Augustana Leads After First Day of 2005 NCAA II Wr
OMAHA, Neb. -- Top-ranked Augustana College advanced six wrestlers to the championship round and one to the consolation while taking the lead after day one of the 2005 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships being held on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Augustana leads with 61.5 points, followed by Nebraska-Omaha with 57.5 points and Pittsburgh-Johnstown with 51.0 points. Nebraska-Omaha advanced four wrestlers to the championship round and two to the consolations. UPJ has five wrestlers in the championship round and one in the consolation.
At 125 pounds, top-ranked Aaron Graumann of Augustana pinned Brandon Klemmer of Kutztown in 2:06. Graumann will face fourth-ranked Bryce Abbey of Nebraska-Kearney in the championship semifinals. Abbey defeated Mercyhurst's Ricky Randazzo, 7-3. In the other 125 quarterfinal matches, Ryon Mazzocco of Pittsburg-Johnstown decided Dustin Tovar of Nebraska-Omaha, 3-1, and will face Rob McCabe of Adams State, a 7-6 winner over James Phillips of Ashland.
At 133 pounds, top-ranked Curry Pickard of North Carolina-Pembroke pinned Jared Henning of Central Oklahoma in 58 seconds to earn a berth in the semifinals. Pickard will face third-ranked Shane Perkey of Indianapolis, who defeated Nebraska-Omaha's Dan Hilario, 11-7. Unranked Mike Hansen of Central Missouri State advanced to the semifinals with a 4-3 win over Efrain Ayala of Minnesota State, Mankato. Hansen will battle second-ranked Andy Uhl of Finday, an 11-4 winner over Matt Massor of West Liberty State.
In a rematch of last year's championship match at 141 pounds, top-ranked Donald Lockett of San Francisco State defeated second-ranked Merrick Myer of Truman State, 13-11 . Lockett will meet Pittsburgh Johnstown's Thad Benton, a 6-2 winner over Matt True of Nebraska-Kearney. In other championship quarterfinal matches, fourth-ranked Eli Dominguez of Nebraska-Omaha pinned third-ranked Kortney Lake of Adams State in 1:54 for his second pin of the tournament. Dominguez' semifinal opponent will be unranked Andre VanderVelde of Augustana, a 7-1 winner over Don Cummings of Mercyhurst.
At 149 pounds, top-ranked Ryan King of Augustana defeated Zack Leathers of Shippensburg, 9-7 to earn a spot in the semifinals where he will face fourth-ranked Pacifico Garcia of San Francisco State who defeated Shea Timothy, 6-2. Other quarterfinal winners included fifth-ranked R.J. Paterniti of Gannon who edged second-ranked Shane Unger of Nebraska-Omaha, 2-1, and third-ranked Jason Rhoten of Minnesota State, Mankato, a 3-2 winner over sixth-ranked Tony Guerra of Findlay.
The biggest upset of the tournament occured at 157 pounds where unranked Math Bitz of Minnesota State, Manktato upset top-ranked David Nordhues of Fort Hays State, 4-2 in quarterfinal action. Bitz will face second-ranked Angelo Vettese of Findlay, who recorded his second straight fall, pinning Austin Scarset of Augustana in 4:12. In other quarterfinal action, Nebraska-Omaha's Patrick Allibone squeaked out a 7-6 win over third-ranked Mitch Napier of Indianapolis. Allibone will meet Dustin Teeman of Truman State who defeated Matt Roncolato of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, 5-2.
At 165 pounds, top-ranked J.D. Naig advanced to the championship semifinals by pinning Evan Copeland of Ashland State in 2:04. It was Naig's second pin of the day. Naig will battle third-ranked Zack Schafer of Mercyhurst who defeated Rockie Stavn of Minnesota State, Moorhead, 9-6. Second-ranked Dwayne Coward of North Carolina-Pembroke advanced to the semifinals by pinning seventh-ranked Adam Morris of Findlay in 2:36. The fourth semifinalist is fourth-ranked Cody Henriksen of Augustana who beat fifth-ranked Aaron Dalton of Nebraska-Kearney, 6-3.
At 174 pounds, top-ranked Careef Robertson of Anderson College advanced with a 3-2 decision over fourth-ranked Dusty Wilking of Augustana. Unranked Eli Garshnick of Pittsburgh Johnstown edged Nebraska-Omaha's Steve Conlin, 3-2. Third-ranked Travis Krinke advanced with a 9-8 decision over Tommy Clark of West Liberty State. Tim Johns of Southwest Minnesota State scored a 14-4 major decision over Ryan Wasser of Kutztown to earn a spot in the semifinals
In 184-pound matches, two-time defending national champion Tom Meester of Augustana pinned seventh-ranked Anthony Morgan of Carson Newman in 2:52. Eighth-ranked Clint Carmony upset second-ranked Derek Brunson of North Carlolina-Pembroke, 8-5. Mike Corcetti defeated fifth-ranked Gordon Harrison of Truman State, 16-14. Third-ranked Ben McAvinew pinned sixth-ranked Mike Howell of Fort Hays State in 2:27
The 197-pound weight class had the biggest number of surprises on the night. Eighth-ranked Corey Jacoby of Shippensburg edged top-ranked Plamen Paskalev of Central Missouri State, 4-3. Jacoby will meet unranked John Goral of Wisconsin-Parkside who defeated Dustin Trego of Fort Hays State, 9-5. Second-ranked Tim Boldt of Augustana notched a spot in the semifinals with a 10-8 decision over defending national champion Jeff Sylvester of Nebraska-Kearney. Seventh-ranked Howard Bell advanced with a 3-1 decision over Kevin Lochner of Central Oklahoma.
Two-time defending national champion Les Sigman of Nebraska-Omaha scored his second pin of the tournament in 2:28 over Matt Meyer of Wisconsin-Parkside. Sigman will take on second-ranked Tervel Diagnev of Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals. Diagnev edged fourth-ranked Aldo Campea of Ashland, 3-2. In the other semifinal, sixth-ranked Chris Tuscherer of Minnesota State, Moorhead will face third-ranked Josh Leadingfox of Central Oklahoma.
The championship semifinals and third round consolation matches will begin on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Nebraska-Omaha's Lee and Helene Sapp Fieldhouse. The championship finals are set for 7 p.m. on Saturday night.
Augustana leads with 61.5 points, followed by Nebraska-Omaha with 57.5 points and Pittsburgh-Johnstown with 51.0 points. Nebraska-Omaha advanced four wrestlers to the championship round and two to the consolations. UPJ has five wrestlers in the championship round and one in the consolation.
At 125 pounds, top-ranked Aaron Graumann of Augustana pinned Brandon Klemmer of Kutztown in 2:06. Graumann will face fourth-ranked Bryce Abbey of Nebraska-Kearney in the championship semifinals. Abbey defeated Mercyhurst's Ricky Randazzo, 7-3. In the other 125 quarterfinal matches, Ryon Mazzocco of Pittsburg-Johnstown decided Dustin Tovar of Nebraska-Omaha, 3-1, and will face Rob McCabe of Adams State, a 7-6 winner over James Phillips of Ashland.
At 133 pounds, top-ranked Curry Pickard of North Carolina-Pembroke pinned Jared Henning of Central Oklahoma in 58 seconds to earn a berth in the semifinals. Pickard will face third-ranked Shane Perkey of Indianapolis, who defeated Nebraska-Omaha's Dan Hilario, 11-7. Unranked Mike Hansen of Central Missouri State advanced to the semifinals with a 4-3 win over Efrain Ayala of Minnesota State, Mankato. Hansen will battle second-ranked Andy Uhl of Finday, an 11-4 winner over Matt Massor of West Liberty State.
In a rematch of last year's championship match at 141 pounds, top-ranked Donald Lockett of San Francisco State defeated second-ranked Merrick Myer of Truman State, 13-11 . Lockett will meet Pittsburgh Johnstown's Thad Benton, a 6-2 winner over Matt True of Nebraska-Kearney. In other championship quarterfinal matches, fourth-ranked Eli Dominguez of Nebraska-Omaha pinned third-ranked Kortney Lake of Adams State in 1:54 for his second pin of the tournament. Dominguez' semifinal opponent will be unranked Andre VanderVelde of Augustana, a 7-1 winner over Don Cummings of Mercyhurst.
At 149 pounds, top-ranked Ryan King of Augustana defeated Zack Leathers of Shippensburg, 9-7 to earn a spot in the semifinals where he will face fourth-ranked Pacifico Garcia of San Francisco State who defeated Shea Timothy, 6-2. Other quarterfinal winners included fifth-ranked R.J. Paterniti of Gannon who edged second-ranked Shane Unger of Nebraska-Omaha, 2-1, and third-ranked Jason Rhoten of Minnesota State, Mankato, a 3-2 winner over sixth-ranked Tony Guerra of Findlay.
The biggest upset of the tournament occured at 157 pounds where unranked Math Bitz of Minnesota State, Manktato upset top-ranked David Nordhues of Fort Hays State, 4-2 in quarterfinal action. Bitz will face second-ranked Angelo Vettese of Findlay, who recorded his second straight fall, pinning Austin Scarset of Augustana in 4:12. In other quarterfinal action, Nebraska-Omaha's Patrick Allibone squeaked out a 7-6 win over third-ranked Mitch Napier of Indianapolis. Allibone will meet Dustin Teeman of Truman State who defeated Matt Roncolato of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, 5-2.
At 165 pounds, top-ranked J.D. Naig advanced to the championship semifinals by pinning Evan Copeland of Ashland State in 2:04. It was Naig's second pin of the day. Naig will battle third-ranked Zack Schafer of Mercyhurst who defeated Rockie Stavn of Minnesota State, Moorhead, 9-6. Second-ranked Dwayne Coward of North Carolina-Pembroke advanced to the semifinals by pinning seventh-ranked Adam Morris of Findlay in 2:36. The fourth semifinalist is fourth-ranked Cody Henriksen of Augustana who beat fifth-ranked Aaron Dalton of Nebraska-Kearney, 6-3.
At 174 pounds, top-ranked Careef Robertson of Anderson College advanced with a 3-2 decision over fourth-ranked Dusty Wilking of Augustana. Unranked Eli Garshnick of Pittsburgh Johnstown edged Nebraska-Omaha's Steve Conlin, 3-2. Third-ranked Travis Krinke advanced with a 9-8 decision over Tommy Clark of West Liberty State. Tim Johns of Southwest Minnesota State scored a 14-4 major decision over Ryan Wasser of Kutztown to earn a spot in the semifinals
In 184-pound matches, two-time defending national champion Tom Meester of Augustana pinned seventh-ranked Anthony Morgan of Carson Newman in 2:52. Eighth-ranked Clint Carmony upset second-ranked Derek Brunson of North Carlolina-Pembroke, 8-5. Mike Corcetti defeated fifth-ranked Gordon Harrison of Truman State, 16-14. Third-ranked Ben McAvinew pinned sixth-ranked Mike Howell of Fort Hays State in 2:27
The 197-pound weight class had the biggest number of surprises on the night. Eighth-ranked Corey Jacoby of Shippensburg edged top-ranked Plamen Paskalev of Central Missouri State, 4-3. Jacoby will meet unranked John Goral of Wisconsin-Parkside who defeated Dustin Trego of Fort Hays State, 9-5. Second-ranked Tim Boldt of Augustana notched a spot in the semifinals with a 10-8 decision over defending national champion Jeff Sylvester of Nebraska-Kearney. Seventh-ranked Howard Bell advanced with a 3-1 decision over Kevin Lochner of Central Oklahoma.
Two-time defending national champion Les Sigman of Nebraska-Omaha scored his second pin of the tournament in 2:28 over Matt Meyer of Wisconsin-Parkside. Sigman will take on second-ranked Tervel Diagnev of Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals. Diagnev edged fourth-ranked Aldo Campea of Ashland, 3-2. In the other semifinal, sixth-ranked Chris Tuscherer of Minnesota State, Moorhead will face third-ranked Josh Leadingfox of Central Oklahoma.
The championship semifinals and third round consolation matches will begin on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Nebraska-Omaha's Lee and Helene Sapp Fieldhouse. The championship finals are set for 7 p.m. on Saturday night.
