Mercyhurst improves to 8-1 with win at West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. -- The 12th-ranked Mercyhurst University wrestling team jumped out to a 21-0 lead after the opening five matches and cruised to a 31-9 victory at West Liberty on Wednesday night. The Lakers have won three straight to improve to 8-1 on the season. The Hilltoppers dropped to 2-2 overall on the year.

Mercyhurst jumped in front 21-0 after earning victories in each of the first five matches before West Liberty stopped the Laker run in the 165-pound bout to cut the advantage to 21-6. Mercyhurst claimed victories in the next two bouts to extend the lead to 28-6, preceding wins by each team in the final two matches of the night for the final margin.

It marks the sixth time in nine duals this season that Mercyhurst has kept its opponent to single digits in team scoring this season.

Redshirt junior Ryan Bohince got the ball rolling in the 125-pound match with a 3-0 blanking of West Liberty's Zach Brown to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. Redshirt sophomore Kody Young followed with a 9-6 win at 133 to extend the Laker lead to 6-0.

At 141 pounds, sophomore Dylan D'Urso, ranked seventh in the country at the weight, pinned Joe Wagstaff of West Liberty 30 seconds into the second period to give the Lakers a 12-0 lead. D'Urso improved to 16-2 on the season and 9-0 in dual matches. The sophomore from Greenville, Pa., has won 25 consecutive dual matches after losing his first collegiate bout at Ashland as a freshman.

Redshirt sophomore Jeremy Landowski earned an easy six points for the Lakers with a forfeit win at 149 pounds. Redshirt freshman Francis Mizia extended the lead to 21-0 with a 5-2 decision in the 157-pound match.

West Liberty stopped the bleeding in the 165-pound match when Mike Emery pinned redshirt senior Clint Schaefer ten seconds into the third period. The win by Emery cut the Mercyhurst lead to 21-6.

Redshirt sophomore August Mizia followed the win by West Liberty with a 12-0 major decision victory at 174 pounds over Eric Antesberger. Freshman Dakota DesLauriers picked up three more points for the Lakers with a 3-1 win in the 184-pound match.

Danny Doyle of West Liberty and freshman Andrew Welton of Mercyhurst exchanged three points in their matches at 197 and 285 to close out the scoring.

The Lakers will return home to square off with Lake Erie College on Saturday, January 18 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.

See the article here:
Mercyhurst improves to 8-1 with win at West Liberty