Friday, March 17
Tulsa, Okla.
All Day
West Virginia University
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo by: NCAA photo
Cardinale Earns Second All-America Honor in Mountaineer Career
March 17, 2023 11:32 PM | Wrestling
TULSA, Okla. – In front of 15,694 roaring fans throughout the BOK Center on Friday night, fifth-year senior Killian Cardinale became the 35th All-American in program history to lead the West Virginia University wrestling team on day two of the NCAA Championships in Tulsa.
Despite dropping a 8-7 decision to No. 4-seed Matt Ramos of Purdue in the quarterfinals of the 125-pound bracket, Cardinale bounced back in blood round by outlasting No. 15-seed Brett Ungar of Cornell via a 3-2 decision to make his return to the podium since earning All-America status in 2021.
Cardinale scored the first takedown and road out Ungar to conclude the first period with a 2-0 lead. Ungar deferred choice to Cardinale who chose to begin the second period in a neutral position. After going scoreless in the second, the pair went neutral again and this time Ungar secured a takedown to even the bout at 2-2, but it wasn't enough as the Mountaineer tacked on a point for riding time to seal the win.
The Bristow, Virginia, native joins Mark Banks, Whitey Chlebove, Mike Mason, Greg Jones, Vertus Jones, Brandon Rader and Zeke Moisey as the eighth WVU wrestler to be named an All-American multiple times sporting the Gold and Blue. Cardinale and Moisey are also the only two Mountaineers to take home the honor at 125 pounds, as well as the final two to claim All-America status more than once.
He duels No. 27-seed Eddie Ventresca of Virginia Tech for seventh place in tomorrow's first session after falling to No. 8-seed Anthony Noto of Lock Haven by a 8-3 decision. Fans can catch Cardinale's final bout in a WVU singlet during Saturday's first session at 11 a.m. ET on ESPNU.
Of note, West Virginia has produced at least one All-American in each of the last four years (Noah Adams – 2020, Cardinale – 2021, Hall – 2022, Cardinale – 2023) under coach Tim Flynn to match a similar stretch of success that the program last achieved from 2004 to 2007, which was a part of a six-year period that began in 2002, during legendary coach Craig Turnbull's tenure.
Wrestlebacks
125: No. 8 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) dec. No. 28 Killian Cardinale (WVU), 8-3
Blood Round
125: No. 28 Killian Cardinale (WVU) dec. No. 15 Brett Ungar (Cornell), 3-2
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Despite dropping a 8-7 decision to No. 4-seed Matt Ramos of Purdue in the quarterfinals of the 125-pound bracket, Cardinale bounced back in blood round by outlasting No. 15-seed Brett Ungar of Cornell via a 3-2 decision to make his return to the podium since earning All-America status in 2021.
Cardinale scored the first takedown and road out Ungar to conclude the first period with a 2-0 lead. Ungar deferred choice to Cardinale who chose to begin the second period in a neutral position. After going scoreless in the second, the pair went neutral again and this time Ungar secured a takedown to even the bout at 2-2, but it wasn't enough as the Mountaineer tacked on a point for riding time to seal the win.
The Bristow, Virginia, native joins Mark Banks, Whitey Chlebove, Mike Mason, Greg Jones, Vertus Jones, Brandon Rader and Zeke Moisey as the eighth WVU wrestler to be named an All-American multiple times sporting the Gold and Blue. Cardinale and Moisey are also the only two Mountaineers to take home the honor at 125 pounds, as well as the final two to claim All-America status more than once.
He duels No. 27-seed Eddie Ventresca of Virginia Tech for seventh place in tomorrow's first session after falling to No. 8-seed Anthony Noto of Lock Haven by a 8-3 decision. Fans can catch Cardinale's final bout in a WVU singlet during Saturday's first session at 11 a.m. ET on ESPNU.
Of note, West Virginia has produced at least one All-American in each of the last four years (Noah Adams – 2020, Cardinale – 2021, Hall – 2022, Cardinale – 2023) under coach Tim Flynn to match a similar stretch of success that the program last achieved from 2004 to 2007, which was a part of a six-year period that began in 2002, during legendary coach Craig Turnbull's tenure.
Wrestlebacks
125: No. 8 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) dec. No. 28 Killian Cardinale (WVU), 8-3
Blood Round
125: No. 28 Killian Cardinale (WVU) dec. No. 15 Brett Ungar (Cornell), 3-2
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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