Match-by-Match Preview
[ regular season features four tournaments and 13 dual meets ] CLARION JAN. 22, 2012: MORGANTOWN, W. VA. Just one day later, the Mountaineers return to action against the Golden Eagles. WVU put together a spectacular team effort in a win last season against Clarion, 39-4. Four Mountaineer wrestlers (Shane Young, Michael Morales, Brandon Rader and Matt Ryan) scored pins against their opponents in the victory, which provided the team with a quick lead in the match. The Golden Eagles struggled to a 4-10 season last year.
CLEVELAND STATE FEB 19, 2012: CLEVELAND, OH. The regular season and EWL matches come to a close in Cleveland, as the Mountaineers will look to have a strong finish heading into the EWL Championships In its biggest victory since 2009, the Mountaineers trounced the Vikings 46-0 last season. The Vikings will be looking to gain experience in a strong EWL conference, as they added 13 newcomers to their roster.
LOCK HAVEN JAN. 27, 2012: MORGANTOWN, W. VA. After five days of rest, the EWL action continues with a dual meet against the Bald Eagles of Lock Haven. In last season’s 33-5 victory, the Mountaineers won every weight division except two. The Bald Eagles struggled to a 2-4 record in the EWL and 6-12 record overall last year. An influx of underclassmen will have Lock Haven again looking to gain experience during the 2011-2012 season.
EWL CHAMPIONSHIPS MARCH 3, 2012: CLARION, PA. WVU will travel to Clarion, Pa. for the 37th EWL Championships, as the Mountaineers will look to improve upon the team’s 2nd place finish from last season. Five WVU wrestlers took second place last season (Shane Young, Nathan Pennesi, Brandon Rader, Donnie Jones and Alex Meade), while three others placed in third in their respective weight class. WVU has won the EWL Championships three times 1996, 2002 and 2004.
RUTGERS JAN. 29, 2012: PISCATAWAY, N.J. WVU will return to the mat two days later, and it will take a break from its EWL schedule, as it travels to Rutgers. The Mountaineers will be looking to take an edge in the series, which is currently tied at one apiece. Rutgers was one of the best teams in the nation last year, as witnessed by its 20-2 record, but the Scarlet Knights disappointed at the NCAA Championships with a 27th place finish.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS MARCH 15-17, 2012: ST. LOUIS, MO. The NCAA Wrestling Championships are a place all wrestlers look to compete at the conclusion of their season, but only the best make it this far. WVU had five qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament last season. Shane Young, Nathan Pennesi and Matt Ryan return from that group of qualifiers, along with 2009 qualifiers Brandon Williamson and Colin Johnston, who sat out last season due to injury.
PITT FEB. 4, 2012: MORGANTOWN, W. VA. In the final home match of the season, the wrestling version of the “Backyard Brawl” continues its 56-year history in Morgantown, as the Mountaineers hope to trim the 24-29-2 all-time series record held by the Panthers. In the wake of the program’s first EWL conference championship, Pitt sent seven grapplers to the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a solid 13-6 record overall. Six of the team’s seven postseason qualifiers are returning for what should be a stout Panther wrestling squad. WVU fell to Pitt, 21-14, last season. OHIO FEB. 11, 2012: ATHENS, OHIO After a week of rest, the Mountaineers will hit the road to take on the Bobcats. WVU got the best of Ohio last season in a 24-13 victory in Morgantown, which saw six different Mountaineers score a victory by decision. The Bobcats tallied 10 victories last season and had three student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Tournament. WVU holds a 33-15-1 advantage over the Bobcats in the all-time series. EDINBORO FEB. 18, 2012: EDINBORO, PA. In the first of back-to-back matches, the Mountaineers will head to Edinboro to take on the Fighting Scots. After a 9-10-1 season, Edinboro rebounded at the NCAA Championships, as they tallied 24 points and finished 23rd overall. One of the team’s victories was over WVU, a hard fought 22-15 decision. One of the nation’s top wrestlers, Chris Honeycutt (184), will be returning for the Fighting Scots. The Mountaineers will be looking for their first win in the season series since 2003.
58 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]
Shane Young