The daily wrap-up of five things from the world of college wrestling. It’s stuff you know, stuff you might not know and full of wrestling knowledge.
1. Pitt-Johnstown tops West Liberty
The dean of Division II wrestling – or just wrestling in general – Pat Pecora, got one over on his alma mater on Thursday night as 21st ranked Pitt-Johnstown won the last three bouts of the dual to upend fifth-ranked West Liberty. Two of the first three bouts saw upsets as UPJ’s Dillon Keane upended ninth-ranked Chase Morgan at 165, but the Hilltoppers would match the upset as Ty McGeary knocked off sixth-ranked and three-time All-American Brock Biddle 3-2 at 174. West Liberty’s returning D2 champion Cole Laya gave Danny Irwin’s squad its last lead after the top-ranked grappler beat No 11 Matt Siszka 5-2 at 125. The Mountain Cats tied it up with a major at 133 from Mason Myers before Caleb Morris’ third-period fall gave UPJ some breathing room and a 20-14 lead heading into the dual’s final bout. That went the way of UPJ as well as All-American Jacob Ealy topped Jordan Watters 6-3 to close things out. This is also more proof that tournament points really shouldn’t be used when it comes to anything related to dual meets. Promote duals with dual meet rankings. It’s more accurate. Fact.
2. Life pummels Truett McConnell
After splitting duals with Division I North Carolina and Division II Queens earlier this week, Life got back to its winning ways by pummeling an in-state NAIA opponent. The Running Eagles shut out Truett McConnell 54-0 on Thursday. Nine bonus wins were recorded, including six falls. Five of them started off the dual as it was 30-0 after falls by Chase Ayers, Hunter Sparks, Jordan Mitchell, Yarhoski Aldiva and Denver Stonecheck. Life now 8-0 all time against the Bears. Aldiva is a transfer from that school in Norfolk that lacks a spine.
3. Gardner-Webb beats Belmont Abbey, Abby
Streaming live on Facebook , Gardner-Webb beat Division II Belmont Abbey 30-3. The comment peanut gallery included Hunter Gamble, Brendan Couture, George Mason head coach Frank Beasley, a bunch of folks from Grundy and yours truly. Oh, Salem’s finest Jon Giarla, as well. NCAA qualifiers Rodrick Mosley and Jha’Quan “The Chef” Anderson picked up dubs for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. What is it about using action verbs with your mascot today? Yesterday we had the Soaring Eagles.
The Grundy folks were there to see native son and Gardner-Webb heavyweight Peyton McComas close the dual out with an 8-3 victory. Trevon Majette earned a 10-6 win at 141. He, like Aldiva, is a transfer from that school in Norfolk that lacks leadership.
My wife asked me what dual I was watching, I said “Gardner-Webb and Belmont Abbey.”
She thought I said “Gardner-Webb and Belmont, Abby.” I’ll see myself out.
4. Minnesota’s Zach Hanson makes a smart choice
A little college recruiting news from right here in the land of 10,000 wrestlers – that’s Minnesota if you don’t get the pun. Lakeville North’s Zach Hanson was a double champion in Fargo last summer and he’s committed to head west and wrestle for Rob Koll at Stanford. Hanson’s got a lot of upside and is still hungry as he’s got more stop signs than he does state titles. He’s still looking for that first state title. He’ll join another Minnesotan, Anoka’s Tyler Eischens, on The Farm, which is what they call the campus.
5. Golden Auggie
A second Minnesota reference on the show cheats a little bit. This is supposed to be about college wrestling, but at the U23 World Championships on Thursday in Belgrade, Serbia, Augsburg University junior Emily Shilson won her second world championship of the year, pinning India’s Shivani Pawar with a vicious head-and-arm at 50kg. Shilson’s from Maple Grove, but finished her high school career at Mounds View, home of the Mustangs — and that’s in MY school district. Shilson won a Junior World title back in August and also previously won a Cadet World title a few years ago. Good job, kiddo.
Oh, it’s International Stout Day. I’m drinking a KBS by Founders. Flying to Little Rock on Friday for the first Trojan Open, so I’m not sure HOW I’ll be doing this. Not a super full docket of duals, but we do have the return of Siena Heights wrestling, they’ll travel down to Ohio to take on Lourdes in the NAIA. Western Colorado head to California to take on San Francisco State, which is coming back to the mats after no competition last season.
