Four Mavericks Lock Up All-American Honors; Wilson in Heavyweight Semifinals
March 10, 2010
Omaha, Neb. -- Senior heavyweight Brady Wilson assured himself a spot as the eighth four-time All-American in Minnesota State
history and three other Mavericks also locked up All-American honors as
Minnesota State concluded the first day of action at the NCAA Division
II National Championships. Wilson won two matches to advance to
the semifinals while Andy Forstner, Travis Elg and Aaron Norgren are
alive in the consolations and will fight for placings tomorrow.
As a team, the Mavericks are in sixth place with a score of 26.
Junior Andy Forstner (Madelia, Minn.) locked up All-American honors for
the second straight season at 125 pounds with a 2-1 record on the
day. He opened his second NCAA meet with a slim 3-2 loss to
Thomas Edgmon of Fort Hays State, last season's 125 pound national
runner-up. He rebounded with a 14-6 major decision in the
consolation round over Brandon Davis of Ashland despite giving up two
first-period takedowns and ended the day with a 7-2 win over Alex Johns
of Indianapolis.
Senior Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) started his day in big fashion
with a fall in 5:51 at 149 pounds. Down several points in the
third period against Thomas Hepburn of Nebraska-Kearney, Elg threw a
headlock to earn the fall and advance. He fell to Craig Becker of
Wisconsin-Parkside, a fourth-place finisher last season, in the
quarterfinals by a score of 18-5. He then locked up his second
All-American honor with a dominating 8-4 win, including over four
minutes of riding time, over Jeremy Espinoza of Findlay.
Senior Justin Turek (New Prague, Minn.) dropped his first-round match
5-2 to Sean Byrnes of Newberry but bounced back for a wild 16-10 win
over Bryce Givens of Indianapolis. In the second round of
consolations, he traded escapes with Marcus Edgington of Augustana and
took the conference foe into overtime tied 1-1. About halfway
through the extra frame, he conceded a takedown to conclude his season
with an 18-17 mark.
Sophomore Tel Todd (Bozeman, Mont.) dropped two decisions and was
eliminated from his first NCAA tournament. He dropped decision
losses to Ryan Pankoke of Nebraska-Omaha and Jason Varilek of Belmont
Abbey. He concludes the season with a 20-18 record.
Junior Ben Becker (Fort Dodge, Iowa) also went 0-2 and was eliminated
from competition. He dropped a 9-2 decision to Kamarudeen Usman
of Nebraska-Kearney, followed by a decision loss to Anthony Petrella of
Gannon. He finishes his junior campaign with a 20-17 mark.
Sophomore Aaron Norgren (Good Thunder, Minn.) began his second NCAA
appearance at 184 pounds with a 5-2 loss to Bryant Blanton of
Newberry. He then earned a dominating 14-8 win over Lucas Haag of
Wisconsin-Parkside, owner of a 43-9 record heading into the
tournament. In the consolation second round, Norgren was leading
Austin Boehm of Nebraska-Omaha 8-7 with over a minute of riding time
advantage when Boehm was medically unable to continue in the third
period. It was the first win for Norgren in three tries against
Boehm this season and ensures him the first All-American honor in his
young career.
Heavyweight Brady Wilson (Faribault, Minn.) made two giant leaps toward
his quest for a national championship with two wins in his final NCAA
appearance. Now a four-time All-American, he pinned Patrick Carey
of CSU-Pueblo in 4:36. He then racked up over three minutes of
riding time en route to a 10-1 major decision win over Neil McGrath of
Gannon. Now 31-4 on the season, Wilson will face Dustin Finn of
Central Oklahoma in the semifinals tomorrow.
The third session of the tournament begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Sapp Fieldhouse on the campus of Nebraska-Omaha.
125 pounds - Andy Forstner
L, dec. Thomas Edgmon (Fort Hays State), 3-2
W, maj. dec. Brandon Davis (Ashland), 14-6
W, dec. Alex Johns (Indianapolis), 7-2
149 pounds - Travis Elg
W, fall Thomas Hepburn (Nebraska-Kearney), 5:51
L, maj. dec. Craig Becker (Wisconsin-Parkside), 18-5
W, dec. Jeremy Espinoza (Findlay), 8-4
157 pounds - Justin Turek
L, dec. Sean Byrnes (Newberry), 5-2
W, dec. Bryce Givens (Indianapolis), 16-10
L, dec. Marcus Edgington (Augustana), 3-1 SV
165 pounds - Tel Todd
L, dec. Ryan Pankoke (Nebraska-Omaha), 6-1
L, maj. dec. Jake Varilek (Belmont Abbey), 8-0
174 pounds - Ben Becker
L, dec. Kamarudeen Usman (Nebraska-Kearney), 9-2
L, dec. Anthony Petrella (Gannon), 16-9
184 pounds - Aaron Norgren
L, dec. Bryant Blanton (Newberry), 5-2
W, dec. Lucas Haag (Wisconsin-Parkside), 14-8
W, default Austin Boehm (Nebraska-Omaha)
Heavyweight - Brady Wilson
W, fall Patrick Carey (CSU-Pueblo), 4:36
W, maj. dec. Neil McGrath (Gannon), 10-1
