Wheeling, W. Va. - For the first time in 352 days, wrestling returned to Wheeling University when the Cardinals hosted Bluefield State. It was the first collegiate win for Wheeling Head Coach Daniel Ownbey as a head coach and the first win for Wheeling Wrestling since 2018. After having to forfeit five matches throughout the night, Sophomore Clarouly Meca secured the pin in the 285-pound match that gave Wheeling their first win of the season.

Meca provided the most exciting match of the night, and was in control for the entirety. He scored the first two points on a takedown, and got the advantage getting on top of his opponent. The two battled for a long time on the outer circle and Meca did a great job of keeping his toe in the field of play. He was gaining riding time and was finally able to get his opponent on his back to pick up the pin at the 1:44 mark of the first period. It was his fifth pin victory of the season and gave him his eighth total victory of the year. The pin was enough to lift Wheeling over Bluefield State 25-24 and secured Ownbey's first victory as a collegiate head coach and was also Wheeling's first dual victory since 2019.

The night started with freshman Christian Zickefoose picking up a forfeit win in the 125-pound weight class. The first match of the night came in the 133-pound weight class when Chase Montgomery took the mat. He got the early lead with a pair of takedowns and scored 10 points in the first period. As the night went on, Montgomery just kept finding ways to put points on the board. He had 15 points by the end of the second period and won by Major Decision 17-5. Wheeling would have to forfeit the next two matches giving Bluefield State 12 points. The next match came at the 157-pound weight class as Freshman Brennon Reid took the mat.

This match was the closest of the night as the two wrestlers went back and forth. After the first period Reid had control leading 4-1 with a takedown and riding time points. Reid would battle to maintain the lead in the second period and would head into the third leading 7-1. Bluefield State's Jaden Berner scored four points in the third period, but Reid held on to win 8-3. After a double forfeit in the 165-poind weight class, the two teams traded forfeit in the 174, 184, and 197 pound weight class. That set the score to 24-19 and set up the trilling finish to end the night.
The results for tonight's matches are below:

125: Christian Zickefoose (WU) over (BLU): Win By Forfeit
133: Chase Montgomery (WU) 17 over Gabriel Nosesmith (Blu) 5
141: Roby Thomas (BLU) over (WU) Forfeit
149: DeShawn Cosby (BLU) over (WU) Forfeit
157: Brennon Reid (WU) 8 vs. Jaden Berner (BLU) 3  Decision 8-3
165: Double Forfeit
174: Justin Fritz (Blu) over (WU) Frofeit
184: Mason Kuneff (WU) over (BLU) Forfeit
197: Gregory Dennard (BLU) over (WU) Forfeit
285: Clarouly Meca (WU) over Brian Shaw (BLU) Pinfall 1:44

The Wheeling University Wrestling team is back in action on Saturday, February 12th, when they go on the road to face Tiffin in a dual meet.