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Mercyhurst University Athletics

Niffenegger fights for position
Mercyhurst Sports Information

Wrestling Can’t Top West Liberty in Season Opener

11/9/2023 9:42:00 PM

By: Jesse Hall, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst wrestling competed within their friendly confines to begin the 2023-24 campaign with the team seeing a tough task in #2 West Liberty. Mercyhurst fought hard all the way through and managed to hold the lead several times, but ultimately fell in the end 24-17.

How it Happened

The Lakers started off well with a win at 125 by William Smith. Smith got a takedown in the opening period of action to help him move out in front before fending off his counterpart for the decision to help the Laker move out in from 3-0. After the Hilltoppers managed to tie things up at 133, Jake Niffenegger grabbed his first win of the season. Much like Smith, the reigning PSAC Freshman of the Year used a there-point takedown in the opening period to help him secure the 7-6 win and make it a 6-3 score in favor of the Lakers.

West Liberty gained the advantage with a pinfall win at 149 with the score then at 9-6 before adding on with another decision to make it 12-6. Dillon Walker was up next for the Lakers, facing third-ranked Alec Cook for the Hilltoppers, and coming away with a major decisionl to make it a 12-10 score in favor of WLU going into the 174 matchup.

Mercyhurst's Chase Stein was able to get the win via decision in the 174 to help the Lakers move out in front, 13-12. The Hilltoppers's Ty McGeary, the top-ranked wrestler at 184 per the NWCA, got a pinfall to put WLU back on top, 18-13. Trever Begin helped Mercyhurst come close to taking back the lead with a major decision at 197, but a pinfall at heavyweight led to the 24-17 final.

Highlights

William Smith got his first win of the new season while kicking off the match. Jake Niffenegger joined him with a decision of his own while Dillon Waker and Trever Begin both got in the win column as well. Begin's win ended up being of the major decision variety while Walkers win came against the third-ranked wrestler in his class. 

Next Match

The Lakers now head for the buckeye state as they are set to compete in the Ohio Intercollegiate Open this Sunday, November 12th, at Case Western University.

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