Mountaineers Fall at Ohio, 26-19

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (February 16, 2014) – The West Virginia University wrestling team fell in Athens, Ohio, 26-19, to Ohio.

“It was a disappointing match that I felt could have gone either way,” says coach Craig Turnbull. “ The match was really a tale of two matches. Where we wrestled well, we were very good. Where we did not wrestle well, it was very poor. (Colin) Johnston, (Mike) Morales and Bubba (Scheffel) all came away with very good victories today. We will look forward to a good week of practice for our battle next weekend and moving into Big 12 Championships.”

After starting the match at the 157-pound weight class, sophomore Bubba Scheffel (174) put the Mountaineers (11-6, 0-3 Big 12) on the board with his 15th pin of the season, turning Marshal Willet to his back with nine seconds remaining in the first period. Scheffel spend the majority of the period on top after taking Willet to the mat in the first minute.

At 133 pounds, senior Nathan Pennesi won his second consecutive match, defeating Sebastian Pique by major decision, 11-1. Pennesi struck first with a takedown midway through the first period and turned Pique his his back for a three-point nearfall to extend his lead to 5-0. Pennesi scored his second takedown of the bout in the waning moments of the second period. He started the third with an escape from the down position and scored a third takedown to seal the major decision, 11-1.

Senior Colin Johnston (141) won his team-best seventh straight match, earning his ninth win by fall. Johnston took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown midway through the first period against Garret Garness. Johnston scored his team-high 40th takedown of the year in the second to extend the lead to 4-0. He then turned Garness to his back for a pair of three-point nearfalls to close out second period. Johnston started the third with an escape and wasted no time taking Garness to the mat once again. He turned Garness to his back for a final time, getting both shoulders to hit the mat.

At 149 pounds, junior Mike Morales closed out the match with 6-4 decision over Tywan Claxton. After a scoreless first period, Claxton scored an escape from the down position and then took Morales to the mat. Morales cut into the deficit with a pair of escapes. He took his first lead of the bout, 4-3, with a takedown on the edge of the mat early in the third period. After Claxton tied the match at four with an escape, Morales scored a last second takedown to win the decision.

West Virginia takes the mat again on Saturday, Feb. 22, to close out its dual match season at Edinboro at 7 p.m.

Ohio 26 WVU 19
125: KeVon Powell (Ohio) wins by decision over Cory Stainbrook (WVU), 6-5
133: Nathan Pennesi (WVU) wins by major decision over Sebastian Pique (Ohio), 11-1
141: No.15 Colin Johnston (WVU) wins by fall over Garret Garness (Ohio), 5:42
149: Mike Morales (WVU) wins by decision over Tywan Claxton (Ohio), 6-4
157: No. 16 Spartak Chino (Ohio) wins by major decision over Jason Luster (WVU), 12-4
165: Harrison Hightower (Ohio) wins by fall over Ross Renzi (WVU), 1:38
174: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) wins by fall over Marshal Willet (Ohio), 2:51
184: Ryan Garringer (Ohio) wins by decision over Mac Mancuso (WVU), 8-6
197: No. 9 Phil Wellington (Ohio) wins by major decision over Leo Trindade (WVU), 17-3
HWT: No. 11 Jeremy Johnson (Ohio) wins by major decision over A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU), 11-0

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