Glenville State College’s Jordan Williams is currently ranked No. 11 in Division II at 197 pounds by InterMat. (Provided by Glenville State College)

GLENVILLE — The Glenville State College wrestling team of head coach Dylan Cottrell is more than excited about today’s 7 p.m. dual at West Virginia University.

The Division II Pioneers are coming off a 4-1 effort last weekend at the Lander University Carolina Clash, which included a 27-14 triumph against fellow Mountain East Conference foe UNC-Pembroke. The Braves were ranked No. 12 in the country.

During the victory, former Braxton County state champ and WVU transfer Jordan Williams, who is currently ranked No. 11 at 197 by InterMat, upended now No. 12 Bryce Walker of the Braves.

“We wrestled well,” said Cottrell, a former Mountaineer himself. “I didn’t think that we wrestled great against Lander, but bounced back and wrestled really well against Pembroke.

“That’s a good win for us. It’s still early in the season and we have lots to continue to get better on. We got some guys who are banged up and some injuries and we’re working through that.”

The Pioneers’ lineup is expected to start with 125-pounder Kevin Meloni, a Division I transfer from Buffalo.

Alec Fulwider might not be able to go at 133 tonight, which would put former Parkersburg South Patriot Devin Easton in the lineup. At 141, the G-men should start Ethan Hardy, who was the Most Outstanding Wrestler at last year’s Class AAA state tournament for Washington High School.

Another former Parkersburg South Patriot, 149-pounder Gavin Quiocho, will suit up for GSC at 149 pounds. He is currently ranked No. 13 by InterMat.

“Gavin was the Dutton Award winner,” said Cottrell, who will have a forfeit at 157 but expects to have that filled soon via a transfer from Appalachian State.

Quiocho could end up facing off against former Patriot teammate Brayden Roberts, who competed for WVU at 149 on Sunday in a 30-9 loss to Ohio.

“There’s definitely a possibility, but Brayden hasn’t been a starter all year,” Cottrell admitted of the match happening. “I don’t know if it was a one-time deal. That’s kind of a wait and see on the dual.”

Former George Washington Patriot Hunter Jones will go at 165. Parkersburg South grad Hunter DeLong, also a WVU transfer, is set to go at 174.

GSC 184-pounder Cole Houser is ranked 14th by InterMat. Sissonville grad Gavin Shamblin will be the Pioneers’ heavyweight.

“It’s definitely a cool thing,” said the coach of getting to wrestle in a big-time environment. “It’s cool for the three guys who were WVU athletes before and cool for the other guys to go wrestling in that atmosphere.

“It’s a good opportunity for us. I’m not worried about the result. We got guys who are hopefully going to reach the NCAA tournament.”

The top three wrestlers during regional action will advance to the NCAA championships. During the initial release of the regional rankings, the Pioneers had five grapplers ranked in the region. Williams was second, Houser was fourth while Jones, DeLong and Shamblin checked in at fifth.

“I tell our wrestlers to take it a day at a time as much as I want to kind of look forward,” Cottrell stressed. “We’re good right now. We are really good right now.

“We’re looking forward to right now, the next day, focusing on training and having all of our guys wanting to win the MEC and place in the top three of the regional tournament.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com