CLEVELAND- West Virginia University wrestlers Brandon Rader and Jared Villers claimed individual titles to help guide their team to a second place finish in the team standings at the Eastern Wrestling League tournament on Sunday, March 4, at Cleveland State’s Woodling Gym.

Edinboro’s 5.5 point lead heading into Sunday’s finals was too much for the Mountaineers to overcome despite having a tournament best five wrestlers in Sunday afternoon’s finals. The Fighting Scots led all teams with 113 points, while West Virginia checked in at 104.5.

WVU has now finished second or higher at the EWL tournament in nine out of the past 12 seasons.

The titles won by Villers (197) and Rader (141) were both repeats as they won their respective weight classes in 2006. Both wrestlers went undefeated against EWL opponents this season.

Rader, seeded No. 1, provided one of the most impressive victories of all 10 finals on the day as he defeated No. 4-seeded Darren Kern of Bloomsburg by a 16-5 major decision. It was the Parkersburg, W.Va., native’s sixth major decision of the season and his 10th consecutive win.

Villers beat Edinboro’s Jim Gibson 4-2 in a bout that he controlled from the start. The Akron, Ohio, native has won 10 straight heading into the NCAA tournament. His last loss occurred at the NWCA National Duals almost two months ago.

Teammates Mark Anderson (133), David Jauregui (149) and Kurt Brenner (174) didn’t fare as well in their championship bouts as they all lost to finish second.

Along with the five West Virginia wrestlers that competed in Sunday’s finals several other WVU wrestlers will have a chance to earn a wildcard berth into the NCAA tournament. Those selections will be made later this evening.

Mountaineers Fryling and Litton rebounded from losses Saturday’s semifinals to finish third in their respective weight classes. Fryling defeated Bloomsburg’s Dennis Bermudez, 6-2, in the 184-pound consolation semifinals and then took care of No. 4-seeded Matt Hill, 3-1, in the consolation finals. Litton won an 8-5 decision against Lock Haven’s Tom Kocher in the consolation semifinals and followed it up with a 3-0 win in the finals against Pitt’s Kyle Deliere.

The WVU wrestlers that qualified for the NCAA tournament now get a week off before traveling to Detroit, Mich., to compete March 15-17 at The Palace at Auburn Hills.

Final Team Standings
1. Edinboro- 113
2. West Virginia- 104.5
3. Lock Haven- 98
4. Pitt- 95.5
5. Bloomsburg- 94.5
6. Cleveland State- 77.5
7. Clarion- 35

2007 EWL Individual Champions
125- Obeson Blanc (Lock Haven)
133- Drew Headlee (Pitt)
141- Brandon Rader (WVU)
149- Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro)
157- Seth Martin (Lock Haven)
165- Deonte Penn (Edinboro)
174- Keith Gavin (Pitt)
184- Alex Clemsen (Edinboro)
197- Jared Villers (WVU)
HWT- Mike Spaid (Bloomsburg)

Session III Results-
Finals
133: No. 1 Drew Headlee (UP) FALL Mark Anderson (WVU), 2:18
141: No. 1 Brandon Rader (WVU) MAJOR No. 2 Darren Kern (BU), 16-5
149: No. 1 Gregor Gillespie (EUP) DEC No. 2 David Jauregui (WVU), 6-3
174: No. 1 Keith Gavin (UP) DEC No. 2 Kurt Brenner (WVU), 6-3
197: No. 1 Jared Villers (WVU) DEC Jim Gibson (EUP), 4-2

Consolations
125: No. 4 Brad Gentzle (UP) FALL Scott Stuart (WVU), 2:25
125: Ryan Riggs (CSU) DEC Scott Stuart (WVU), 6-2 (5th place bout)
157: No. 1 Zac Fryling (WVU) DEC Dennis Bermudez (BU), 6-2
157: No. 1 Zac Fryling (WVU) DEC No. 4 Matt Hill (EUP), 3-1 (3rd place bout)
184: No. 3 Chance Litton (WVU) DEC No. 4 Tom Kocher (LHU), 8-5
184: No. 3 Chance Litton (WVU) DEC Kyle Deliere (UP), 3-0
HWT: Rashard Goff (CSU) DEC Dustin Rogers (WVU), 5-1
HWT: Dustin Rogers (WVU) FALL Ben Hepburn (LHU), 6:42 (5th place bout)