Posted: Dec 12, 2021

#12 Roughnecks Take Down #4 West Liberty in Croy

Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay wrestling team hosted their only home dual of the season on Sunday, Dec. 12 in Croy Gymnasium. The Roughnecks, ranked no. 12 in the country, welcomed the West Liberty University Hilltoppers, the fourth ranked team in the country. Findlay jumped ahead to a 12-0 advantage through three bouts and hung on to claim a 19-18 victory.

Celebrating seniors Zach Collins and James Wimer for Senior Day, the Roughnecks had a tall order hosting a top-five team in Division II, but proved to be up for the challenge.

Collins picked up a win via forfeit to open the match and Ashton Anderson followed that up by defeating West Liberty's Luke Miller at 133 pounds. Anderson had a 3-2 lead midway through the final period before a reversal put distance between he and Miller, ultimately leading to a 6-2 victory for the Findlay freshman.

Ranked fifth in the country, junior Branson Proudlock, wrestling at 141 pounds, then took to the mat. Trailing 3-2 in the second period, Proudlock recorded a takedown with just four seconds remaining in the period to take a 4-3 advantage. Another takedown just 14 seconds into the final frame gave the Findlay junior a 6-3 lead. Proudlock picked up key riding time over the next 30 seconds, taking West Liberty's Brayden Johnson under a minute, which would prove critical as Proudlock hung on for a 6-5 victory, putting the Roughnecks ahead 12-0 in the team score.

West Liberty Picked up a win at 149 to make it 12-3 in the team score before defending NCAA Division II national champion James Wimer took to the mat at 157 pounds. Through two minutes, Wimer, the top-ranked wrestler in the country at 157, was tied 2-2 with Jonah Smith of the Hilltoppers. Wimer would take control and had an 8-3 lead heading into the final period. In the first 40 seconds of the final frame, Wimer nearly recorded a fall and eventually went on to a dominating 13-3 major decision, putting the Roughnecks ahead 16-3.

The Hilltoppers picked up wins at 165 and 174. In that 174-pound bout, Findlay's Hunter Reed led ninth-ranked Ty McGeary 4-0 through the first period and had a 5-4 advantage heading into the third. Tied at 6-6 with 30 seconds remaining, McGeary recorded a takedown to secure the victory.

At 184 pounds, senior Mark Trifelos trailed 1-0 to begin the third period. After an escape to tie the match, Trifelos picked up a takedown with 1:23 remaining to take a 3-2 lead that would eventually end up being the final score.

A forfeit for Findlay at 197 pounds gave the Roughnecks a 19-15 lead with just the heavyweight bout remaining, a matchup that featured senior Keigan Yuhas going up against the fifth-ranked wrestler in the country, Francesco Borsellino. While Yuhas suffered the loss at 7-1, he was able to avoid a major decision, securing the victory for the home team.

Findlay will return to the mats on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18-19, when they head to Indianapolis for the Midwest Classic.

Findlay vs West Liberty | 12/12/2021 (Video)

#12 Findlay def. #4 West Liberty – 19-18

125 – Zach Collins (UF) def. (WLU) (For.) 6-0

133 – Ashton Anderson (UF) def. Luke Miller (WLU) (Dec 6-2) 9-0

141- #5 Branson Proudlock (UF) def. Brayden Johnson (WLU) (Dec 6-5) 12-0

149 – Jacob Simpson (WLU) def. Chase Moore (UF) (Dec 4-0) 12-3

157 - #1 James Wimer (UF) def. Jonah Smith (WLU) (Maj. 13-3) 16-3

165 – Chase Morgan (WLU) def. Justin West (UF) (Dec 11-6) 16-6

174 – #9 Ty McGeary (WLU) def. Hunter Reed (UF) (Dec 8-6) 16-9

184 – Mark Trifelos (UF) def. Drake Kendrex (WLU) (Dec 3-2) 19-9

197 – Keaton Grider (WLU) def. (UF) (For.) 19-15