West Liberty, W.Va. – The No. 1 West Liberty University wrestling team will face a pair of opponents on Thursday night when they travel to South Euclid, Ohio, to face No. 16 Grand Valley State and conference foe Notre Dame (Ohio). Dual action will get underway at 5 p.m. while the Hilltoppers will compete in duals two and three of the night at approximately 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. against the Lakers and Falcons respectively.

DUAL DETAILS
Location: South Euclid, Ohio (Murphy Gymnasium)
Start Time: Duals start at 5 p.m. with WLU wrestling at approximately 6 and 7 p.m. in the second and third duals of the evening.
 
#1 WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES

• West Liberty enters Thursday with a 9-6 record in dual meet competition following a 31-18 win over No. 20 Ashland on Thursday, January 11.
• The Black & Gold are tied for the No. 1 ranking in the NWCA Coaches' Poll, the highest ranking in program history, as they share the top spot with Central Oklahoma. It is the first time since October of 2007 that there has been a tie for the No. 1 national ranking.
• Alexander Crane enters the 125 pound bout with a record of 6-12 on the season. He received a win by way of forfeit in last Thursday's dual against Ashland after posting a 1-4 record at last weekend's national duals. In his lone win in the UNI-Dome, Crane battled back from a 13-1 deficit in the third period to record the fall (6:45) over Hunter Ross of Glenville State with only 15 seconds remaining in the bout. The pin was his first bonus point win of the season.
• At 133 pounds, Vincent Scollo enters with a record of 10-3 on the season with his last appearance being a 2-1 performance at the Hilltopper Duals. He opened the duals with a 9-0 win by major decision over Nolan Frye of Mount Union followed by an 8-1 win by decision over No. 3 Bryce Beatty of Millersville in a top-5 match-up. He was upset 9-7 in his final bout of the day against Thierno Diallo of Frostburg State. He owns three bonus point wins this season, two by tech fall and one by major decision.
• At 141 pounds Khyvan Grace has posted a record of 15-5 on the season after his fifth bonus point win of the year, all by way of tech fall. He defeated Jeremiah McKee by a score of 17-1 in 5:19 as part of four bonus point wins against the Eagles. He owns one ranked win and a win over a DI opponent this season as he defeated No. 3 Jake Niffennegger of Mercyhurst at the Findlay Open and Tre Varndell of Clarion at the Drexel Duals.
• Nico Taddy is the No. 5 ranked wrestler at 149 pounds and has posted a record of 7-2 on the year following a first period win by fall (2:30) over Zander Graham of Ashland last week. He is 2-1 against ranked opponents this season and owns five bonus point wins on the year. He is one of three Hilltoppers to be named MEC Wrestler of the Week during the 2023-24 season, earning the recognition on November 6, 2023, after a win over No. 3 Jacob Ealy of Pitt-Johnstown in his collegiate debut.
• At 157 pounds Jordan Watters is 6-5 during the 2023-24 season after closing out a 6-2 win by decision over Evan Davis of Ashland in his last outing. He owns one bonus point victory this season, which occurred by fall.
• At 165 pounds, Alec Cook is the No. 10 wrestler in the country with a 12-8 record on the year following a 2-3 weekend at the national duals in his last appearance for the Black & Gold. Highlighting his five bouts was a top-10 battle against No. 4 Corey Peterson of No. 10 McKendree, however he fell 4-1 in SV-1 to drop to 0-3 against ranked opponents on the year. With a 14-2 win by major decision over Spencer Roth of No. 18 Northern State to end the weekend he brought his season total to eight bonus point victories. Cook is one of several wrestlers on the team to record a victory over a DI opponent as he defeated Trevor Elfvin of Clarion in an 8-3 decision at the beginning of December.
• At 174 pounds Christian Chavez owns a 12-11 record during his freshman campaign, competing in both the 174 and 184 pound weight classes. In his most recent outing, he lost by fall (1:01) to Hayden Flynn of Ashland in last week's dual. He owns seven bonus point victories this season.
• Ty McGeary remains the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 184 pounds with a 20-0 record on the year after his 14^th bonus point win, a 15-0 win by tech fall over Nate Barrett of Ashland. He is a 4-time MEC Wrestler of the Week honoree while going 2-0 against ranked opponents this year.
• Another freshman in the lineup is Mason Christian, who has battled to a 14-6 record at 197 pounds in 2023-24. In his last outing he fell in a 7-2 decision to Peyton Lemon of Ashland in dual competition against the Eagles. He has totaled seven bonus point victories on the year. In open tournaments this season he has won the Mount Union Open and was fourth at the Findlay Invitational.
• Francesco Borselino, the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 285 pounds, enters Thursday with a record of 6-0 this season with five wins by fall. With a pin of Wyatt Bailey of Ashland last week in 3:32, it was his first win by fall that did not occur in the first period. Of his four first period pins, three have come within the first 50 seconds of action. He is one of three different Hilltoppers to have been named MEC Wrestler of the Week this year (12-11-2023).
• Danny Irwin is in his fifth season as the head coach at West Liberty, leading the Hilltoppers to a 53-21 dual meet record and three consecutive top-6 finishes at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Overall, Irwin enters his seventh season as a head coach after spending his first two seasons at Wheeling and has compiled a 73-30 career dual meet record and four total top-6 national championship finishes.

#16 GRAND VALLEY STATE STORYLINES

• Grand Valley State enters Thursday night's dual with a record of 9-2 in the program's first season back after being reinstated. The team was previously cut in 1993.
• GVSU has four wrestlers ranked in the NWCA polls who are not in Thursday night's lineup, including Aaron Lucio who is No. 8 at 125 pounds, Chris Donathan who is No. 3 at 149 pounds, Josh Kenny who is No. 3 at 174 pounds, and Wyatt Miller who is No. 12 at 197 pounds.
• Luca Conflitti enters the 125 pound bout with a record of 3-7 on the year with one bonus point win by way of fall. In his last outing he was 1-1 at the Super Region 3 Duals, winning by forfeit in the Thomas More dual prior to losing by a 15-0 tech fall against Anthony Sagaris of No. 5 Lake Erie.
• At 133 pounds Logan Klinge will wrestle for the Lakers, entering the duals with a 4-9 mark on the year with all four wins by fall. At the Super Region 3 Duals he went 0-2 with an 8-5 loss by decision to Hunter Sproles of Thomas More and losing by fall (1:31) to Brenden Hamilton of No. 5 Lake Erie.
• It will be either Jak Keller or Dylan Lorincz who will get the nod at 141 pounds. Keller enters with a record of 10-12 with seven bonus point wins. In his last outing he won by fall (3:19) in his lone match of the Super Region 3 Duals against Hunter Isaacs of Thomas Moore. Lorincz has posted a 3-7 record on the year with all three wins earning bonus points. He was last in action at the Super Region 3 Duals where he lost in a 15-1 major decision to Carsen Richards of No. 5 Lake Erie.
• Michael Merrit enters the 149 pound bout with an 8-8 record on the season which includes three bonus point victories. He last competed at the Super Region 3 Duals where he earned a win by forfeit against Thomas More before losing a 9-7 decision to Austin Fietz of No. 5 Lake Erie.
• Gustavo DeLima will be GVSU's 157 pound wrestler on Thursday night and enters with a 5-7 record and three bonus point victories. He earned a win by forfeit at the Super Region 3 Duals in the match-up with No. 5 Lake Erie, but last competed at the Mountain Cat Duals where he went 1-1 with both bouts decided by fall.
• Trammel Robinson or Miles Curtis will wrestle for Grand Valley State at 165 pounds. Robinson has a team high 20 wins with a 20-10 record in 2023-24, which includes six bonus wins. He went 2-0 at the Super Region 3 Duals, defeating Caleb Lake of Thomas More by fall (1:39) and Thomas Pitter of No. 5 Lake Erie in a 2-0 decision. Curtis has notched a 5-7 mark this year with four wins by fall. He last competed at the Mountain Cat Duals where he won by fall (6:13) against Mark Matwsek of Frostburg State before losing by fall (2:42) to Mike Lowry of No. 9 UNC Pembroke.
•  Matthew Morris enters the 174 pound bout with a 3-9 record on the year with a pair of pins. He was last in action at the Mountain Cat Duals where he lost in an 8-1 decision to Will Small of No. 11 Pitt-Johnstown.
• At 184 and 197 pounds it will be either Seth Konynenbelt or Nate Mansor for GVSU. Konynenbelt is second on the team with 19 wins and has a 19-9 record on the year. He has secured 14 bonus point wins and has six wins by fall. He went 2-0 at the Super Region 3 Duals with a win by fall (2:48) against Zavier Campsey of Thomas More and an 8-0 major decision win over Jordan Barnett of No. 5 Lake Erie. Mansor is 1-6 this season with his one win occurring by fall. He last competed at the Findlay Open where he went 0-2 with a 15-0 loss by tech fall to Andrew Knick of Findlay and a loss by fall (4:14) to Darrin Alward of Davenport.
• Brett Boudreau rounds out the Grand Valley State lineup at 285 pounds and a 4-8 record this season, which includes three wins by fall. He went 0-2 at the Super Region 3 Duals with a loss by fall (0:28) to Daulton Mayer of Thomas More and a 2-0 loss by decision to Dylan Norris of No. 5 Lake Erie.
• Joey Simcoe was named head coach when the program was reinstated in May of 2022 after serving as the head coach at Tiffin for 12 seasons where he coached a pair of national champions and three teams who finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.

SERIES HISTORY

• Thursday will be the first ever meeting between No. 1 West Liberty and No. 16 Grand Valley State.

NOTRE DAME STORYLINES

• Notre Dame enters Thursday's dual with an 0-10 record on the season following an 0-3 day at the Super Region 3 Duals, losing to No. 20 Tiffin (43-9), No. 5 Lake Erie (31-15), and Findlay (43-9).
• Jake Arnold will take the mat at 125 pounds for NDC. He was last in action at the Super Region 3 Duals where he went 0-3 on the day, losing a pair of matches by tech fall to Anthony Aniciete of No. 20 Tiffin and Graham Shore of Findlay.
• Parker Moore will wrestle at 149 pounds for the Falcons, coming off an 0-3 performance at the Super Region 3 Duals. He lost a pair of matches by major decision to Matthew Zuckerman of No. 20 Tiffin and Austin Fietz of No. 5 Lake Erie.
• Matthew Kaufmann makes his return for Notre Dame at 157 pounds, wrestling for the first time since December 6 at the Carolina Clash Duals where he went 1-4 at 149 pounds. His lone win of the tournament was a 7-0 win by decision over Dustin Flinn of Coker.
• At 165 pounds for the Falcons, Ethan Aguiniga is coming off a 2-0 performance at the Super Region 3 Duals where he won in a 10-4 decision over Jacob Pail of No. 20 Tiffin and a 6-4 decision over Thomas Potter of No. 5 Lake Erie.
• Alec Hall enters the 174 pound bouts following a 2-1 showing at the Super Region 3 Duals where both wins came by way of forfeit. In his lone action of the day he lost in a 10-2 major decision to Brayden Benson of No. 20 Tiffin.
• Tommy Schmitt will wrestle at 184 pounds for NDC after last competing at the Midwest Classic where he posted a 1-2 record. His lone win occurred in a 20-7 win by major decision over Jarret Pantuso of East Stroudsburg.
• Marvelous Rutledge will return to the mat for Notre Dame in his first appearance since Notre Dame's dual against Gannon on January 5, where he won in a 6-3 decision over Anthony Glessner at 197 pounds.
• La'Ron Parks will compete at 285 pounds for the Falcons, entering off a 2-0 day at the Super Region 3 Duals where he won both bouts by forfeit. He last wrestled an opponent in a 4-1 sudden victory-1 win over Matt Long of Gannon in the Falcons dual against the Knights on January 5 in South Euclid.
• Jordon Tague is in his second season as the head coach at Notre Dame, taking over at his alma mater after competing for the Falcons from 2017-20.

SERIES HISTORY

• Notre Dame holds a 6-2 series lead since the 2014-15 season.
• The Hilltoppers won their second straight dual victory over the Falcons by a score of 37-10 on January 19, 2023, inside the ASRC.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Weight Class	#1 West Liberty	#16 Grand Valley State	Notre Dame
125 Pounds	Alexander Crane	Luca Conflitti	Jake Arnold
133 Pounds	Vincent Scollo	Logan Klinge	Forfeit
141 Pounds	Khyvon Grace	Jak Keller OR Dylan Lorincz	Forfeit
149 Pounds	#5 Nico Taddy	Michael Merrit	Parker Moore
157 Pounds	Jordan Watters	Gustavo DeLima	Matthew Kaufmann
165 Pounds	#10 Alec Cook	Trammel Robinson OR Miles Curtis	Ethan Aguiniga
174 Pounds	Christian Chavez	Matthew Morris	Alec Hall
184 Pounds	#1 Ty McGeary	Seth Konynenbelt OR Nate Mansor	Tommy Schmitt
197 Pounds	Mason Christian	Seth Konynenbelt OR Nate Mansor	Marvelous Rutledge
285 Pounds	#1 Francesco Borsellino	Brett Boudreau	La'Ron Parks