NCAA Wrestling Championships
All-American Walsh Places 5th, Rider 24th
NEW YORK, NY— Rider University sophomore Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) placed fifth in his 157 pound weight class at the NCAA Division I Championships.
On Saturday, Walsh (29-9), the #15 seed, lost to the #8 seed Nick Brascetta of Virginia Tech 7-4 in the consolation semifinals.
In the battle for fifth place, the #4 seed Ian Miller of Kent was a medical forfeit. Walsh was 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament.
The Broncs entered the final round of the National Championships Saturday evening in 26th place and finished 24th. “We concentrate on winning matches and let the other people count the points,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor.
Rider finished 27th last year at NCAAs when six Broncs went 10-12. This year the six Rider qualifiers went 11-12.
On Friday afternoon Rider sophomore Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) earned All-America honors, Rider's 15th All-American wrestler and fourth in the last 10 years.
Friday evening in the semifinals Walsh lost to the #3 seed from Penn State, Jason Nolf (33-1) 19-4. Walsh lost a major decision to Nolf in a dual meet at Rider earlier this season. “He faced one of the best wrestlers in the nation,” Taylor said.
Walsh defeated the #7 seed, Cody Pack of South Dakota State, 11-10 in the quarterfinals on Friday to earn All-America honors. “He showed the kind of heart he has, as he always does,” Taylor said. “To come back from where he was at to take it to the semifinals says a whole lot about the type of heart he has.”
Walsh upset the #2 seed, Thomas Gantt (24-1) of North Carolina State, 11-8 in the second round on Thursday. Walsh lost in sudden victory to Gantt earlier this season.
Walsh won an 11-2 major decision over Greg Flournoy of George Mason in the first round Thursday. Walsh has now defeated Flournoy three times this year.
Junior Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) and senior Conor Brennan (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) lost Friday night in the “blood round”, the round where if you win you are an All-American and if you lose the season is over. “Both of those guys were right there,” Taylor said, “but they got beat, one by a two-time All-American and one by a three-time All-American, in very competitive matches. I'm very proud of them.”
Wolfe (30-10) lost 7-0 to the #5 seed, Conner Hartmann (29-2) of Duke Friday night and went 3-2 at Nationals as an unseeded wrestler. “He was in position at the end to score a takedown,” Taylor said.
Wolfe (30-10) defeated Scottie Boykin of Chattanooga 7-5 in the first round of consolations and defeated Phil Sprenkle of Lock Haven 5-3 Friday afternoon.
Wolfe defeated Michael Woulfe of Navy 17-12 in consolations Thursday night. Wolfe lost 11-3 to the #1 seed at 197, Morgan McIntosh (29-0) of Penn State in the first round. McIntosh defeated Wolfe 10-1 in a dual meet this year.
Brennan (28-5), the 12th seed at 165, lost 5-4 to the #7 seed, Anthony Perrotti or Rutgers Friday night, and was 2-2 at Nationals, reaching the quarterfinals.
Brennan lost 3-0 to the 4th seed, Daniel Lewis of Missouri in the quarterfinals Friday. Brennan defeated the #5 seed, Max Rohskopf of North Carolina State, 4-2 in sudden victory in the second round Thursday. Brennan defeated Jake Faust (17-8) of Duke 7-2 in the first round.
Sophomore B.J. Clagon (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) (21-12) was 2-2 at the NCAA Tournament. Clagon won a 19-6 major decision over Joseph Galasso of Cornell in the consolations Friday afternoon before losing 4-0 to #16 Patricio Lugo (31-8) of Edinboro. Clagon lost to Lugo in a dual meet and defeated Lugo in the EWL Championships this year.
Clagon lost 9-7 in overtime to the #9 seed at 149, Justin Oliver of Central Michigan in the second round. Clagon upset the #8 seed Evan Henderson (22-5) of North Carolina 3-1 in the first round.
“The kids competed hard,” Taylor said. “I'm certainly proud of what they accomplished here.”
Senior Rob Deutsch (Cherry Hill, NJ/Eastern Regional) went 0-2. Deutsch (20-7) lost 17-1 in the consolations to Zachary Davis of Navy. Deutsch was pinned in 2:06 by the10th seed at 133, Johnni DiJulius (17-7) of Ohio State in the first round.
Sophomore heavyweight Mauro Correnti (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross) went 0-2 Thursday. In consolations Correnti (16-14) lost 7-2 to Mike Hughes of Hofstra. Correnti lost 5-2 to the #9 seed, Michael Kroells (30-7) of Minnesota in the first round.
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