Two Advance to Friday Action
March 17, 2011 11:16 PM | General
Bout-by-Bout Results | Brackets | Team ScoresPHILADELPHIA – By earning a victory between Thursday’s Session I and Session II of the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships, redshirt senior Donnie Jones and redshirt junior Matt Ryan remain in contention for placement at the national tournament.
The two will advance to compete in Friday morning’s second round of wrestleback matches, which are slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. as a portion of Session III. Jones will wrestle Clarion’s Bekzod Abdurakhmonov, who he defeated earlier in the year, while Ryan will have a rematch with Pitt’s Max Thomusseit, who earned a win over Ryan in February.
“It wasn’t the day that we prepared for or expected, but we’re glad to see that (Donnie) Jones and (Matt) Ryan will be able to compete again tomorrow,” says WVU coach Craig Turnbull.
The only Mountaineer left in the championship bracket after the first round, redshirt senior Donnie Jones fell to Oklahoma’s No. 3-ranked and No. 3-seeded Tyler Caldwell by a 7-2 decision. It was only the fifth loss of the year for Jones as he earned a takedown in the second period but could not overcome Caldwell’s three takedowns in the match. Caldwell also had 2:04 of riding time for an additional point.
In the first round of wrestlebacks, sophomore Shane Young was eliminated from the tournament with a close 5-4 decision loss to Virginia’s No. 18-ranked Matthew Snyder. Down 3-2 after two periods, Young tied the score at 4-4 with a takedown following a Snyder escape, but Snyder’s 1:40 of riding time earned the win for the Cavalier. Young finished the year with a 28-10 record.
Redshirt freshman Nathan Pennesi was also eliminated from the tournament following a 4-3 sudden decision loss to Oklahoma’s No. 16-ranked Jordan Keller by a 4-3 score in double overtime. Tied at 3-3 after two periods, neither could score in the third period nor the first overtime. In the second overtime, Keller earned an escape and evaded Pennesi for the rest of the match in the victory. Pennesi ended the season with a 24-8 record.
“(Nathan) Pennesi demonstrated as a freshman that he has tremendous potential and that he may be a national champion one day,” Turnbull says. “Pennesi and Shane (Young) have room for growth, but are headed in the right direction and will continue to be strong wrestlers for our program.”
Sixth-year senior Brandon Rader had his WVU career ended with a 5-2 decision loss to UNC-Greensboro’s No.8-ranked Ivan Lopouchanski. Down 3-0 after two periods, Rader had a takedown in the final period but Lopouchanski increased the lead to 5-2 with an escape and one minute of riding time to secure the win. The Parkersburg, W. Va., native ended his final season as a Mountaineer with a 14-11 record and had 70 wins throughout his career.
“Brandon (Rader) ends with one of the finest careers in West Virginia history,” Turnbull says. “He demonstrated a high level of resolve and determination throughout this year and gave his best effort in every match.”
Matt Ryan stayed in contention in the tournament with a 10-1 major decision win over Illinois’ No. 19 Tony Dallago, his second win over the Illini wrestler this season. Ryan earned a takedown late in the first period then added another in the second while allowing one Dallago escape. In the third period, the Eighty-Four, Pa., native scored an escape, takedown and three near-fall points maintain the lead and a win.
“(Matt) Ryan wrestled a solid match against Dallago and we’re glad to see him advance along with Donnie to represent our program,” Turnbull says.
Penn State is currently in first place with 30.5 points followed by Cornell (29), which pulled ahead of Iowa and Oklahoma State with 25 points apiece. The Mountaineers stand in 46th place overall with four points. Over 17,000 fans attended Wells Fargo Center at both Session I and Session II of the tournament.
WVU Session I Results
125
1st Round: No. 27 Steven Keith (Harvard)(23-15) dec. No. 26 Shane Young (28-9), 1-0
133
1st Round: No. 9 (11th seed) Scotti Sentes (C. Michigan)(31-6) dec. No. 18 Nathan Pennesi (24-7), 7-0
149
1st Round: No. 11 Eric Grajales (Michigan)(17-12) won by fall No. 30 Brandon Rader (14-10), 4:51
165
1st Round: No. 22 Donnie Jones (20-4) dec. No. 33 Ross Tice (Kent St.)(28-13), 8-3
184
1st Round: No. 9 (10th seed) Josh Ihnen (Nebraska)(26-8) maj. dec. No. 29 Matt Ryan (20-8), 10-0
WVU Session II Results
125
Wrestleback 1: No. 18 Matthew Snyder (Virginia)(24-10) dec. No. 26 Shane Young (28-10), 5-4
133
Wrestleback 1: No. 16 Jordan Keller (Oklahoma)(18-10) sudden dec. No. 18 Nathan Pennesi (24-8), 4-3
149
Wrestleback 1: No. 8 Ivan Lopouchanski (UNC-Greensboro)(39-9) dec. No. 30 Brandon Rader (14-11), 5-2
165
2nd Round: No.3 (3rd seed) Tyler Caldwell (Oklahoma)(30-5) dec. No. 22 Donnie Jones (20-5), 7-2
184
Wrestleback 1: No. 29 Matt Ryan (21-8) maj. dec. No. 19 Tony Dallago (Illinois)(16-17), 10-1
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