Wheeling Wrestling Triumphs Over Salem in Regionals Prelude

The Wheeling University Wrestling team faced a challenging night at the Salem Tri-Meet in West Virginia, competing against Seton Hill and the host Salem. With a season record of 6-4 and 3-2 in the Mountain East Conference (MEC), the Cardinals aimed to build on their previous performances. Unfortunately, they suffered defeats in both matches, starting with a 36-15 loss to Seton Hill followed by a narrow 28-20 loss to Salem.

Match Details: Wheeling vs. Seton Hill

The opening match against Seton Hill set the tone for a tough night. Wheeling struggled early, forfeiting both the 133-pound and 141-pound weight classes, putting them down 12-0 before the wrestling even began.

• 125 pounds: Brent Bosley lost to Jack Sombronski by decision, 8-4.
• 149 pounds: George Croy suffered a quick loss, pinned by Ty Linsenbigler at just 27 seconds.
• 157 pounds: Bradley Spencer secured Wheeling’s first points with a hard-fought, 5-3 decision over Greg Shaulis.
• Final Score: Wheeling 15, Seton Hill 36

The Cardinals did manage to salvage some pride with victories in the heavyweight categories. Jaxon Burcher won by pinfall at 197 pounds, and Gavin Harper followed with a pinfall win at 285 pounds, but the early deficits proved too much to overcome.

Match Summary: Wheeling vs. Salem

In their second dual against Salem, Wheeling faced similar challenges. After another forfeit at 133, Brent Bosley quickly evened the score with a pinfall victory over Ethan Moore at 2:34.

• 149 pounds: George Croy was pinned again, this time by Elijah Hunter at 2:11.
• 174 pounds: Jake Taylor delivered a strong performance, winning by tech fall 26-10.
• Final Score: Wheeling 20, Salem 28

The match featured intense bouts, particularly at 197 pounds, where Jaxon Burcher claimed a 7-1 decision over Iran Love. Gavin Harper concluded the night with a swift pin against Salem’s Mikey Lytle, but it was not enough to overcome the morning’s struggles.

Looking Ahead

Despite the setbacks in Salem, the Wheeling University Wrestling team will aim to regroup and focus on their upcoming competition. They are set to compete in the NCAA DII Super Region 1 Tournament on Sunday, March 1st. The Cardinals will be looking to leverage their experience from these dual meets as they push toward the postseason.