"Fortunately for us, Rogers was the better wrestler and he competed as the better wrestler tonight," Coach Craig Turnbull said. "I don't want to minimize that he's under a lot of stress with the match coming down to him, but being able to keep your focus and get the job done when the match is on the line is something he's doing very well right now."
Rogers, now 12-4 on the season and 3-0 in league play, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first period. After increasing his lead by a point with an escape in the second session, the Corning, Calif., native tacked on two more takedowns with 1:54 in riding time for the major decision.
Freshman Colin Johnston (141) earned the team's first points with his first collegiate major decision. The Eighty Four, Pa., resident registered two takedowns in the first period and two more in the second to go ahead 8-3. In the third session, Johnston worked quickly, earning an escape after starting in the defensive position and then recorded a takedown followed by a three point near fall. Before the match was over, Johnston added in one more takedown and had 2:06 worth of riding time for the 17-4 victory.
Two bouts later at 157 pounds, redshirt-freshman Ryan Goodman faced a difficult task in Lock Haven's Ollie Cooperwood. Goodman, who trailed 3-1 through two periods, saved his best wrestling for the final session. After tying the match with escape and stalling points, the Latrobe, Pa., native registered the go-ahead takedown with less than 10 seconds left in the match for the 5-3 victory, bringing the Mountaineers to within three, 10-7.
"Probably the one that really won the match for us was Goodman's match at 157," Turnbull added. "We weren't getting much help from the official with the stall call, but Goodman stayed diligent and got rewarded with a takedown. That was critical."
Redshirt-junior Donnie Jones, riding a four-match winning streak entering his bout against Lock Haven's Aaron Ernest, continued his impressive stretch. Flexing his muscle and using his quickness, Jones tallied five takedowns through two sessions. In the third period, Jones earned a two-point reversal and then quickly worked his way to second tech fall this year. The Slickville, Pa., native added to his total with two takedowns followed by a two-point near fall and then one more takedown, moving his takedown total to 30 on the season. With the 2:14 in riding time, Jones easily took a 21-6 victory – also giving WVU the 12-10 lead.
Fifth-year senior Kurt Brenner added to WVU's lead with a 19-8 major decision at 174 pounds. Showing why he is ranked 12th nationally, Brenner wrestled aggressively, getting four takedowns through the first three minutes of the bout. After earning another two in the second session, Brenner accrued six more points in the final period, plus a point for 2:14 in riding time for his second major decision of the season. The Freedom, Pa., native is tied with Rogers for a team-leading 12 overall victories.
Lock Haven falls to 6-8-1 overall, 1-3 in EWL action.
The Mountaineers are now 17-14-0 all-time against the Bald Eagles.
WVU ends its five-match road trip with a contest at EWL rival Pitt on Feb. 7. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Field House.
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