Wrestling 2/1/2017 1:59:00 PM Chris Myers

Cardinals Seek to Set Win Standard in Weekend Road Trip

EAST STROUDSBURG & SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Taking a weekend off from facing nationally-ranked opponents, the Cardinal Culture wrestlers seek to set their new win standard. The Wheeling Jesuit wrestling team travels to eastern and central Pennsylvania for a trio of dual matches at East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg and a third versus LIU Post Friday and Saturday.

After posting an 11-6 mark last year, the Cardinals (9-5) can equal and break the single-season dual win total this weekend. WJU faces East Stroudsburg (4-11) Friday night at 7 p.m., before it travels back southwest for Saturday dual at Shippensburg (10-11) and against LIU Post (9-6).

'We have three regional duals this weekend and have a number of match ups that we're looking forward to. At this point of the season, we have to focus on allowing some individuals time to get healthy, and placing great emphasis on our strengths that will provide us an opportunity to wrestle in Birmingham (at the DII National Championship)," said WJU head coach Sean Doyle. "We've had a successful three-plus years and a successful season because our guys have always done a good job of improving and being at their best when they need to. This weekend will give us an opportunity to keep working towards our goals."

WJU comes off two tough defeats to nationally-ranked Mercyhurst and Pitt-Johnstown on back-to-back Fridays. In both dual matchups, the Cardinals won five of the 10 bouts and narrowly missed their first victories in the four-year program history. Mercyhurst pushed past WJU in the final bout major decision for the 21-18 win on Jan. 20 in Wesbanco Arena. Last Friday night, Maxwell Lacey slammed UPJ's heavyweight D.J. Sims in the final two seconds for the dramatic 3-1 win to tie the match, 18-18. UPJ claimed the win on the third tiebreaker of total points, 66-60.

Match Notes:
Wheeling Jesuit (9-5)
• WJU tries for its second double-digit dual match win season in a row. The Cardinals finished last year at 11-6.
• Cardinals are ranked No. 6 in DII Coaches' National Dual Ranking as of Jan. 23
• Ranked No. 23 in DII Coaches' Tournament Rankings
• WJU is 5-4 vs. ranked opponents
• Ranked No. 2 in Super Region I
• Tied No. 10 Pitt-Johnstown, 18-18, when Terrance Fanning (197) and Maxwell Lacey (285) won the final two bouts via major decision and decision. UPJ, though, claimed the dual win by the third criteria of total points, 66-60.
• All 10 WJU probable starters are ranked in this week's D2Wrestle Super Region I rankings
• Jake Donahue (125) finished 7-1 in his January matches with his lone loss coming to Mercyhurst's No. 1 ranked Willie Bohince, 3-0
• Daniel Romero (141) and Dominick Nania (149) lead the Cardinals with 21 win apiece and are both 21-7.
• Maxwell Lacey (285) registered his second career 20-win season last Friday and stands at 20-9.
• Freshman Greg Brusco (157) is one win away from his 20^th victory at 19-8
• Terrance Fanning (197) has won his last four matches and have outscored those opponents, 32-6, in those bouts.

at East Stroudsburg (4-11) – Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
• Mark 3rd year in a row for the two teams meeting in dual action
• WJU has won the first two meetings
     2014-15 at ESU: WJU 31, ESU 7
     2015-16 at WJU: WJU 24, ESU 15
• Ranked No. 10 in Super Region I
• ESU last competitions were dual-match losses at Gannon (31-13) on Jan. 27^th and at Mercyhurst (29-14) on Jan. 28^th
• Warriors are 1-4 vs. common WJU opponents. ESU lost to UPJ, Tiffin, Gannon and Mercyhurst, but defeated West Liberty. WJU is 2-3 against the same foes with wins over Tiffin and West Liberty
    • Probable Wrestlers Ranked Within Super Region I (Nationally)
125 – ESU: Johnny Pellegrino 7^th vs. WJU: Jake Donahue 4th
133 – WJU: Dustin Warner 2^nd (9^th)
141 – ESU: Dylan Nace 3rd (7^th) vs. WJU: Daniel Romero 8th
149 –WJU: Dominick Nania 1st (4^th)
157 – ESU: Joey Kratochvil 5th vs. WJU: Greg Brusco 4th
165 – WJU: Nic Skonieczny 7th
174 – WJU: Reyse Wallbrown 6^th
184 – ESU: Tyler Richardson 6th vs. WJU: Nate Starkey 5th
197 – WJU: Terrance Fanning 2nd
285 – WJU: Maxwell Lacey 4th
• Probable Lineups (Season Records)
Wheeling Jesuit
125 - Jake Donahue (12-5)
133 - Dustin Warner (12-1)
141 - Daniel Romero (21-7) or Brandon Tenney (12-4)
149 - Dominick Nania (20-7) or Kollin Clark (5-4)
157 - Greg Brusco (19-7) or Peyton Geary (4-6)
165 - Nic Skonieczny (12-8) or Anthony Renforth (10-5)
174 - Reyse Wallbrown (16-12) or TJ Smith (10-10)
184 - Nate Starkey (11-11)
197 - Terrance Fanning (12-7)
285 - Maxwell Lacey (20-9)

East Stroudsburg
125 – John Pellegrino (8-2)
133 – Connor Maliff (4-3) or Francesco Palagruto (6-8)
141 – Dylan Nace (21-4)
149 – Blake Cohen (7-13)
157 – Joey Kratochvil (8-9)
165 – Open
174 – Joe Welk (3-4)
184 – Tyler Richardson (20-8)
197 – Brandon Steele (5-11)
285 – Daniel Makagon (2-18)

at Shippenburg (10-11) – Saturday, Feb. 4 at Noon
• First meeting since Feb. 5 of 2015
• Ship won lone meeting that day by a 22-18 final
• Ranked No. 8 in Super Region I
• Ship's last match came last Saturday in a 30-13 loss at Seton Hill. Won 4 weight classes, including a major decision by Derek Borberick (285)
• Ship is 0-3 against common WJU opponents with losses to UPJ, Gannon and Tiffin, while WJU is 1-2 with a win over Tiffin
• Probable Wrestlers Ranked Within Super Region I (Nationally)
125 – SU: Dustin Steffenino 5th vs. WJU: Jake Donahue 4th
133 – WJU: Dustin Warner 2^nd (9^th)
141 – SU: Karl Lightner 4th (7^th) vs. WJU: Daniel Romero 8th
149 – WJU: Dominick Nania 1st (4^th)
157 – SU: Adam Martz 7th vs. WJU: Greg Brusco 4th
165 – WJU: Nic Skonieczny 7th
174 – WJU: Reyse Wallbrown 6^th
184 – WJU: Nate Starkey 5th
197 – SU: Evan Ramos 1^st (10^th) vs. WJU: Terrance Fanning 2nd
285 – WJU: Maxwell Lacey 4th
• Probable Lineup (Season Records)
Shippensburg
125 – Dustin Steffenino (10-6) or David Reagan (1-6)
133 – Cole Rush (8-7) or Mike Hafer (5-6)
141 – Karl Lightner (12-8) or Jared Leonetti (0-1)
149 – Mike Springer (15-6) or Cody Blankenship (5-6)
157 – Adam Martz (16-9)
165 – Ryan Narber (5-12)
174 – Dontez King (0-0)
184 – Hunter Fenk (8-15)
197 – Evan Ramos (20-2)
285 – Derek Berberick (11-11) or Shaheed Hill (0-1)

vs. LIU Post (9-6) – Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. at Shippensburg
• 1^st meeting between the two programs
• Ranked No. 11 in Super Region I
• LIU's last competition was last Saturday at the USC Wildcat Open. At 157, Jackson Mordante placed 2^nd and Vinny Turano (141) was 3^rd
• Pioneers are 0-2 in common WJU opponents with losses to UPJ and Tiffin, while WJU is 1-1.
• Probable Wrestlers Ranked Within Super Region I (Nationally)
125 – WJU: Jake Donahue 4th
133 – LIU: Anthony Sparacio 6th vs. WJU: Dustin Warner 2^nd (9^th)
141 – LIU: Vin Turano 6th vs. WJU: Daniel Romero 8th
149 – LIU: TJ Fabian 2^nd vs. WJU: Dominick Nania 1st (4^th)
157 – LIU: Jackson Mordente 8th vs. WJU: Greg Brusco 4th
165 – WJU: Nic Skonieczny 7th
174 – WJU: Reyse Wallbrown 6^th
184 – WJU: Nate Starkey 5th
197 – WJU: Terrance Fanning 2nd
285 – WJU: Maxwell Lacey 4th

• Probable Lineup (Season Records)
LIU Post
125 – Anthony Sparacio (15-4)
133 – Tyler Walsh (4-5) or Joe Paterno (2-4)
141 – Vinny Turano (8-7)
149 – T.J. Fabian (10-4)
157 – Jackson Mordente (11-12)
165 – Ed Ramirez (8-5)
174 – Jesse Weiner (2-11)
184 – Dan McClure (6-9) or Logan McGinn (8-11)
197 – Adam Lynch (5-0) or Freddy Vidal (4-4)
285 – James Louison (5-3) or Monair McDonald (4-10)

-GoCards-

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Players Mentioned

Kollin Clark: 141/149; Junior

Terrance Fanning: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Peyton Geary: 157/165; Junior

Maxwell Lacey: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania: 149; 5' 10"; Senior

Dustin Warner: 125; 5' 7"; Junior

Greg Brusco: 5' 7"; Freshman

Anthony Renforth: 5' 8"; Freshman

Daniel Romero: 5' 7"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

Kollin Clark
: Junior
: 141/149

Terrance Fanning
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Peyton Geary
: Junior
: 157/165

Maxwell Lacey
: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania
: 5' 10"; Senior
: 149

Dustin Warner
: 5' 7"; Junior
: 125

Greg Brusco
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Anthony Renforth
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Daniel Romero
: 5' 7"; Junior

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