represented the Mountaineers' final win of the match, pinning Micah Kekela in the second period. Trindade has two pins this season.

After dropping an overtime bout to the Warriors' No. 3 Lonnie Brown, freshman Wayne Purnell (HWT) pinned the Cyclones' Quean Smith in the first period.

Midland came into the match ranked No. 9 as a team by InterMat for NAIA schools, and with nine different wrestlers tabbed in the poll's top-20 in their respective weight classes. Iowa State is ranked No 17 in the NWCA Coaches Poll and No. 9 by InterMat.

WVU returns to action tomorrow, Nov. 16, at the Harold Nichols Open hosted by Iowa State. No. 2 Minnesota and South Dakota State will also be participating.

WVU 34 Midland 6
125: Johsua Heinzer dec. over Cory Stainbrook (2-5)
133: Nathan Pennesi maj. dec. over Aspen Kmiec (11-3)
141: Colin Johnston maj. dec. over Chauncey Ziemann (13-0)
149: Mike Morales maj. dec. over Tyler Boyer (16-2)
157: Brutus Scheffel dec. over Tyler McMichael (9-3)
165: Ross Renzi dec. over Sterling Terry (7-3)
174: Bubba Scheffel maj. dec. over Conor Hovey (11-1)
184: Mac Mancuso inj. def. over Asaiah Dyer
197: Leo Trindade fall over Micah Kekela (Fall at 2:03)
HWT: Lonnie Brown overtime dec. over Wayne Purnell (5-3)

Iowa State University 22 WVU 12
125: Earl Hall dec. over Cory Stainbrook (11-8)
133: Nathan Pennesi dec. over Dakota Bauer (4-2)
141: Colin Johnston dec. over Gabe Moreno (5-3)
149: Luke Goettl dec. over Mike Morales (6-3)
157: John Nicholson dec. over Brutus Scheffel (10-4)
165: Mike Moreno dec. over Ross Renzi (4-1)
174: Tanner Weatherman dec. over Bubba Scheffel (7-6)
184: Lelund Weatherspoon dec. over Mac Mancuso (9-4)
197: Kyven Godson maj. dec. over Leo Trindade (14-4)
HWT: Wayne Purnell wins by fall over Quean Smith

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