UNC-Pembroke’s reign as kings of the Mountain East Conference wrestling mountain lasted one year.
Saturday, the No. 6-ranked West Liberty Hilltoppers dethroned the champions in convincing fashion, capturing the conference’s team championship with 152 points. Pembroke was second with 119.5, followed by Notre Dame (99.5), Davis & Elkins (86), Alderson Broaddus (82.5), Glenville State (48.5), Fairmont State (22) and Wheeling (19.5).
West Liberty wrestlers won six of the 10 weight classes, finished with two runners-up, one third- and one fourth-place finish. No Hilltopper finished lower than fourth.
Senior Connor Craig won the 184-pound class with an impressive finale, scoring a major decision (13-0) victory against Davis & Elkins’ Kyle Wojtaszek.
Craig is the No. 2-ranked wrestler in Division II at 184 pounds, and after an impressive march to the championship he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament.
Madonna’s Alec Cook was victorious at 149. The freshman is ranked No. 13 nationally and earned a 15-4 major decision against the Senators’ Craig Cook.
West Liberty’s Cole Laya (125), Tyler Warner (133), Logan Kemp (197), and Francesco Borsellino (285) also captured their respective weight classes while Marcus Jean-Baptiste (141) and Chase Morgan (165) were runners-up. Ty McGeary finished third at 174 while Christian Rivera was fourth at 157.
Wheeling University placed three wrestlers; Kale’anahe Slaughter (149) and Deshawn Mercadel (174) won their fifth-place matches while Clarouly Meca (285) came in sixth.
The Hilltoppers will look to build off this success in three weeks when Tiffin University hosts the Division II regional tournament.
Cardinals Find Their Coach
For the second season, Wheeling had to go to nearly the 11th hour to find its softball coach, but the Cardinals made their selection when Caressa DeRossett was named head coach last week.
Last season, former coach Tiffany Buckmaster was hired late with limited time to prepare and started 5-5 with a depleted roster (numerically) before the season was canceled.
DeRossett was impressed with the recruiting class that Buckmaster compiled, as well as a couple key transfers, and is eager to get started.
“This program shows great promise,” DeRossett said through a university release. “Coach Buckmaster laid a solid foundation by recruiting a remarkable group of athletes. In the future, I look forward to building a team every year that will encompass all of our missions and values here at Wheeling University.”
DeRossett spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with Alfred University, part of Division III’s Empire 8 conference. She was a graduate assistant for three seasons before joining Alfred as an official assistant last spring.
She played four seasons of collegiate softball, the final two at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Schenk Picks Up First Career Win
West Liberty volleyball coach Riley Schenk secured her first collegiate coaching victory when the Hilltoppers battled back from an opening loss to Notre Dame to defeat Fairmont State in straight sets.
Nina Billotto and Maddie Clayton combined for 22 kills and five blocks as West Liberty won 25-17, 25-22, and 25-13 to even its record at 1-1.
The Hilltoppers are expecting big things after being picked tied with Notre Dame for second in the MEC North with Wheeling University picked to win the North.
The defending MEC champion Cardinals have yet to participate in a match as both their opener against Fairmont State and home opener against Frostburg State were postponed. Wheeling finally takes the court Tuesday at Alderson Broaddus.
First Win(s) Part Deux
Wheeling University first-year coach Chris Richardson picked up his first and second wins of his career as the Cardinals snapped a four-game skid to start the season.
Finally, back at full strength, Wheeling first defeated W.Va. Wesleyan 85-77 on the road before returning home and dispatching Davis & Elkins 84-71 at the McDonough Center.
More impressive is that the Wesleyan win came without leading scorer Jordan Reid. Reid returned to lead the Cards past D&E, scoring 23 points while Wheeling Central product and transfer Brent Price had his second solid outing, backing Reid with 20 points.
The first meeting between the Cardinals and rival West Liberty Hilltoppers is Wednesday with a women’s-men’s doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. No fans will be admitted but live broadcasts, will be available by going to Hilltoppersports.com and clicking on the stream.
Breaking Her Own Mark
Wheeling University redshirt senior Liz Fleming continued her dominance in the throwing events during the Tiffin Dragon Invite, heaving a PR 18.35 meters to win the weight throw.
The reigning MEC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year also finished third in the shot put with a 12.51-meter mark.
The Lady Cardinals picked up two additional victories—senior Emmarie Foote in the 200 (26.03) and freshman Jaci Rife (1.074) in the 400. Cambridge product JayLynn McClarren came in fifth in the long jump at 4.90 meters. The freshman’s jump is the seventh best in Cardinals’ indoor history.
