WVU Pins Wildcats, 45-0

February 7, 2014

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University wrestling team earned its 10th victory of the season, shutting out Davidson, 45-0, at the WVU Coliseum, tonight.

“I thought we did a good job of approaching tonight with the same intensity that we would an Oklahoma or an Oklahoma State,” says Coach Turnbull. “We kept a good focus throughout all the weight classes and stayed smart throughout the matches. A couple of guys got their hands raised that had not in awhile, and that was needed and good to see.”

The Mountaineers (10-5, 0-3 Big 12) did not trail in a single weight class tonight, and the victory gives them the most wins in a single season since 2002, when West Virginia finished 12-2 and 13th at the NCAA Championships. The 45 points put up by the Mountaineers over the Wildcats was the most since blanking John Hopkins in 2012, 48-0, and the 10th time breaking 40 since 2000.

After Davidson forfeited the 125-pound bout, senior Nathan Pennesi (133) opened the match with a 8-3 decision. The victory snapped a four-match skid. Midway through the first period, Pennesi scored a takedown to take a 2-0 lead over Anthony Elias. Starting in the down position to start the second period, Elias knotted the score at two after tallying his second escape of the bout. The tie was short lived, however, as Pennesi recorded his 11th takedown of the season, then earned an escape point to start the third. With more than a minute of riding and a third takedown, Pennesi took the decision, 8-3.

Senior Colin Johnston (141) broke into the program's top 10 for single season falls, earning his eight pin of the season. He wasted no time in taking a lead, scoring his 32nd takedown of the year against James McCord. He took McCord to the mat two more times in the final minute of the first period to extend his lead, 6-1, and turned McCord to his back for a three-point nearfall. In the second period, Johnston took McCord down for a fifth time, turning him to his back and earning the fall in 3:51.

With West Virginia leading 15-0, junior Mike Morales (149) earned two takedowns in the first period to jump out to a 4-1 lead. Heading into the final period with a 4-3 advantage, Morales scored a reversal after starting in the down position. A third period takedown, his 22nd of the season, sealed his third consecutive victory, 9-6.

At 157 pounds, Jason Luster earned his second pin of the season, only 1:04 into the match. Luster took Dan Hagemann to the mat twice before turning him over for the fall.

Sophomore Ross Renzi (165) scored two takedowns in the first minute against Patrick Devlin. Up 4-2, Renzi took Devlin down for a third time midway through the period. In the second period leading 8-3, Renzi scored an escape and his 27th takedown of the season on his way to winning the 20-8 major decision.

At 174 pounds, sophomore Bubba Scheffel struck first with a takedown in the final minute of the opening period. He started the second period on bottom, scoring a reversal to extend his lead to 4-0. Scheffel scored his second takedown of the bout midway through the final period, and a third as time ran out. He turned Nathaniel Powers for a three-point nearfall to win the major decision, 12-4.

Senior Mac Mancuso (184) was the third Mountaineer to win by fall, opening the match with a takedown and two-point nearfall against Josh Sawyer. Mancuso turned Sawyer to his back a second time in the period, earning his fourth pin of the season in 2:22.

West Virginia took a 38-0 advantage into the ninth bout of the night. Freshman Leo Trindade (197) closed out the first period against Michael Moore with a takedown and three-point nearfall. Trindade started in the down position in the second, leading 5-0, and quickly tallied an escape point. With more than two minutes of riding time, Trindade earned the 7-0 decision.

At heavyweight, sophomore A.J. Vizcarrondo scored three takedowns in the first minute of the bout against Ed Isola. Vizcarrondo finished the first period with four takedowns, taking an 8-2 lead into the second period. A fifth takedown in the second and sixth in the third sealed the major decision for Vizcarrondo, 15-5.

The Mountaineers close out their home schedule on Feb. 14 against Clarion at Beauty and the Beast at the WVU Coliseum at 6 p.m.

WVU: 45 Davidson 0
125: Cory Stainbrook (WVU), forfeit
133: Nathan Pennesi (WVU) wins by decision over Anthony Elias (Davidson), 8-3
141: No. 14 Colin Johnston (WVU) wins by fall James McCord (Davidson), 3:51
149: Mike Morales (WVU) wins by decision over Kevin Birmingham (Davidson), 9-6.
157: Jason Luster (WVU) wins by fall over Dan Hagemann (Davidson), 1:04
165: Ross Renzi (WVU) wins by major decision over Patrick Devlin (Davidson), 20-8
174: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) wins by major decision over Nathaniel Powers (Davidson), 12-4
184: Mac Mancuso (WVU) wins by fall over Josh Sawyer (Davidson), 2:22
197: Leo Trindade (WVU) wins by decision over Michael Moore (Davidson), 7-0
HWT: A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU) wins by major decision over Ed Isola (Davidson), 15-5


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