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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The West Virginia University wrestling team dropped its opening two dual meets to finish 0-2 at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals, held at Northern Iowa’s UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, Jan. 13.

The Mountaineers, riddled with injuries before the day started, lost to Northwestern, 28-14, and Penn, 25-18, to bow out of competition on the first day of action.

In its first dual meet of the day WVU fell to No. 8 Northwestern. The Wildcats won the first two bouts of the dual and seven of 10 total to come away with its ninth dual meet win of the season.

After falling behind 9-0 with losses at the 125 and 133-pound weight classes the Mountaineers answered with 14 points of their own. No. 7-rated Brandon Rader kicked off the run by scoring a 20-6 major in his bout against James Kohlberg. The Parkersburg, W.Va., native dominated throughout the match but had built just a 6-1 lead after two periods. Rader broke it open in the third though by tallying five takedowns and scoring another three points on a near fall. He also accumulated a total of 4:32 riding time.

Teammate David Jauregui followed up that performance with a major of his own when he scored a 9-1 victory over Marty Gould. The victory for the Santa Ana, Calif., native was the second of the season over Gould. Jauregui is now 11-2 on the season.

The Mountaineers’ top performance of the morning came from junior 157-pounder Zac Fryling who pinned opponent Dominic Marella in 3:23. The Lansdale, Pa., native had to recover from a head butt that gashed his forehead over his left eye.

WVU’s 14-9 lead would be short-lived though as Northwestern claimed wins in the final five bouts to pull away.

The Mountaineers drew No. 14 Penn in its consolation bout but was not able to rebound as the Quakers came away victorious. West Virginia wrestlers Rader, Jauregui, Jared Villers (197) and Dustin Rogers (HWT) garnered wins for their team in the loss.

Rader claimed the first win over a Penn wrestler when he came away with a 9-3 decision against Rick Rappo.

Rader recorded a total of 9:07 minutes riding time in his two bouts on the day.

Just like the first dual Jauregui was able follow Rader with a win when he handed Rob Hitschler a 9-6 defeat.

Villers earned a quick pin against Quaker Jack Sullivan. The Akron, Ohio, native fell behind 2-0 on a takedown, but gained the advantage and tallied a fall just 1:06 into the bout.

Rogers ended scoring on the day for the Mountaineers by walking away with a win on a forfeit.

West Virginia will look to regroup next weekend when it opens up Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) dual action on the road against Bloomsburg on Saturday, Jan 20, at 1 p.m. WVU faces Clarion the following day on the road at 2 p.m. in Clarion, Pa.

First Round Results

Northwestern 28, WVU 14
125: Brandon Precin (NU) FALL Scott Stuart (WVU), 4:06
133: Eric Metzler (NU) DEC Mark Anderson (WVU), 4-0
141: No. 7 Brandon Rader (WVU) MAJOR James Kohlberg, 20-6
149: David Jauregui (WVU) MAJOR Marty Gould (NU), 9-1
157: Zac Fryling (WVU) FALL Dominic Marella (NU), 3:23
165: Greg Hagel (NU) DEC Eric Connolly (WVU), 2-0
174: No. 15 Nick Hayes (NU) FORFEIT
184: No. 1 Jake Herbert (NU) MAJOR Chance Litton (WVU), 12-0
197: No. 2 Mike Tamillow (NU) DEC No. 14 Jared Villers, 4-3
HWT: No. 2 Dustin Fox Jr. (NU) DEC Dustin Rogers (WVU), 2-1

Consolation Results

Penn 25, WVU 18
125: No. 14 Matt Eveleth (UP) FALL Scott Stuart (WVU), 2:04
133: No. 2 Matt Valenti (UP) MAJOR Mark Anderson (WVU), 9-0
141: No. 7 Brandon Rader (WVU) DEC Rick Rappo (UP), 9-3
149: David Jauregui (WVU) DEC Rob Hitschler (UP), 9-6
157: No. 14 Matt Dragon (UP) DEC Zac Fryling (WVU), 6-0
165: No. 16 Zack Shanaman (UP) MAJOR Eric Connolly (WVU), 16-6
174: No. 7 Matt Herrington (UP) FORFEIT
184: No. 13 Lior Zamir (UP) DEC Chance Litton (WVU), 5-2
197: No. 14 Jared Villers (WVU) FALL Jack Sullivan (UP), 1:06
HWT: Dustin Rogers (WVU) FORFEIT