Wrestling | 11/5/2019 3:24:00 PM

    WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – It has been a hectic few months for West Liberty University wrestling coach Danny Irwin but the reigning NCAA Division II Coach of the Year says he's never been more excited for the start of a new season.
    Irwin's nationally-ranked Hilltoppers make their much-anticipated debut here Wednesday night when they welcome WVU Tech to the ASRC for a 7 p.m. non-conference dual.
    "It has been like trying to drink out of a fire hose at times but it's been worth it," said Irwin, who came to the hilltop in the spring shortly after leading then-Wheeling Jesuit University to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II nationals in Cleveland. "I have extremely high expectations for myself and the people I surround myself with so it was incredibly exciting to find so many people at West Liberty along with alumni and fans of the university who share those expectations.
    "Having the opportunity to work on a daily basis with people who share those same goals and expectations is a first for me. There were a whole lot of moving parts to the process but being able to pull together with the people on this campus and get everything accomplished in such a short period of time shows what we're capable of accomplishing here."
    The hard-working coach wasted little time bolstering WLU's solid core of returning grapplers with an influx of talented transfers and highly-touted freshmen and those efforts didn't go unnoticed. His Hilltoppers checked in at No. 12 in the NWCA preseason Top 25 and held down the No. 4 spot in what shapes up as a loaded NCAA Division II Super Region 3.
    "With the rankings coming out, it feels like we have finally turned the page of transition and are getting focused again on our student-athletes and making sure they have a first-class experience on and off the mat," Irwin said. "That's what truly matters. We want guys to come in here and see other guys living a clean life out in the community and crushing it academically. We want them to see guys who are the first to show up at practice, the last to leave and the hardest worker in between.
    "That's something that goes beyond wrestling. Guys come here knowing they'll have an opportunity to chase down an NCAA team trophy and have an unforgettable experience in the process while setting themselves up for the next phase of life."
    Here's how Irwin sees his 2019-20 Hilltoppers shaping up heading into the start of the season:     The smallest weight class should be one of the biggest producers for the Black and Gold. Sophomore Cole Laya is ranked No. 3 nationally after finishing third at nationals a year ago while wrestling for Wheeling. Junior Corey Secrist is coming off a strong sophomore season on the hilltop, falling just shy of a national tournament berth at the regional, and Irwin has high expectations for true freshman Jett Pattison from nearby McGuffey (Pa.) High School.
    "Cole is the whole package," Irwin said. "He had the highest finish of any freshman at nationals last year and was an NWCA Scholar All-American, as well. He'll be a big spark plug for us in duals and tournament formats. I'm looking for big things from Corey, as well, as the season progresses. He gives us great depth and outstanding leadership here. Jett's a 2-time Pennsylvania state qualifier who's really developing well. He'll be a fan favorite here before he's through."     A pair of transfers slot in here with Nate Keaton, a redshirt freshman from Circleville, Ohio, getting the early nod over junior letterman Tommy Curtin. Keaton is ranked No. 5 in the region after going 10-3 while wrestling unattached at 125 for Wheeling last year while Curtin, a former Linsly School star, placed in several tournaments a year ago.
    "Nate was a 2-time Ohio state champion and a big-time recruit who has really been putting the work in," Irwin said. "He's still looking for that first marquee win to establish himself at the college level but he'll have several opportunities over the next few weeks. Tommy was very solid for us at Wheeling last year and continues to develop."     The Hilltoppers are set at 141 with 2018 All-American Darius Bunch back on the mat after sitting out a redshirt season last winter. He'll be backed by Jacob Simpson, a freshman from Morgantown, W.Va., with junior transfer Marcus Jean-Baptiste expected to redshirt.
    "Darius is a true catalyst for the team," Irwin said. "I've never seen anyone who likes to cut it loose every day more than Darius and that energy just takes everyone in the room to another level. Don't blink when he steps on the mat this season. You might miss something special. Jacob Simpson has already made a big impression on the staff as one of the hardest-working guys in the room. That's rare for a true freshman."     Junior Jack Barber and freshman Jamie Ward waged a pitched battle throughout the preseason. Barber, Bunch's high school teammate and a 3-time Georgia state champion, started his college journey at NCAA Division I Bloomsburg (Pa.) but has battled injuries. Ward is a 2-time state champion from Winfield (W.Va.) who arrived with nearly 200 high school wins on his resume.
    "This will be a pretty fun weight class all year," Irwin said. "Jack has been off the mat for a couple of years and still looking for that marquee win so he's hungry to compete. Jamie's pretty fearless for a freshman. He wrestles Darius a lot and can score against anybody. I look for some really good things from him this year."     Blake Miller, a sophomore from Kingwood, W.Va., and Stephen Carder, a redshirt freshman from Parkersburg (W.Va.), have battled for the 157-pound job throughout the preseason. Miller wrestled in 33 matches as a sophomore at Wheeling last year, placing in several tournaments and earning national NWCA All-Academic honors. Carder, who redshirted at Wheeling a year ago, is a former West Virginia state champion and High School All-American.
    "These guys are truly neck and neck," Irwin said. "Blake has totally bought into the process, done everything we've asked of him and the results are starting to show. He lays it on the line every single time he goes out there. Stephen came out of high school with a great pedigree and is starting to figure out plans and strategies to help him enjoy that same success at the collegiate level."     Sophomore Chase Morgan, who redshirted last year after starting for the Hilltoppers as a true freshman in 2018, returns to the mat as the No. 6-ranked 165-pounder in the region.
    "Chase was the clear front-runner at this spot from day one," Irwin said. "He's always been a 'Yes, sir, No, sir' young man and done everything we've asked. I believe he has a very high ceiling and just needs the opportunity to put everything together. He'll get plenty of chances to do that in our early meets."
174
    Junior Chance Morgan, Chase's twin brother, is the likely starter at 174. He's a two-year letterman who placed second at 174 in last year's West Virginia Invitational. Drake Kendrex, a true freshman from Fortville, Ind., has also thrown his hat into the ring and could be a factor.
    "Chance has battled through a lot of injuries in the past but he's a talented guy who has looking good in the room during the preseason," Irwin said. "I look for him to showcase all the hard work he's put in when he hits the mat. Drake Kendrex has been pretty relentless in the room and hasn't backed down from anybody. I've seen a lot of progress already and think there's more in the tank."     Returning starter Isaiah Myers heads into his senior season as the No. 5-ranked 184-pounder in the region and the former Wheeling Park High School standout is joined by a pair of talented true freshmen. Garrett Cook was an OVAC and West Virginia state champion who went 49-0 as a senior at Weirton Madonna High School. Zane Lanham is a 2-time West Virginia state champion and High School All-American from Huntington.
    "Isaiah continues to make strides with his technique and I look for him to have a very good year," Irwin said. "Garrett Cook has already established himself as one of the most consistent wrestlers in the room and could pop up in the lineup at some point. Right now we're looking at redshirting Zane but he's a really talented freshman with unlimited potential. This is a very contested weight class right now."     Two-time national qualifier Logan Kemp returns for his senior season hoping the third time will be the charm as he sets his sights on the All-America podium at nationals. Ronnie D'Amico, a junior who has lettered at 285, is looking to redshirt this season behind Kemp.
    "Logan is an extremely coachable young man who is working on some adjustments that I think will pay huge dividends for him down the road," Irwin said. "The aggression has always been there but now he's bringing more technical skills to bear, which will make him even more formidable. Ronnie will redshirt for us this year while continuing to develop with an eye toward his final two seasons of eligibility."     This shapes up as another strong weight class for the Black and Gold. Senior transfer Chase Logan is ranked No. 2 in the region after placing in multiple tournaments while competing at 197 for Wheeling a year ago. Sophomore Francesco Borsellino – a starting defensive lineman on the WLU football team – placed 6^th in the regional tournament a year ago as a true freshman.
    "This is another very good weight class for us," Irwin said. "Chase had a really good year at Wheeling last year so we'll see him early on," Irwin said. "It could get interesting after Francesco finishes up with football. I was impressed with the way he competed in a loaded region last year and with the work he's already put in, we could see really big things from him."