WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - The West Liberty University wrestling team had a record-setting seven individual champions and claimed its third straight team title dominating Saturday's Mountain East Conference Championships inside the ASRC.

Cole Laya (125), Vincent Scollo (133), Khyvon Grace (141), Jacob Simpson (149), Jamar Williams (157), Alec Cook (165), and Ty McGeary (184) all finished first in their respective brackets.

West Liberty sent nine wrestlers to the finals and had all 10 finish in the top three. Each of the first six weight classes were won by the Hilltoppers. WLU finished with 150.5 team points, 27 ahead of second place and the second most by a team ever in the tournament. 

Laya became the winningest wrestler in conference tournament history claiming his third straight MEC title in the 125-pound division. The No. 2 ranked senior from Fairmont, W.Va. advanced to the championship with a 9-1 major decision in the semifinals and took care of business in the finals with a dominating 17-0 tech fall. He was also named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.

Scollo, ranked fifth in the nation, won his second straight MEC title at 133, his first as a member of the Hilltoppers. The transfer from Davis & Elkins shutout his semifinal opponent, 10-0, then won a thrilling championship match that came down to the final seconds over No. 10 ranked Gavin Quiocho. A last second two-points were awarded to Quiocho, which would have gave him the title, but after review the points were wiped away and Scollo earned the gold medal. Trailing 4-3, Scollo slammed Quiocho down for a takedown with just over 30 seconds left in the match to regain the lead.

Grace, a freshman, won his first career MEC tournament in convincing fashion. The 141 pounder wrestled his way to a pair of bonus-point victories, claiming a 16-1 tech fall win in the semis and 10-1 major decision in the championship bout.

Simpson battled out a 7-2 and 7-1 decision in the semifinals and championship matches, respectively, to win his first conference championship. The senior had a third and fourth place finish at the MEC tournament on his resume, but was able to climb atop the podium in his final outing in front of the home crowd.

Williams returned to the top spot on the podium for the second time in his career with a 157-pound bracket win today, after earning first place at 165 with Alderson Broaddus in 2021. The graduate transfer rolled into the championship with a first period pin in the semifinals over his former teammate Nathaniel Taylor, of AB. Then, Williams showed off his No. 5 national ranking with a 10-4 decision in the championship bout.

Cook returned to the top of the podium for the second time in his career with a 3-2 decision at 165. He secured his spot in the title match with a first period fall. Then in the championship, he came out on top of a low-scoring battle. Cook scored first in the second period to take a 1-0 lead, then fell behind 2-1 in the third. The junior from Weirton, W.Va. completed a takedown with less than a minute left in the match and held on for first place. Cook also won the 141 division in 2021.

McGeary wrestled for the first time since mid-December and did not miss a step. The No. 3 ranked 184-pounder in the country took down No. 8 ranked Cole Houser in the championship matchup, 4-1, to earn his second straight conference championship, first in the 184 division. McGeary advanced to the title match after a second period injury default in the semifinals.

No. 6 ranked Francesco Borsellino rolled into the championship with back-to-back falls. First a second period pin over his Wheeling opponent, then a fall at the 6:17 mark over No. 12 ranked La'Ron Parks, of Notre Dame. In the finals, Borsellino got a late escape to tie the match, but forced to make a move with a riding time deficit he surrendered two points and dropped the match, 4-1, to No. 3 ranked Jared Campbell, of Glenville State. 

Chase Morgan appeared in the finals for the fourth straight season, but came up just short against No. 12 ranked Hunter Delong (6-4) to place second in his first time in the 174 pound bracket. Morgan picked up a 7-2 decision in the semis, then was tied 4-4 in the championship after two periods before Delong picked up a pair of third period points.

Drake Kendrex received a bye to the semifinals and was knocked down to the consolation bracket falling by major decision to Dwayne Johnson, the eventual champion from Alderson Broaddus. Kendrex was able to bounce back and place third with two straight wins. In the consolation semifinals, the senior from Fortville, Ind. rolled to a major decision, then picked up a 5-2 decision in the third place bout. Kendrex fell behind 2-0, but an escape and a reversal in the third period gave him a lead that he would hold for good.

The nine finalists and seven champions are the most by any program in conference history. The Hilltoppers have now won three of the four Mountain East Conference championships in wrestling history.

West Liberty will be back in action next Saturday at the John Summa Invitational hosted by Baldwin Wallace University.

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
 

Ty McGeary
 

Cole Laya
 

Jamar Williams
 

Alec Cook
 

Vincent Scollo

Khyvon Grace

Jacob Simpson