Wheeling, W.Va. – Even though the Wheeling Jesuit University Wrestling program has only been in existence for two years, the rivalry between WJU and West Liberty University has developed almost instantaneously. 
 
A year ago, Wheeling Jesuit won the WV Collegiate Open.  In the process of winning the tournament, the Cardinals also earned a major victory over West Liberty, who had beat WJU just a week previous, and earned the "best team in West Virginia" moniker.
 
Wheeling Jesuit worked their way to eight top-three finishes that included first-place performances by Ryan Winslow, Damon Outward, and Scott Lopez to earn 132.5 points, and beat West Liberty by a single point.
 
Some saw that first Jesuit victory as a fluke. 
 
Tonight, the Wheeling Jesuit University Cardinals hosted West Liberty in a dual match in the McDonough Center on WJU's campus.  The result laid to rest any doubt that Wheeling Jesuit is for real, as the Cardinal grapplers completely dominated West Liberty 25-6.
 
Jesuit won all five weight classes before the intermission, featuring two unranked Wheeling Jesuit wrestlers knocking off ranked West Liberty opponents.  Preston Bowshier shocked #3 ranked Joel Paolo in the 149 pound weight class bout to put the Cardinals ahead 13-0 in the match.  Dominick Nania had the bout of the night, coming back from a seven point deficit to win 17-16 over the Hilltoppers' David Schlieper at 157 pounds.  Nania's victory put Wheeling Jesuit up 16-0 at the break. 
 
Following the intermission, Reese Wallbrown beat West Liberty's #3 ranked Eric Antesberger to stretch the Cardinal lead to 19-0.  #3 Ranked Ryan Winslow, a Wheeling Jesuit sophomore, put the final nail in West Liberty's coffin with a 9-3 victory in the 184 pound weight classification over West Liberty's Dan Doyle.  The Winslow victory sealed the dual meet win.
 
And the icing on the cake was Corey Siegfried's overtime victory over #5 ranked Aaron Silverio in the 285 weight pound classification.
 
"Tonight's victory is a great credit to the type of student-athletes we are bringing into our Wrestling program here at Wheeling Jesuit University and the effort they put forth on a daily basis.  We won nearly every close battle that was decided late, which speaks volumes about our conditioning and resolve.  This was a big victory for our program and I couldn't be prouder of our team," stated Head Coach Sean Doyle.
 
Wheeling Jesuit Wrestling returns to action next weekend when it travels to the Midwest Classic, noted as the finest Division II Wrestling event on the calendar.
Wheeling Jesuit 25 West Liberty 6
 
125- Dustin Warner (WJU) dec Zach Brown (WLU) 3-2
133- Nolan Whitely (WJU) maj dec. Joe Wagstaff (WLU) 13-3
141- Skyler Terrell (WJU) dec. Anthony Craig (WLU) 9-6
149- Preston Bowshier (WJU) dec Joel Paolo (WLU) 2-1 OT
157- Dominick Nania (WJU) dec David Schlieper (WLU) 17-16
165- Reyse Wallbrown (WJU) dec. Eric Antersberger (WLU) 3-1
174- Jordan Nolan (WLU) dec Sawyer Leppla (WJU) 8-4
184- Ryan Winslow (WJU) dec Danny Doyle (WLU) 9-3
197- Nate Dawson (WLU) dec Maxwell Lacey (WJU) 3-2
285- Corey Siegfried (WJU) dec Aaron Silverio (WLU) 2-1 OT