February 9, 2003

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team dropped a 36-12 decision to ninth-ranked West Virginia Sunday after at WVU Coliseum in an Eastern Wrestling League match.

The match started at 125 pounds, where 17th-ranked Seth Lisa of West Virginia got a reversal and three near-fall points in the second period en route to the 9-1 major decision over Tech's Geoff Head. At 133 pounds, Tech's Dalton Head was leading 3-0 in the second period, but got taken down right to his back, where he was pinned by 14th-ranked Brandon Lauer at the 3:52 mark. At 141 pounds, freshman Jim Miller hung with 13th-ranked Shane Cunanan, getting a takedown late in the match, but in the end dropped a 12-7 decision. At 149 pounds, seventh-ranked Billy Smith of West Virginia took down Reed Carpenter with under 10 seconds left in the match and pinned Carpenter at the 6:54 mark.

At 157 pounds, Tech's Chris Stith dominated Mike Torriero from the start, eventually pinning him at the 4:25 mark. In the first period, Stith took down Torriero right to his back, earning two near fall points. Torriero reversed Stith, but Stith escaped late in the period to take a 5-2 lead into the second stanza. In the second period, Stith finished a double-leg takedown and later got another takedown, where he put Torriero on his back and pinned him.

At 165 pounds, seventh-ranked Tom McMath of West Virginia used six takedowns to earn a 16-4 major decision over Tech's Mike Cox. At 174 pounds, top-ranked Greg Jones of WVU used four takedowns and two near-fall points to help propel him to a 13-3 major decision over Tech's Steve Borja.

At 184 pounds, senior Scott Justus picked up his 86th career victory, moving him into sixth place all-time at Tech, with a dominating victory over WVU's Ryan Wilman. Justus, ranked 14th in the nation, used four takedowns to wear down the 17th-ranked Wilman before pinning him at the 5:04 mark. Justus is now 11-3 on the year and 86-27 for his career.

At 197 pounds, WVU's Adrian Thompson used five takedowns to help him to a 12-4 major decision over Tech's Shaun Guttridge. The match finished up at the heavyweights, where 13th-ranked Brent Miller of WVU earned a technical fall over Pete Pool at the 5:17 mark.

Tech falls to 0-11 overall, 0-4 in the EWL while the Mountaineers improve to 5-3, 4-0 in the EWL. The Hokies will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 16 against EWL foe Edinboro. The match, originally scheduled to take place in Blacksburg, has been moved to Grundy, Va., where it will be held in the Grundy High School gym. The match is set to begin at 3 p.m.

Virginia Tech       12
#9 West Virginia    36


125  #17 Seth Lisa (WV) maj. dec. Geoff Head, 9-1
133  #14 Brandon Lauer (WV) fall Dalton Head, 3:52
141  #13 Shane Cunanan (WV) dec. Jim Miller, 12-7
149  #7 Billy Smith (WV) fall Reed Carpenter, 6:54
157  Chris Stith (VT) fall Mike Torriero, 4:25
165  #7 Tom McMath (WV) maj. Mike Cox, 16-4
174  #1 Greg Jones (WV) maj. dec. Steve Borja, 13-3
184  #14 Scott Justus (VT) fall #17 Ryan Wilman, 5:04
197  Adrian Thompson (WV) maj. dec. Shaun Guttridge, 12-4
285  #13 Brent Miller (WV) TF Pete Pool, 5:17