Wrestling: Rader Takes Sixth at NCAAs
March 17, 2007 11:56 AM | General
March 17, 2007
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – West Virginia University wrestler Brandon Rader finished sixth for the second consecutive season at the 2007 NCAA Championships on March 17 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The 141-pounder’s final day of wrestling did not go as planned though as he lost by fall in both of his matches on Saturday morning. Rader showed signs of wear after battling to four wins yesterday to earn All-America status.
In his first bout of the day Rader suffered his first pin of the season as he lost to No. 3-seeded Nathan Morgan of Oklahoma State. Morgan took a 4-1 lead through the first period and extended it to 6-1 before turning Rader for the fall.
In the fifth-place bout Rader took a 1-0 lead on an escape in the second period before Rider’s Don Fisch took him down and turned him.
With his performance this weekend Rader joins an elite group of West Virginia wrestlers to earn All-America honors multiple times. He is accompanied in that category by Mark Banks (1990-01), Mike Mason (1997-98), Whitey Clebove (1998-99), Vertus Jones (1998-99-2000) and Greg Jones (2002-04-05). He is the 29th All-American in program history and the 21st individual to do so.
Turnbull’s program now boasts 17 All-Americans since 1997 and nine since 2000. At least one Mountaineer has earned a spot on the NCAA podium the last six years and 10 of the last 11.
The NCAA Championships wrap up this evening with the first-place bouts. Live coverage of the action can be seen in high definition on ESPN at 8 p.m.
Rader Match-by-Match
141-lbs. Consolation Semifinals
No. 3 Nathan Morgan (OSU) FALL No. 7 Brandon Rader (WVU), 4:27
141-lbs. Fifth-Place Bout
Don Fisch (RU) FALL Brandon Rader (WVU), 3:42
