Wrestling | 2/18/2021 8:07:00 PM

    WHEELING, W.Va. – The No. 6-ranked West Liberty University wrestling team wrapped up an undefeated dual meet schedule in style here Thursday night with a 46-0 shutout of a short-handed Wheeling squad at the McDonough Center.
    "I really liked the way our guys went out there and got to their positions tonight," Irwin said after seeing his nationally-ranked squad roll to its fifth dual meet decision in as many outings. "It was great to get in another night of wrestling and close out the season with a win."
    Sophomore 149-pounder Jacob Simpson got things going for the Hilltoppers when he dominated the Cardinals' Kale'anahe Slaughter throughout on his way to an 18-3 first period technical fall.
    Freshman 125-pounder Kade Zadylak was up next for the Black and Gold and he picked up where Simpson had left off. After giving up an early takedown against WU's Chase Montgomery, Zadylak rebounded with a reversal and near-fall back points and never looked back in a 19-3 technical fall triumph.
    "Zadylak has had a heck of a year for us in the room," Irwin said. "It would be a good idea for Hilltopper fans to learn how to say that name because I think he has a lot more wins coming his way."
    Senior 285-pounder Ronnie D'Amico brought down the curtain on the abbreviated match in style when he pinned Wheeling big man Clarouly Meca at 4:05 of the second period.
    That accounted for all of the scoring matches with WLU picking up five forfeits and two weight classes remaining open. It also left more than enough time for a couple of extra matches involving additional wrestlers.
    Time wasn't a problem for Hilltopper sophomore Jamie Ward, as he needed just 71 seconds to get the fall against Slaughter in a 149-pound "extra" bout. The other extra match went the distance with West Liberty freshman Jamie Kilmer outlasting Meca, 2-1, at 285 pounds.
    "Jamie Ward is one of the most exciting wrestlers on our team and he proved that again tonight," Irwin said. "The countdown is on. We're one week out from regionals and we're excited to have the opportunity to compete in the postseason."
    The Hilltoppers will be heading to Tiffin (Ohio) University next week to compete in the NCAA Division II Super Region 3 championships.
     125: OPEN
133: Kade Zadylak (WLU) tf. Chase Montgomery (WU), 19-3
141: Jordan Watters (WLU) won by forfeit
149: Jacob Simpson (WLU) tf. Kale'anahe Slaughter (WU), 18-3
157: OPEN
165: Zac Samson (WLU) won by forfeit
174: Chance Morgan (WLU) won by forfeit
184: Garrett Cook (WLU) won by forfeit
197: Drake Kendrex (WLU) won by forfeit
285: Ronnie D'Amico (WLU) p. Clarouly Meca (WU), 4:05 149: Jamie Ward (WLU) p. Kale'anahe Slaughter (WU), 1:11
285: Jamie Kilmer (WLU) d. Clarouly Meca (WU), 2-1