Wrestling | 2/15/2011 10:24:10 PM

MATCH PHOTOS

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty wrestling team put up a good fight in its regular season finale Tuesday night but fell just short in a 22-15 loss to No. 12 Ashland at the ASRC.

It was the 8th straight dual meet win for the visiting Eagles (14-2-1), whose only loss in the second semester came against NCAA Division I Purdue. Ashland had handed the Hilltoppers a 26-10 loss in December's Mid-Atlantic Duals.

The Ohio squad's strength in the lower weights once again proved to be the difference on Tuesday night as Ashland swept through the four lightest weights with a fall, a major decision and two decisions. Despite a gallant comeback effort by the hosts, that 16-point hole was simply too deep.

Seth Phalen put West Liberty on the board with a first-period fall at 157 pounds and Jarrod Shaw followed with a decision at 165.

Derrick Williams (184) and All-American Mitch Knapp (197) also put points on the board for the Hilltoppers but it wasn't enough to cool off the red-hot Eagles.

The West Liberty wrestling team will be idle until Feb. 25-26 when the Hilltoppers head to Erie, Pa. to compete in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championships at Gannon University.

No. 12 Ashland 22, West Liberty 15

125: Daniel Mandara (Ash) d. Preston Foster (WLU), 6-2

133: Scott Meyer (Ash) md. Pete McAtee (WLU), 13-1

141: Kyle Kanaga (Ash) p. Aaron Majetich (WLU), 2:13

149: Daniel Genetin (Ash) d. Brian Leggett (WLU), 11-7

157: Seth Phalen (WLU) p. Marc Hoff (Ash), 2:52

165: Jarrod Shaw (WLU) d. Brandon Kelly (Ash), 9-5

174: Ryan Thatcher (Ash) d. Matt Littleton (WLU), 3-1

184: Derrick Williams (WLU) d. Caleb Marsh (Ash), 7-5

197: Mitch Knapp (WLU) d. Corby Running (Ash), 7-3

285: Jacob Southwick (Ash) d. JD Ramsey (WLU), 2-1