Wrestling 1/4/2017 11:48:00 AM Chris Myers

WJU Wrestlers Aim to Make Mark in Second Trip to National Duals

National Duals Bracket
FT. WAYNE, Ind. – After a strong December finish heading to the holidays, the Cardinals aim to continue the momentum into 2017 in the new year's NCAA Division II prestigious event. The Wheeling Jesuit wrestling team looks to make its mark in its second trip to the Mat Mayhem National Duals.

Featuring 16 of the top NCAA DII programs, WJU makes a return trip in the top-notch field. The Cardinals dropped three close matches in last year's edition, but look to parlay the end of 2016 success into a continuation of it for 2017.

"Other than the NCAA Tournament in March, this is the highlight of the season for us. We will see the best programs in the country over the next few days and there isn't a better way to evaluate where we currently are heading into the second semester," pointed out WJU head coach Sean Doyle.

Doyle's Cardinals open the two-day event on Thursday (Jan. 5) against a familiar foe of No. 8 University of Findlay in an 11 a.m. match at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. WJU will face either No. 3 Maryville University or No. 17 Newberry in its second Thursday match at 3 p.m.

"Findlay is a program with a lot of tradition and pride. They have quite a few nationally ranked wrestler and are getting a few back at the break. It should be a fun match to be part of," said Doyle.

The Cardinals dropped three close matches in last January's National Duals trip. WJU fell to Upper Iowa (24-15), Findlay (19-15) and Indianapolis (24-18).

"I'm sure that our guys learned a lot in our first appearance last year and are looking forward to the opportunity in front of them," stressed the Cardinals coach.

Against Findlay in last year's second match of the day, the Cardinals went out to a 9-0 lead with a Dustin Warner (125) fall and Nolan Whitely (133) decision wins. The Roughnecks won the next four bouts to pull ahead 13-9. At 174, Keegan Driscoll won a 6-4 decision to make it 13-12. Findlay added a 184-lb. win, before Terrance Fanning pulled WJU back within a point, 16-15, with a 10-3 victory. The Roughnecks edged the win on a 4-3 sudden victory decision in the 285-lb. match for the 19-15 final score.

• 2016 WJU National Duals Returning Wrestlers Results
     -Terrance Fanning (197) went 3-0 – all decisions
     -Dominick Nania (149) went 2-1 – one fall and a tech fall
     -Nolan Whitely (133) went 2-1 – two decisions
     -Peyton Geary (165) went 1-2 – major decision
     -Keegan Driscoll (174) went 1-2
     -Reyse Wallbrown (165) went 0-3
     -Nate Starkey (184) went 0-3
     -Logan Bowman (285) went 0-1

• 2017 Cardinals National Duals Lineup
     125 – Jacob Donahue (5-4)
     133 – Nolan Whitely (12-5)
     141 – Daniel Romero (16-4) or Brandon Tenney (12-4)
     149 – Dom Nania (16-4)
     157 – Greg Brusco (16-3) or Peyton Geary (4-4)
     165 – Nic Skonieczny (7-2) or Anthony Smith (8-7)
     174 – Reyse Wallbrown (14-6)
     184 – Nate Starkey (9-4)
     197 – Terrance Fanning (7-4)
     285 – Maxwell Lacey (13-5) or Logan Bowman (3-5)

• Last WJU Competition – Desert Duals (Las Vegas) on Dec. 19
     -Win vs. Warner Pacific (28-9)
     -Win vs. then-No. 8 Cal Baptist (22-17)
     -Tie vs. DIII No. 1 Wartburg (21-21, lost on criteria)
     -Win vs. Minn. State-Moorhead (34-6)
     -Dom Nania (149) – 4-0 with 3 tech falls & a fall
     -Greg Brusco (157) – 3-1 with a tech fall and a fall
     -Daniel Romero (141) – 3-1 with a tech fall
     -T.J. Smith (165) – 2-2 with a major decision
     -Nate Starkey (184) – 2-2 with a major decision and a fall
     -Terrance Fanning (197) – 2-2 with a major decision and a tech fall

-GoCards-

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Players Mentioned

Logan Bowman: Junior

Keegan Driscoll: Sophomore

Terrance Fanning: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Peyton Geary: 157/165; Junior

Maxwell Lacey: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania: 149; 5' 10"; Senior

Anthony Smith: 165; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

Reyse Wallbrown: 157/165; 5' 8"; Junior

Dustin Warner: 125; 5' 7"; Junior

Nolan Whitely: 133; 5' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Logan Bowman
: Junior

Keegan Driscoll
: Sophomore

Terrance Fanning
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Peyton Geary
: Junior
: 157/165

Maxwell Lacey
: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania
: 5' 10"; Senior
: 149

Anthony Smith
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: 165

Reyse Wallbrown
: 5' 8"; Junior
: 157/165

Dustin Warner
: 5' 7"; Junior
: 125

Nolan Whitely
: 5' 4"; Junior
: 133