WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - The 7th ranked West Liberty University wrestling team defended its home mat today with a 3-0 outing in the Hilltopper Duals to extend its dual win streak to 15 in a row.

West Liberty did not lose a match in the first two outings, downing Emory & Henry 55-0 and Davis & Elkins 52-0, then finished off the perfect day with a 28-10 take down of #15 Millersville.

The Black and Gold totaled eight pins on the day by eight different wrestlers.

The Hilltoppers recorded four of the pins in the opener against Emory & Henry. Cole Laya got it started with a fall just 59 seconds in. A pair of tech falls by Vincent Scollo (17-1) and Khyvon Grace (16-1) pushed the early lead to 16-0. Another tech fall (20-5) at 157 by Blake Miller preceded three straight pins for the Black and Gold by Toby Abbott, Alec Cook, and Keaton Grider.

A major from Laya and tech fall by Scollo quickly set the tone for the second match of the day against Davis & Elkins. Khyvon Grace (141), Ty McGeary (184), and Francesco Borsellino (285) added pins in the second straight shutout for the Hilltoppers. 

The finale set up to be a good one and it delivered as #15 Millersville took the mat against the 'Toppers. West Liberty started and finished strong with a big pin in the middle to take the dual 28-10 and complete its undefeated day. Laya got the Hilltoppers going once again, this time with a dominating 17-2 tech fall in the third period. The nationally ranked squads went back and forth the next five matches before West Liberty ended with four straight victories, including two majors, to clinch the victory. 

In the 157 bout, Miller faced an early 2-0 deficit and roared back in the second period slamming down his opposition for a pin to erupt the home crowd. Millersville picked up four points in the 165 battle behind nationally-ranked Brandon Connor, but after that it was all Hilltoppers. A 4-0 win by Cook started the string of four in a row to end the dual. McGeary (184) and Borsellino (285)rolled past their combatants with major decisions, while Drake Kendrex (197) used strong defense and a takedown in the third period to secure a 7-2 decision.

West Liberty will be back in action on January 6 at the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Ky., the first of three straight road trips before returning to the ASRC on January 19 for the West Liberty Duals.

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

Blake Miller


Drake Kendrex