Jan. 13, 2007
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Wrestling without injured top-ranked Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward), the eighth-ranked Wildcats defeated West Virginia 28-14 in the first round of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) notched a major decision in his first match since Nov. 20. The 'Cats return to the mat later today at 1 p.m.
The top-ranked Herbert defeated West Virginia's Chance Litton 12-0 at 184 lbs. in his first action since the NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 20.
At 125, freshman Brandon Precin (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sanburg) won a 4-0 decision over Scott Stuart 4-0 to give the 'Cats an early 3-0 lead. Eric Metzler (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) pinned Mark Anderson at 2:03 to make the lead 6-0.
After James Kohlberg (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows), wrestling in place of the injured Lang at 141 lbs., and Marty Gould (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West) at 149 lbs., surrendered major decisions, the 'Cats held on to a 9-8 lead. The Mountaineers pulled ahead 14-9 when Zac Fryling pinned Dominic Marella (Roselle, Ill./Conant).
Greg Hagel (Linwood, N.J./Blair Academy) took a 2-0 decision and Nick Hayes (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central) won by forfeit to give the 'Cats a 18-14 lead heading into the last three matches.
Herbert's major decision pushed the lead to 22-14 and Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) and Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) both won close decisions to give the eighth-ranked 'Cats the 28-14 victory.
Northwestern 28, West Virginia 14:
Precin (NU) dec. Scott 4-0 (3-0)
Metzler (NU) fall Anderson (2:03) (9-0)
Rader maj dec. Kohlberg (NU) 20-6 (9-4)
Jauregui maj dec. Gould (NU) 9-1 (9-8)
Fryling fall Marella (NU) (3:23) (9-14)
Hagel (NU) dec. Connolly 2-0 (12-14)
Hayes (NU) win by forfeit (18-14)
Herbert (NU) maj dec. Litton 12-0 (22-14)
Tamillow (NU) dec. Villers 4-3 (25-14)
Fox (NU) dec. Rogers 2-1 (28-14)