AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho - No. 19 Mountaineers Wrestling got the 2021-22 campaign started Wednesday evening with a neutral site dual against Western Wyoming Community College. Eastern Oregon looked to shake off the rust of not competing in a dual in 634 days, but ultimately fell to the Mustangs by a final score of 40-3 to start the season 0-1.
The Mountaineers lone win of the night came at 184 pounds thanks to a decision victory by
Keegan Mulhill. The senior's win helped Eastern avoid being shut out and got his season off to a 1-0 start.
The Mustangs grabbed the first lead of the night with a forfeit win at 125 pounds to go ahead 6-0. At 133 pounds,
Luciano Fasulo dropped a close 4-1 decision. His lone point came on an escape in the first period but riding time plus a takedown and escape by Joseph Mecham gave him the win.
Monte Zufelt's match at 141 points was a high scoring one out of the gate as both wrestlers racked up four-points, respectively, to tie at 4-all. A pair of nearfalls by Caleb Nathan gave him an eight-point lead, 12-4, after the first. Both wrestlers continued to score but Nathan's two nearfalls at the beginning helped him secure the 19-12 decision win.
Chad Muenzer made his debut at 149 pounds for the Mountaineers taking on another true freshman in River Wardle. A 6-1 start by Wardle in the first period was enough as he racked up nine more points on Muenzer for the 10-point major decision victory and pushed the Mustangs' leads to 16-0.
The lead for Western Wyoming grew to 22-0 as Riggen Cordingley pinned
Ryan Ninman in 2:02 of the first period in the 157-pound bout. Helping Cordingley in the win was a quick takedown to start the match and a four-point nearfall before getting the pin on NInman.
At 165 pounds,
Malakai Moyer dropped a 12-7 decision to Collin Smith. Moyer battled back from a 5-1 deficit early one but late takedown and escape by Smith helped him hold on for the win to push Western Wyoming's lead to 25-0.
In the 174-pound bout,
John Bittinger suffered an early takedown by Christian Smoot which ultimately led to a defeat by way of pinfall. Smoot grabbed the second fastest pin of the night with a time of 1:41 to give the Mustangs a 31-0 edge over EOU.
Mulhill's win at 184 pounds was one that was a come from behind effort. He trailed 2-1 after the first period and stayed within two, 6-4, going into the third. In the final period of action, Mulhill picked up three points with an escape and a takedown, respectively. His escape got him within one, 6-5, before his takedown helped him secure the 7-6 decision.
At 197 pounds,
Jay Smith dropped a four-point decision, 10-6, to Tyler Scheum. Helping Scheum grab the win was a six-point surge to start in the first period with a takedown and a four-point nearfall. A late takedown also helped him push his lead from 8-6 to the final of 10-6 to hold off Smith and make it a 34-3 lead for the Mustangs.
In the heavyweight bout of 285 pounds,
Justin Wilson was pinned by Wyatt Kearn in 36 seconds to close out the night. Keran's pin was the fastest of the night, happening in the first period, as his six points gave the Mustangs a 37-point win to start the season.
The Mountaineers will be back in action this Saturday, Nov. 6 when the team hosts in-state rival Southern Oregon in their 2021-22 home opener. Mat action is set to begin at 6 p.m. PT inside Quinn Coliseum.
Eastern Oregon vs. Western Wyoming CC
125: Garrett Ricks (WWCC) win via forfeit | Open | WWCC- 6, EOU- 0
133: Joseph Mecham (WWC) over
Luciano Fasulo (EOU) | Dec. 4-1 | WWCC - 9, EOU- 0
141: Caleb Nathan (WWCC) over
Monte Zufelt (EOU)| Dec. 19-12 | WWCC- 12, EOU- 0
149: River Wardle (WWCC) over
Chad Muenzer (EOU) | MD 15-5 | WWCC-16, EOU, 0
157: Riggen Cordingley (WWCC) over
Ryan Ninman (EOU) | Fall 2:02 | WWCC- 22, EOU- 0
165: Collin Smith (WWCC) over
Malakai Moyer (EOU) | Dec. 12-7 | WWCC- 25, EOU- 0
174: Christian Smoot (WWCC) over
John Bittinger (EOU) | Fall 1:41 | WWCC- 31, EOU- 0
184:
Keegan Mulhill (EOU) over Andrew Nicholson (WWCC) | Dec. 7-6 | WWCC- 31, EOU- 3
197: Tyler Scheum (WWCC) over
Jay Smith (EOU | Dec. 10-6 | WWCC- 34, EOU- 3
285: Wyatt Kearn (WWCC) over
Justin Wilson (EOU) | Fall 0:36 |
WWCC- 40, EOU- 3
Exhibition Matches
125: Garrett Ricks (WWCC) over
Adrian Guevara (EOU) | Fall 2:51
125: Cole Jensen (WWCC) over
Raul Ruiz (EOU) | Fall 0:28
133:
Jaxon Morlan (EOU) over Destin Summers (WWCC) | Fall 6:49
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