Wrestling 1/6/2017 8:14:00 PM Chris Myers

Cardinals Amazing Run Produces National Duals Runner-up Placing

FT. WAYNE, Ind. – Cardinals Culture wrestling is now on the national NCAA Division II map! Wheeling Jesuit's amazing Mat Mayhem National Duals run saw a third upset – over No. 21 Colorado State Pueblo – before it was stopped by that defending national champs and No. 1 ranked St. Cloud State in the championship.

Trailing 21-18 in the semifinals against Colorado State Pueblo, the Cardinals' (8-2) Maxwell Lacey rode an early first-period takedown to a 5-0 decision and tied match. WJU earned the Championship match berth on criteria, 22-21, for total match points scored.

In the final, freshman 125-pound Jake Donahue helped WJU start fast with a 6-2 upset of No. 1 Brett Velasquez. Down 6-3 three bouts later, Dominick Nania (149) worked to a 4-2 win of his own to retie the match, 6-6. It was all defending champ Huskies (6-0) over the final six matches as they went on for a 35-6 title win.

"Through our four years, there has been such an emphasis on growth, learning and the process and this is just another step towards our biggest goal of winning a national title. We went 0-3 last year and took second in the nation today. That's a memory that will last a lifetime," told WJU head coach Sean Doyle.

"St. Cloud is such a great program and wrestles extremely hard in every position," continued the Cardinals coach. "Of note, what an amazing two days for Jacob Donahue going 4-0 and defeating the No. 1 and NCAA champion today. Jake deserves a special shoutout."

Donahue and Nania were the big WJU Friday performers. Both Cardinals earned falls against Colorado State Pueblo – Donahue in 4:13 and Nania in 19 seconds – and decisions in the second match.

Nolan Whitely (133), Daniel Romero (141) and Lacey claimed decision victories.

WJU has a week off before it travels to Erie, Pa. for a Super Region I dual match against Gannon. First match is set for 8 p.m.

WJU vs. No. 21 Colorado State Pueblo

In what turned out to be his biggest weekend of his young collegiate career, Donahue turned his hold into a fall over Josiah Seaton at 4:13. At 133, Whitely followed with a comeback victory. The junior reversed the Thunderwolves' Paul Garcia in the final seconds of the third period to send the bout to overtime tied, 4-4. Whitely competed the win with a takedown and a two-point near fall 31 seconds into sudden victory for the 8-4 final.

Romero made it three WJU wins in a row with a solid 10-4 win at 141 over CSP's Jared Mestas. Nania completed the Cardinals opening run with his quick 19-second fall for an 18-0 WJU advantage.

Colorado State Pueblo rallied in the fifth bout. The Thunderwolves recorded five-straight wins, including falls at 165 and 184, and took the 21-18 lead.

Lacey sent the Cardinals to the title match with his 5-0 heavyweight shutout.

WJU vs. No. 1 St. Cloud State

With a lineup featuring eight of 10 nationally-ranked wrestlers, St. Cloud State showed why it is atop the DII team rankings. The Huskies earned their spot in the title match after they took down the Rangers of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 37-11.

Jacob Donahue after his upset victory over #1

The upcoming Donahue showed his might with the biggest performance of his first year with a 6-2 upset of No. 1 rated 125-pound Velasquez. St. Cloud State's Mike Rhone escaped Whitely in the third period for a 5-5 tie at 133. The Huskie secured the close, 7-5, win with a sudden victory takedown to tie the match, 3-3.

The No. 5 rated 141-pound Matt Nelson was taken to the limit via Romero in a 1-0 final. At 149, No. 5 Nania tied the match back, 6-6, with his 4-2 decision.

The Huskies took control of the championship starting in the fifth bout. Behind six-straight top 10 nationally-ranked wrestlers, including No. 1 Austin Goergsen at heavyweight, St. Cloud State racked up 29 unanswered points for the title.

Wheeling Jesuit 22, No. 21 Colorado State Pueblo 21 – win by Total Points Criteria
125 – Jake Donahue (WJU) fall Josiah Seaton (CSP), 4:13 –– WJU 6-0
133 – Nolan Whitely (WJU) dec. Paul Garcia (CSP), 8-4 SV1 –– WJU 9-0
141 – Daniel Romero (WJU) dec. Jared Mestas (CSP), 10-4 –– WJU 12-0
149 – Dominick Nania (WJU) fall Clay Archer (CSP), 0:19 –– WJU 18-0
157 – Kyle Fantin (CSP) dec. Greg Brusco (WJU), 8-3 –– WJU 18-3
165 – JaCobi Jones (CSP) fall Nic Skonieczny (WJU), 6:24 –– WJU 18-9
174 – Kyle Bateman (CSP) dec. Reyse Wallbrown (WJU), 5-2 –– WJU 18-12
184 – JaVaughn Perkins (CSP) fall Nate Starkey (WJU), 5:54 –– Tie 18-18
197 – Cody Johnson (CSP) dec. Terrance Fanning (WJU) –– CSP 21-18
285 – Maxwell Lacey (WJU) dec. Augustine DeSantis (CSP), 5-0 –– Tied 21-21

No. 1 St. Cloud State 35, Wheeling Jesuit 6
125 – Jake Donahue (WJU) dec. Brett Velaquez (SCS), 6-2 –– WJU 3-0
133 – Mike Rhone (SCS) dec. Nolan Whitely (WJU), 7-5 SV1 –– Tied 3-3
141 – Matt Nelson (SCS) dec. Daniel Romero (WJU), 6-3 –– SCS 6-3
149 – Dominick Nania (WJU) dec. James Pleski (SCS), 1:37 –– Tied 6-6
157 – Larry Bomstad (SCS) fall Greg Brusco (WJU), 1:22 –– SCS 12-6
165 – Gabe Fogarty (SCS) dec. Nic Skonieczny (WJU), 1-0 –– SCS 15-6
174 – Clayton Jennissen (SCS) maj. dec. Reyse Wallbrown (WJU), 14-0 –– SCS 19-6
184 – Uthman Rabiu (SCS) maj. dec. Nate Starkey (WJU), 9-0 –– SCS 23-6
197 – Vince Dietz (SCS) fall Terrance Fanning (WJU), 0:39 –– SCS 29-6
285 – Austin Goergsen (SCS) fall Maxwell Lacey (WJU), 1:39 –– SCS 35-6

-GoCards-

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Players Mentioned

Terrance Fanning: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Maxwell Lacey: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania: 149; 5' 10"; Senior

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

Nolan Whitely: 133; 5' 4"; Junior

Greg Brusco: 5' 7"; Freshman

Jacob Donahue: 125/133; Freshman

Daniel Romero: 5' 7"; Junior

Nic Skonieczny: 165; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Terrance Fanning
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Maxwell Lacey
: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania
: 5' 10"; Senior
: 149

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

Nolan Whitely
: 5' 4"; Junior
: 133

Greg Brusco
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Jacob Donahue
: Freshman
: 125/133

Daniel Romero
: 5' 7"; Junior

Nic Skonieczny
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: 165