The St. Cloud State University wrestling team
is competing today at the 2009 NCAA Division II championships in
Houston, Tex. Listed below are results from today's matches after
the second session. Click on the following link to gain access to
live stats from the matches today in Houston.
In action at 133-pounds, SCSU's Josh Williams suffered a pinfall loss
at 6:01 against Scott Berens of Central Oklahoma. Williams stayed
alive in tournament action in the wrestlebacks with a first round 10-2
win over Nick Wykoff of West Liberty State University. In the second
round of the wrestlebacks, Williams lost by a pin at 2:15 aganst Cody
Garcia of Nebraska-Omaha.
SCSU sophomore Gabe Suarez also his first round match with a 5-4 loss
to James Annon of Fort Hayes State at 141-pounds. Suarez bowed
out of action at the championships with a 10-0 loss to Cory Bloodgood
of Central Missouri in the consolation bracket at 141-pounds.
At 149-pounds, Jake Roberts of SCSU lost an 8-4 decision against Ryan
McIntyre of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Roberts came back strong in the
consolation round with a 14-2 victory over Jessie Snider of Colorado
School of Mines. Roberts run at the national tournament came to
an end with a 7-6 loss to William Forest of Central Missouri.
Forrest came up with five points in the final period to offset an early
4-2 lead by Roberts in the match.
SCSU gained a victory in the 157-pound division with a 6-0 decision by
sophomore John Sundgren over Upper Iowa's Cory Fornal. In
quarterfinal action, Sundgren lost a 16-7 decision against Andy
Lamancusa of Mercyhurst. Sundgren bowed out of tournament action
with a pinfall loss at :21 against Central Missouri's Denis
Ryzhov. Sundgren ends his season with an impressive 32-7 overall
record for the Huskies.
SCSU also charted a win at 165-pounds, as freshman Tad Merritt earned a
16-4 major decision over Skye Wells of Western State College. In
quarterfinal action, Merritt dropped a tough 8-6 decision against Corey
Van Groll of Wisconsin-Parkside. Merritt earned his pass to day
two of the tournament with a big 7-1 decision over Kyle Keane of
Pittsburgh-Johnstown in the second round of the consolation bracket.
At 174-pounds, SCSU's Derek Skala suffered a tough 7-3 decision against
Joe Shreckhise of Limestone. In consolation round action at
174-pounds, Skala stayed alive with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Nick
Ross of Western State College. Skala also earned his ticket for
the second day of action with a second round win in the consolation
braket. Skala posted an 8-2 victory over Chris Barrick of
Shippensburg. Skala was up 3-1 going into the final period,
before he outpointed Barrick 5-1 in the third period to gain the
decision.
In action at 184-pounds, returning All-American Brad Padgett posted a
first round victory over Findlay's Hiran Smith by a 4-1 margin.
Padgett punched his ticket to the semi-finals with a thrilling third
period pin at 6:17 against Western State's Larry Wilbanks. At the time
of the pin by Padgett the two wrestlers were tied at 5-5, and this came
after Wilbanks had gained a 5-3 lead earlier in the match.
To complete the SCSU contingent, Lucas Munkelwitz dropped a 14-2
decision against Donovan McMahill of Western State. Munkelwitz
finished the night with a 4-3 loss to Patrick Walsh of
Pittsburgh-Johnstown in the consolation bracket.
Check back for the latest championship updates, as the action will be completed in Houston on March 14.
