Cedar Falls, Iowa – The No. 1 West Liberty University wrestling team leaves the 2024 NWCA National Duals with a 1-4 record on the weekend after a pair of losses on Saturday afternoon. The Hilltoppers fell to fellow MEC member, No. 25 Glenville State, by a score of 24-18 to open the day and then fell in a rematch of the opening round match-up against No. 18 Northern State in a 36-13 result on Saturday afternoon in the UNI-Dome.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score (Dual 1): No. 1 West Liberty 18, No. 25 Glenville State 24
Final Score (Dual 2): No. 1 West Liberty 13, No. 18 Northern State 36
 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. NO. 25 GLENVILLE STATE

• Entering the third period Alexander Crane trailed Hunter Ross 13-1 in the 125 pound bout, however Crane restarted on top and began to work his opponent. He was able to secure the win by fall with only 15 seconds remaining in the match (6:45), giving West Liberty a momentum boost and a 6-0 lead in the dual.
• Glenville State saw a fast start from No. 5 Gavin Quiocho, who built a 10-1 lead after the first period and went on to win 16-1 by tech fall over Matt Englehardt at 133 pounds.
• In his second overtime match at the national duals, Khyvon Grace battled to a 7-4 win over Sean Johnson, notching the winning takedown only 24 seconds into the extra period at 141 pounds.
• At 149 pounds No. 5 Nico Taddy was able to record the first takedown against Ethan Hardy only 27 seconds into the match, however Hardy rallied for a 9-5 win by decision for the first of three consecutive GSU wins, adding a takedown in the final minute for the four point advantage.
• With only one takedown between the pair of 157 pound wrestlers, No. 10 Guy Deleonardis edged Jordan Watters in a 5-2 decision.
• Scoring a takedown in all three periods, Brady Ross gave Glenville State a 14-9 lead in the dual as he defeated No. 10 Alec Cook in an 11-5 decision.
• The Hilltoppers got back on track at 174 pounds as Christian Chavez notched the first of two straight wins for WLU, as he decisively beat Drake De La Cruz by tech fall 17-2. Chavez notched four takedowns in the bout and had a 4-point nearfall in the first period.
• No. 1 Ty McGeary gave West Liberty an 18-14 lead in the dual with his fourth bonus point win of the tournament (first win on Friday due to injury default) as he defeated Isaiha Casto 11-0 at 184 pounds. McGeary entered the third period with only a 3-0 lead, however he posted an escape, takedown, and 4-point nearfall enroute to the major.
• With a 14-6 win by major decision for Nicholas Johnson over Mason Christian, Glenville State evened the dual at 18 apiece entering the 285 pound bout. After a scoreless first period, Johnson built an 11-1 lead that Christian was unable to overcome even though he outscored his opponent 5-3 in the final period with a takedown and pair of escapes.
• The Pioneers secured the dual win with a win by fall (4:46) by Gavin Shamblin over Jamie Kilmer in the 285 pound match.
• Both teams recorded three bonus point wins a piece.

Match Summary		GSU	WLU
125	Alexander Crane (West Liberty) over Hunter Ross (Glenville State University) Fall 6:45	0	6.0
133	Gavin Quiocho (Glenville State University) over Matt Englehardt (West Liberty) TF 16-1	5.0	0
141	Khyvon Grace (West Liberty) over Sean Johnson (Glenville State University) SV-1 7-4	0	3.0
149	Ethan Hardy (Glenville State University) over Nico Taddy (West Liberty) Dec 9-5	3.0	0
157	Guy Deleonardis (Glenville State University) over Jordan Watters (West Liberty) Dec 5-2	3.0	0
165	Brady Ross (Glenville State University) over Alec Cook (West Liberty) Dec 11-5	3.0	0
174	Christian Chavez (West Liberty) over Drake De La Cruz (Glenville State University) TF 17-2	0	5.0
184	Ty McGeary (West Liberty) over Isaiha Casto (Glenville State University) Maj 11-0	0	4.0
197	Nicholas Johnson (Glenville State University) over Mason Christian (West Liberty) Maj 14-6	4.0	0
285	Gavin Shamblin (Glenville State University) over Jamie Kilmer (West Liberty) Fall 4:46	6.0	0
Dual Meet Score		24.0	18.0

 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. NO. 18 NORTHERN STATE

• Northern State opened the dual with three consecutive wins to build a 14-0 advantage in the team score. Brenden Salfrank started with a win by fall (1:24) over Alexander Crane at 125 pounds and Teagan Block followed with an 8-2 win by decision after totaling five points in the third period over Matt Englehardt at 133 pounds. Braydon Mogle ended the stretch with a 16-1 win by tech fall over Chris Barthelemy as he recorded four takedowns and a 4-point nearfall.
• No. 5 Nico Taddy was the first to get West Liberty on the board as he notched an 8-0 major decision win over Carter Ban at 149 pounds, notching a pair of takedowns, an escape and gaining the riding time point.
• Cael Larson recorded the second pin of the dual for the Wolves at 157 pounds as he won by fall (3:46) over Jordan Watters.
• No. 10 Alec Cook used a 9-point third period to earn a 14-2 major decision win over Spencer Roth at 165 pounds. He totaled two takedowns, a 4-point nearfall, a reversal, an escape, and earned the riding time point in the victory.
• Mason Fey notched another win by fall (4:58) for NSU as he defeated Christian Chavez at 174 pounds.
• No. 1 Ty McGeary moved to 5-0 on the weekend and remained undefeated on the season after another bonus point victory, winning 16-1 by tech fall over Tyler Voorhees at 184 pounds. He scored ten points in the first period with a pair of takedowns and a 4-point nearfall, then later added a takedown in both the second and third periods.
• West Liberty forfeited the bout at 197 pounds, giving the win to Ryan Hirschkorn and the Wolves.
• In the final bout of the weekend, Ayden Viox won by an 11-1 major decision over Jamie Kilmer. He recorded a takedown in all three periods and scored five points in the third period en route to the major.
• NSU recorded six bonus point wins compared to three for WLU.

Match Summary		WLU	NSU
125	Brenden Salfrank (Northern State) over Alexander Crane (West Liberty) Fall 1:24	0	6.0
133	Teagan Block (Northern State) over Matt Englehardt (West Liberty) Dec 8-2	0	3.0
141	Braydon Mogle (Northern State) over Chris Barthelemy (West Liberty) TF 16-1	0	5.0
149	Nico Taddy (West Liberty) over Carter Ban (Northern State) Maj 8-0	4.0	0
157	Cael Larson (Northern State) over Jordan Watters (West Liberty) Fall 3:46	0	6.0
165	Alec Cook (West Liberty) over Spencer Roth (Northern State) Maj 14-2	4.0	0
174	Mason Fey (Northern State) over Christian Chavez (West Liberty) Fall 4:58	0	6.0
184	Ty McGeary (West Liberty) over Tyler Voorhees (Northern State) TF 16-1	5.0	0
197	Ryan Hirschkorn (Northern State) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf	0	6.0
285	Ayden Viox (Northern State) over Jamie Kilmer (West Liberty) Maj 11-1	0	4.0
Dual Meet Score		13.0	36.0

POST NWCA NATIONAL DUALS INTERVIEW - HEAD COACH DANNY IRWIN
 

POST NWCA NATIONAL DUALS INTERVIEW - TY MCGEARY
 

UP NEXT
The West Liberty University wrestling team will be back in action on Thursday, January 11, when they welcome No. 20 Ashland to the hilltop. The Hilltoppers and Eagles are slated for a 6:30 p.m. start time inside the ASRC.