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Heavyweight Michael Wolfgram’s Pin Lifts West Virginia Over Clarion in Home Finale

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va.— For the first time in the 2022-23 season, the result of an entire dual meet rested on the shoulders of West Virginia heavyweight Michael Wolfgram.

With the match tied, Wolfgram earned a pinfall victory over Clarion’s Austin Chapman, sending the West Virginia bench and the WVU Coliseum crowd into a frenzy as the Mountaineers defeated the Golden Eagles 24-18 in their final home meet of the year.

The win gives West Virginia its ninth consecutive win over Clarion dating back to 2011. The Mountaineers (9-5, 2-5 Big 12) have also earned nine victories in a season for the first time since 2015, when West Virginia finished the year at 9-9. This is the 14th nine-win campaign in program history.

Wolfgram broke an 18-all score by using an under-hook takedown on Chapman before eventually pinning the Golden Eagles sophomore in 2:16. Clarion head coach Keith Ferraro challenged the initial call, but the victory stayed following a video review.

To build up the suspense for Wolfgram’s bout, West Virginia had to again claw out of a 9-0 hole, marking back-to-back matches the Mountaineers fell at both 125 and 133 pounds to start the meet.

Mountaineers senior Killian Cardinale, who is ranked No. 8 at 125 with a 10-0 record, missed his second straight match due to rest. Jace Schafer took Cardinale’s place, and in his first dual meet action since Dec. 19, Schafer was pinned in 4:28 by Joey Fischer.

Davin Rhoads, after missing last week’s match against Air Force, fell to Mason Prinkey by a 7-5 sudden-victory decision. Rhoads wrestled in Friday’s meet with a minor injury, according to West Virginia head coach Tim Flynn.

Jordan Titus then started a string of five consecutive victories for West Virginia at 141 pounds, defeating Seth Koleno by a 14-8 decision after trailing in the first period. No. 20 ranked Sam Hillegas edged Kyle Schickel 10-8 at 149.

Alex Hornfeck put West Virginia ahead 10-9 in the meet following a major decision victory over Trevor Elfvin. This was Hornfeck’s first action since Feb. 3 against Iowa State and his first win since Jan. 13 at Chattanooga, snapping a three-match losing streak.

No. 12 ranked Peyton Hall cruised by Cam Pine at 165 pounds, claiming a 19-4 tech fall victory in 6:11. Hall has now won three consecutive dual meet matches and nine of his last 10 overall. Scott Joll closed the run with his fourth straight victory at 174 pounds, defeating John Worthing to put the Mountaineers in front 18-9.

Clarion answered quickly, as No. 21 ranked Will Feldkamp pinned Anthony Carman in 31 seconds at 184. Ty Bagoly then defeated West Virginia’s Austin Cooley 4-0 at 197, evening the score and setting up the exciting finish. Cooley has now dropped five straight dual meet matches after winning his first six to start the season.

West Virginia closed its home schedule with a record of 7-2 inside the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers have one regular season dual meet remaining on Sunday, when the team will travel to Lock Haven for a noon matchup.

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