Wrestling: Rader Earns All-America Honors
March 17, 2006 10:25 PM | General
March 15, 2006
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| Rader |
OKLAHOMA CITY – West Virginia University wrestler Brandon Rader became the 28th All-American in program history after defeating Pitt’s Ron Tarquinio, 5-3, in sudden victory during Session IV of the NCAA Championships at the Ford Center on Friday, March 17, in Oklahoma City.
“It’s been an awesome experience,” said Rader. “I’ve been glad to go out here my first year and be able to do well.”
The Parkersburg, W.Va., native became the first-ever true freshman in program history to earn All-America status and 28th overall. He is just the fourth West Virginia native to earn the honor in school history as well.
The bout between Rader and Tarquinio in the consolation bracket’s round of 12 will not soon be forgotten as it was too close to be decided in regulation. After a scoreless first period, Tarquinio chose down to start the second and earned an escape.
Rader started the third period on the bottom and answered Tarquinio’s earlier escape to tie the match at 1-1. Seconds later, Tarquinio scored a takedown to take a two-point lead, but Rader would once again comeback as he reversed the hold on the edge of the mat. He would ride out the rest of the period out to send the bout to overtime.
WVU’s final wrestler alive in the tournament wasted no time in the first sudden victory period as he tallied his first takedown of the match to come away with a 5-3 win.
“I don’t know if I can say enough about all of the good things he has done in this tournament so far,” said head coach Craig Turnbull. “To go out and wrestle with the poise that he has so far has been exceptional.”
Rader and Tarquinio had met three times previously this season, with the Pitt wrestler winning the first at the Las Vegas Invitational on December 2, and Rader winning the dual meet match-up on Feb. 3, and the bout for the EWL championship on March 5.
In the consolation quarterfinals Rader advanced by avenging his first loss of the season to Virginia Tech’s Dave Hoffman. The scoring in the bout started when Rader recorded a takedown 22 seconds into the first. He was able to stay on top for the next 1:05 to mount a solid base of riding time before Hoffman could escape.
With the score 2-1after the first, Rader exploded for six points on two takedowns and a near fall to increase his lead to 8-3. While Hoffman tried to come back with a couple takedowns of his own, a pair of escapes in the third period by Rader would be all it he would need to come away with the 11-7 decision.
Rader’s 30 wins this season ties for the most ever by a 141-pounder with current assistant coach Shane Cunanan, who did so as a senior in 2003. His 30 wins also rank second all-time for wins by a freshman behind assistant coach Greg Jones’ 34.
Rader has now won 14 out of his last 15 bouts. He will put that streak on the line tomorrow when he faces Lehigh’s Cory Cooperman, who entered the tournament as the No. 3-seeded wrestler.
Wrestling in Saturday morning’s Session V in the Ford Center gets underway at 10 a.m.
Session IV Results:
141: No. 9 Brandon Rader (WVU) DEC Ron Tarquinio (Pitt), 5-3 sv
141: No. 9 Brandon Rader (WVU) DEC Dave Hoffman (Virginia Tech), 11-7
