WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - The No. 4 ranked West Liberty University wrestling team went 2-1 today hosting a trio of Mountain East Conference opponents on Senior Night inside the ASRC.

The Hilltoppers came up short in a 21-19 loss to No. T24 Glenville State in the opening dual, then bounced back with convincing wins over Notre Dame (37-10) and Fairmont State (47-6). 

Freshman Khyvon Grace went 3-0 leading the way for the Black and Gold capped off by a pin against Fairmont State. Jacob Simpson earned two wins in as many outings, while his brother Matt Simpson got his hand raised in the Notre Dame College match. Jamar Williams, Jonah Smith, and Blake Miller split time at 157 and all picked up victories.

West Liberty totaled seven falls on the day by six different wrestlers, as Drake Kendrex slammed two of his opponents down for pins.

Glenville State got out to a 9-0 lead off a pin at 125 and a sudden victory at 133. The Hilltoppers' No. 6 ranked Vincent Scollo and the Pioneers' No. 10 ranked Gavin Quiocho each recorded an escape in regulation, then in overtime after video review Quiocho was awarded a takedown for the win. 

The Hilltoppers bounced back and scored 13 straight points to take the lead at the halfway point. Grace completed a reversal in the third period to take a 2-1 lead and held on for the victory adding a riding time advantage point to get the Black and Gold on the board. Jacob Simpson received a forfeit at 149 and nationally-ranked Jamar Williams rolled to a 12-4 major to put WLU ahead 13-9. 

Three straight decisions followed for the Pioneers as they regained the lead. Kendrex put an end to the run and pinned his opponent in the second period, after a scoreless first. The one-point 'Topper lead after Kendrex's pin flipped to a two-point Glenville State victory after a 10-6 decision in the heavyweight bout. 

No. 6 ranked Francesco Borsellino made a late takedown to tie the match in the third period, but had to allow an escape with No. 3 ranked Jared Campbell holding the riding time advantage. Campbell sealed the deal with a takedown after the escape for the match and dual win.

The Hilltoppers came back with a dominating 37-10 victory that featured a first period pin by Scollo and tech falls by Grace (19-2) and Alec Cook (16-0). West Liberty won each of the first eight bouts with five bonus point victories. Jonah Smith added a decision (10-5) at 157 over nationally-ranked Cale Hoskinson off of nine third period points, and Matt Simpson picked up his first win of the season at 174.

West Liberty continued its roll into the finale, winning nine out of 10 bouts over Fairmont State in a 47-6 rout. The dual began with 13 straight points to the Hilltoppers after a decision by Alexander Crane, a major from Scollo, and a fall by Grace. After the Fighting Falcons struck for six points at 149, it was all West Liberty. The Black and Gold earned bonus points in each of the last six matches including four pins. Blake Miller started the run at 157 with an early second period fall, while Chase Morgan (174) earned his fall in the third frame, then Kendrex and Borsellino finished the day with first period pins.

The Hilltoppers honored 10 graduating seniors for their contributions to the program between the Notre Dame and Fairmont State duals. The 10 included; Chance Morgan, Chase Morgan, Jacob Simpson, Matt Simpson, Cole Laya, Blake Miller, Greg Brusco, Jamie Ward, Jamar Williams, and Drake Kendrex.

West Liberty will be back in action on Saturday sending a squad to compete in the Wabash Invitational before returning to the ASRC the following Saturday (Jan. 28) for the MEC Championships.

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

Postgame Interviews

Head Coach Danny Irwin

Jacob Simpson


Chase Morgan