West Liberty is set to defend its regional wrestling championship this weekend on its home mats at the ASRC.
That’s the site of this year’s 2022 NCAA Division II Super 3 Region championships. The host Hilltoppers are the top team in the region and ranked No. 4 nationally in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Poll.
That’s exactly where head coach Danny Irwin’s Hilltoppers finished at last season’s NCAA Wrestling Championships. Five Hilltoppers qualified for nationals last year. WLU can take a serious crack again at the national crown, but it will need to push through as many competitors from this weekend’s regional championship.
“Based on the regional rankings, we’re expected to get six guys out,” Irwin said. “But it’s a situation where I wouldn’t be surprised if we get nine guys out; we are more than capable of doing that.”
Cole Laya (19-3, 125-pounds), Tyler Warner (5-1, 141), and Connor Craig (7-0, 184) are all returning regional champions. Laya went on to win a national championship while Craig was runner-up in 2021, a season after winning a title the previous year.
Laya and Craig are both ranked first in the region, as is Francesco Borsellino (14-0, 285). Logan Kemp (13-3, 197), and Ty McGeary (18-1, 174), meanwhile, are second. All of West Liberty’s wrestlers are ranked in the Top 4 regionally, save for one, which should put the Hilltoppers in a good position come Friday when the official regional seedings are announced.
Good draw or bad, Irwin knows every match from here on out will be difficult. His wrestlers will need their best efforts, along with a little luck, to repeat as regional champions.
“There’s nowhere to hide in the regional, no easy path to the finals. We will have to win a big match in every weight class to advance,” Irwin said. “Some will have to win a couple of those matches.
“But if we can get nine through, that puts us where we’re really in contention at the nationals. Five to six still puts us in a good position, but you’d need things to go your way. We want to come out with hardware, and this is the first stage of that.
“We could come out smelling like roses or feeling like we missed one or two.”
Strong Season Continues
West Liberty, despite battling minor injuries and COVID issues, has put together some quality performances this season. One of the more impressive efforts came during a dual match with Ashland, currently No. 15 in the country.
The Hilltoppers had never defeated Ashland head to head, but inside the ASRC, Irwin’s charges game away with a 29-9 victory.
Later in January, West Liberty again captured the MEC championship, its second in a row. The Hilltoppers accumulated 131.5 points, ahead of runner-up Glenville State (117.5) and Notre Dame (111).
Glenville and Ashland figure to be some of West Liberty’s biggest challengers come Saturday, along with Lake Erie and Tiffin.
“Ashland and Glenville have strong teams and are consistent, as is Lake Erie,” Irwin said. “And Tiffin has some really tough individual wrestlers. It’s going to be a challenge.”
Irwin also mentioned Findlay, which is currently No. 8 nationally. Ashland is 15, followed by Lake Erie at No. 24. Davis & Elkins and Glenville both received votes.
The overall Top five comprises Central Oklahoma, St. Cloud State, Nebraska Kearney, WLU, and McKendree.
West Liberty was slated to face many of the top teams earlier this season at the National Duals before the Hilltoppers were forced to withdraw because of COVID protocols.
