WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - In front of the home crowd for the first time this season, the 6th ranked West Liberty University wrestling team did not disappoint. The Hilltoppers won eight of the 10 bouts for a dominating, 30-9, win over 21st ranked Lake Erie College.

Back-to-back nationally ranked Hilltoppers Cole Laya (125) and Vincent Scollo (133) got the Hilltoppers ahead 6-0 early. 

Laya never trailed and had a pair of take downs in an 8-4 decision, while Scollo picked up four back points in the third period on way to a 6-0 victory.

Lake Erie tied the match at 6-6 after a fall at 141, but West Liberty answered with three-straight wins featuring a tech fall by Jacob Simpson and overtime pin from Jonah Smith at 157.

Simpson rolled past his opposition 15-0 in the 149 bout. A first period takedown followed by a four-point near fall set the tone early, the senior from Tampa Bay, Fla. boosted his lead to 14-0 after two periods and finished it off with a quick escape.

After a back-and-forth third period, Smith and Jack Haskin went to overtime. Smith, the aggressor, avenged his overtime loss in the season opener with a takedown and pin of Haskin to get the Hilltopper faithful to their feet.

Chase Morgan followed Smith and Simpson with a hard-fought, 3-2, decision at 165. Morgan secured a takedown to break a 1-1 tie with 40 seconds left for his first win of the season.

Ty McGeary kicked off a string of three Hilltopper wins to end the night with a 19-5 major decision at 184. Drake Kendrex went to the third period scoreless and put up five points to earn the win at 197, then Parker Bentley got the nod at 285 and ended the night with a 5-2 win.

West Liberty will begin a stretch of four straight tournaments on Saturday, as they travel to the Adrian Duals. The next dual will be at home against Findlay on Sunday, December 11 at 2 pm.

Follow Hilltopper wrestling all season online at HilltopperSports.com as well as on Twitter (@wluwrestling | @wlathletics), Instagram (@wluwrestling | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.

Postgame Interviews

Head Coach Danny Irwin


Vincent Scollo


Jonah Smith