WINCHESTER, Va. – Shenandoah University earned its first-ever men's wrestling dual match victory with a 28-21 win over Southern Virginia Saturday night at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center.
 
Shenandoah (1-2) only lost one contested match in taking out the Knights (0-3).

IN BRIEF

Trailing 18-0 after giving up forfeits at 125, 133 and 141 pounds, the Hornets got to work at 149 with David Smith downing Levi Jackson, 5-4.
 
Patrick Coffron, in his first action of the season, made quick work of the 157-pound match by pinning Julio Tavarez in just 16 seconds.
 
After Jalen Cornelius picked up a forfeit at 165 and Hunter Thompson fell 9-4 at 174, Shenandoah found itself down 21-15 with three matches remaining.
 
Dylan Weaver cut that deficit to two points, 21-19, thanks to a 19-10 major decision victory at 184.
 
Knowing that Southern Virginia was going to forfeit at heavyweight, victory rested on Derek Liddle's shoulders in the 197-pound match.
 
SVU could clinch the team win with a technical fall or fall, but Liddle proved up to the challenge by besting Avery Rabb 10-3.
 
This gave the hosts a 22-21 lead, and Elijah Mosley provided the final margin by taking the forfeit at heavyweight.
 
In exhibition action, Morgan Robinson won by fall in 1:25 and Thomas Domerese was a major decision winner. Those two matches sandwiched an exhibition between Cornelius and Tavarez with the latter winning in sudden victory overtime.
 

RESULTS

 
125          Sawyer Ferry (Southern Virginia) by forfeit
133          Aaron Freidhof (Southern Virginia) by forfeit
141          Thomas Bigelow (Southern Virginia) by forfeit
149          David Smith (Shenandoah) def. Levi Jackson (Southern Virginia) (Dec 5-4)
157          Patrick Coffron (Shenandoah) def. Julio Tavarez (Southern Virginia) (Fall 0:16)
165          Jalen Cornelius (Shenandoah) by forfeit
174          Tristan Olson (Southern Virginia) def. Hunter Thompson (Shenandoah) (Dec 9-4)
184          Dylan Weaver (Shenandoah) def. Scott Chambers (Southern Virginia) (MD 19-10)
197          Derek Liddle (Shenandoah) def. Avery Rabb (Southern Virginia) (Dec 10-3)
285          Elijah Mosley (Shenandoah) by forfeit
 
Exhibitions
141         Morgan Robinson (Shenandoah) def. Thomas Bigelow (Southern Virginia) (Fall 1:25)
157         Julio Tavarez (Southern Virginia) def. Jalen Cornelius (Shenandoah) (SV-1 7-5)
174         Thomas Domerese (Shenandoah) def. Tristan Olson (Southern Virginia) (MD 13-2)                                                                                  
 
Team Score:                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Shenandoah 28, Southern Virginia 21

QUOTABLE

"It feels good to earn out first win," head coach Tim McGuire said. "We have a bunch to work on, but I am happy we found a way to come out on top.

"We moved some guys around for this dual and most of them were competing at a higher weight class in order to put the team in the best position to win. Everyone played a role in this victory. Having Patrick Coffron back in the lineup was a big boost for us. He wrestles fearlessly and it provides a great enerfy for the team."
 

UP NEXT

The Hornets are back in action on Feb. 21 at the Maroon Open hosted by Roanoke College.
 
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