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What to Watch for as WVU Battles Northern Colorado Sunday

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The West Virginia University wrestling team welcomes No. 17 Northern Colorado to Morgantown at noon on Sunday inside the WVU Coliseum. For the first time this season, the Mountaineers will compete in front of as many as 1,000 fans. Due to ongoing COVID-19 protocols, and for the overall safety of spectators at indoor events, attendance will be capped at 1,000 spectators.

“They [Northern Colorado] have a really solid lineup,” third-year coach Tim Flynn said earlier this week. “Even the guys that aren’t their go-to guys have some experience. They are hard-nosed guys. I think they are going to have one or two guys out that are ranked, but I think their backups are solid guys. It provides us an opportunity. When you’re a freshman, redshirt freshman or sophomore, and you get a chance to wrestle another solid collegiate athlete, you are just raising your levels every week. Hopefully, our guys are excited. I think they are. We’ll see Sunday.”

Heading into Sunday’s action, the Mountaineers (4-2, 0-1 Big 12) and the Bears (3-0, 2-0 Big 12) meet for the fifth time overall and the fourth time in league action since UNC joined five other schools as affiliate members of the Big 12 during the 2015-16 academic year. The two squads met once as non-conference opponents in 2013, with WVU claiming a 35-4 victory in its first meeting at the Hoosier Duals, in Bloomington, Indiana, on Dec. 8, 2013.

West Virginia possesses a 3-1 lead in the all-time series. However, the Mountaineers dropped a 31-10 contest at Northern Colorado last season (Nov. 16, 2019). WVU’s last win over UNC took place on Nov. 1, 2018, Flynn’s first match at the helm of the Mountaineer wrestling program.

Redshirt junior Noah Adams, ranked No. 1 nationally at 197 pounds, and Jacob Seely of Northern Colorado will be the signature match of the dual. Historically speaking, the duo will square off for the fourth time overall and the third time in dual action this weekend. Adams holds a 2-1 overall record against Seely, earning major decisions in both matches. The last time Seely captured a win over Adams was on Nov. 1, 2018, when the Coal City, West Virginia, native made his collegiate debut. Adams avenged his 12-9 loss with a dominating, 13-1 win at the 2019 Big 12 Championship.

Redshirt junior Killian Cardinale and freshman Peyton Hall also join Adams as ranked Mountaineers who are expected to see action this weekend. Both are currently inside the top 25 of several wrestling publications. Cardinale checks in at No. 24 in The Open Mat’s latest top-33 poll at 125 pounds, while Hall, a 165-pound grappler, ranks as high as No. 24 via FloWrestling for the third consecutive week.

Northern Colorado will bring eight wrestlers who are ranked nationally across the various ranking services. Mosha Schwartz (133) and Andrew Alirez (149) have the highest rankings on the team both at No. 7 on Trackwrestling and InterMat. The two are a combined 6-0 on the year.

Alan Clothier (184), Jacob Seely (197) and Dalton Robertson (HWT) are ranked inside the top 20. Clothier is 19th on Trackwrestling, Seely and Robertson come in at No. 16 and 15, respectively in FloWrestling’s rankings. The last time Clothier was on the mat, he won with a pair of major decisions over Utah Valley and California Baptist.

Three other Bears are ranked in Theorius Robison (125), No. 20 by FloWrestling, Chris Sandoval (133), No. 30 by Trackwrestling and Jackson Hemauer (174) No. 23 by FloWrestling. Hemauer made his debut two weeks again at the Air Force Individuals where he went 2-0.

Northern Colorado returns to dual competition for the first time since Jan. 8. The Bears have seen their last three scheduled duals canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.

With as many as 11 ranked wrestlers projected to see action in this Big 12 showdown, the dual is sure to be a good one. Here are five things to be on the lookout for:

  1. Expect to see some different faces in the Mountaineer starting lineup. Last Sunday, WVU had wrestle-offs to sure up some “open weights.” In his weekly media availability on Thursday, Jan. 27, Flynn said that Ryan Sullivan will get the nod at 133 and Jackson Moomau will start at 184 against UNC.
  2. Watch for Killian Cardinale to wrestle more confidently. After getting his first bonus-point victory in a WVU singlet last time out, against Cleveland State, I look for him to pick up right where he left off in Cleveland and put up some points.
  3. Adams will need to put up bonus points if WVU wants to win. On paper, WVU has a bit of an uphill battle to come out on top. The Old Gold and Blue will need big performances from not just their ranked veterans, but also its unranked rookies if they want to get the W. WVU will need an upset win or two to take this match.
  4. Look for WVU’s Alex Hornfeck to redeem himself. Hornfeck lost via an unexpected fall in the CSU dual. Watch for the Mars, Pennsylvania native to come out a little angry as he tries to earn a bounce-back win.
  5. Pace will be key. UNC hasn’t been on the mat against an opposing team in over three weeks due to coronavirus issues. WVU needs to use this to its advantage and come out with a frantic offensive pace.

Looking ahead, WVU opens the month of February on the road, as the Mountaineers head to Laramie, Wyoming, for a dual against Wyoming on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 1 p.m. ET. Following its match against the Cowboys, WVU travels to Greeley, Colorado, for a pair of neutral-site matches against Air Force (9:30 p.m. ET) and Fresno State (10:45 p.m. ET) later that evening.

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