MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University wrestling team scored a pair of victories over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Cleveland State in its first tri-meet of the season inside the WVU Coliseum, Monday afternoon.
 
The Mountaineers (5-3) posted a 25-12 win over the Mocs (3-4), prior to adding another double-digit victory (24-10) over the Vikings (2-3) in the final dual of the day. They went on to outscore their opponents by a combined 27 points (49-22).
 
"I liked that we scored more points overall, but I think that we can still do more and I think the guys know that," fourth-year coach Tim Flynn explained. "We are trying to push these guys to think about March and some of the matches that we won that we could have scored more points, but a wins a win. It's not easy to win in college wrestling, so we'll take them."
 
Five members of the squad went 2-0 throughout the meet, which included redshirt senior Killian Cardinale taking down two nationally-ranked grapplers in his season debut. The No. 6/8 wrestler in the nation claimed a 7-1 decision over No. 20 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) and followed up with a 15-4 major decision over No. 32 Logan Heil (CSU). 
 
Sophomore Peyton Hall and redshirt sophomore Michael Wolfgram both maintained undefeated records in dual competition (7-0).

At 165 pounds, No. 12/13 Hall began the day with a five-point decision over No. 32 Andrew Nicholson (UTC), before recording a 12-3 major decision over Riley Smucker (CSU). Nicholson marked Hall's first match against a ranked opponent this season.
 
No. 22/27 Wolfgram dominated the scene at heavyweight for the Mountaineers. The redshirt sophomore drove Grayson Walthall (UTC) into the mat one minute into the match for the takedown and added a near fall to take a 6-1 lead into the second period. He tacked on two more takedowns and two near falls to score a 16-1 technical fall over Walthall in 5:14. The York, Pennsylvania, native added a 13-4 major decision over John Kelbly (CSU) in a rematch from last season's meeting in Cleveland to improve to 13-1 overall.
 
Senior Caleb Rea (141) and junior Scott Joll (174) rounded out the group with four wins. Rea outscored his opponents, 16-7, in two decisions, while Joll scored the first bonus point of the meet for WVU. The junior registered three takedowns, a reversal, and a two-point near fall to earn an 11-1 major decision over Carial Charter (UTC). He added an 8-4 win against Anthony Rice (CSU) as well.
 
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers kick off the new year in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as they compete at the annual Southern Scuffle from Jan. 1-2. The annual event is billed as one of the best in-season collegiate wrestling events in the nation.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
 
 Match Results vs. Chattanooga
125: Killian Cardinale (WVU) dec. No. 20/20 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC), 7-1
133: Brayden Palmer (UTC) won by fall Garett Lautzenheiser (WVU), [T - 4:14)
141: Caleb Rea (WVU) dec. Franco Valdes (UTC), 10-5
149: Noah Castillo (UTC) dec. Jeffrey Boyd (WVU), 6-3
157: Alex Hornfeck (WVU) dec. Weston Wichman (UTC), 7-2
165: Peyton Hall (WVU) dec. No. -/32 Andrew Nicholson (UTC), 8-3
174: Scott Joll (WVU) major dec. Carial Tarter (UTC), 11-1
184: Matthew Waddell (UTC) dec. Anthony Carman (WVU), 4-0
197: Jackson Moomau (WVU) major dec. Landon Lewis (UTC), 16-6
HWT: Michael Wolfgram (WVU) tech. fall Grayson Walthall (UTC), 16-1 [T - 5:14]
 
Match Results vs. Cleveland State
125: Killian Cardinale (WVU) major dec. No. -/32 Logan Heil (CSU), 14-5
133: Garett Lautzenheiser (WVU) dec. Jake Manley (CSU), 4-2
141: Caleb Rea (WVU) dec. Hunter Olson (CSU), 6-2
149: Jeffrey Boyd (WVU) dec. Ryan Granger (CSU), 9-2
157: Daniel Patten (CSU) dec. Alex Hornfeck (WVU), 4-2 [SV-1]
165: Peyton Hall (WVU) major dec. Riley Smucker (CSU), 12-3
174: Scott Joll (WVU) dec. Anthony Rice (CSU), 8-4
184: No. 24/- DeAndre Nassar (CSU) major dec. Kyle Myers (WVU), 11-3
197: Benjamin Smith (CSU) dec. Jackson Moomau (WVU), 6-2
HWT: Michael Wolfgram (WVU) major dec. John Kelbly (CSU), 13-4
 
Team Rankings: NWCA
Individual Rankings: FloWrestling/InterMat