Cael Sanderson’s Penn State has locked up the team race. It will be their first national championship since 1953. The Nittany Lions also have three wrestlers in the finals. 10 national champions still need to be crowned.
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125
#1 Anthony Robles (Arizona State) vs. #2 Matt McDonough (Iowa)
Robles scores an early takedown after he catches an ankle and spins (2-0). He then locks up a cross wrist rides and tilts to Iowa wrestler for two (4-0). McDonough gets caught with a ball and chain and tilted for another three back points (7-0). Robles rides out the period. Dominating first period. McDonough chooses neutral to start the second period. He nearly gets around, but Robles’ upper body strength is controlling this match. The Arizona State wrestler goes down to start the third period. McDonough rides tough from the top. He takes off the riding time and catches a point on back-to-back stalls(7-1). Robles holds on for the national championship.
Robles dec. 7-1
133
#1 Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) vs. #2 Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State)
Oliver shoots a double leg and scores a quick takedown less than 30 seconds into the match. He elects to not ride very long and cuts the Boise State wrestler (2-1). Oliver tires a double leg from a mile away. Hochstasser stuffs it, but Oliver switches to a body lock and gets a takedown plus backs (6-1). Hochstrasser gets up (6-2). The Oklahoma State wrestler picks neutral for the second period. After one circle, he drops down for another double and finishes it clean (8-2). He lets his opponent up (8-3). Hochstrasser nearly spins for a takedown at the end of the period, but he can’t score. He then chooses down and gets out (8-4). Hochstrasser tries to drag Oliver back in by the foot, but the defense is impenetrable. The referee warns Oliver for stalling, but he holds on for the title. He finishes the season undefeated.
Oliver dec. 8-4
141
#1 Kellen Russell (Michigan) vs. #3 Boris Novachkov (Cal Poly)
These wrestlers come in with a 68-1 combined record. Novachkov’s only loss came against Russell. The score remains 0-0 after a defensive first period. Russell starts the period down. The Michigan wrestler starts a scramble and calls for injury after twisting either his knee or ankle. The trainer applies a healthy amount of tape over his shoe, and he will continue. He gets back to his feet, but is dragged back down. The ankle appears to be really bothering him. He eventually escapes, but Novachkov picks up the riding time (1-0). To start the third, Novachkov takes down. Russell cuts the riding time before Novachkov gets away (1-1). The Michigan wrestler is noticeably limping. Novachkov shoots and Russell spins immediately. The Cal Poly wrestler gets to his feet to avoid the takedown, but Russell slams him to his back, no backs are called (3-1). Novachkov gets away quickly (3-2). They go out of bounds with three seconds, and Russell holds on for an undefeated season.
Russell dec. 3-2
149
#4 Kyle Dake (Cornell) vs. #2 Frank Molinaro (Penn State)
Dake shoots in on a low single. Molinaro defends well, but Dake gets behind him of the feet and then slams him down for the takedown (2-0). The Cornell wrestler almost get a tilt, but can’t finish it. Dake collects the riding time. He is riding like a champ. Even when Molinaro gets to his feet, he gets picked up and slammed. The referee gives Molinaro a point for Dake illegally torquing on the knee (2-1). Dake finishes the period on top, but for some reason Molinaro still picks down to start the second. The riding time is now over three minutes. Dake finally gets the tilt with the legs in and collects three points (5-1). He finishes another round on top. Dake chooses down and quickly scores a reversal (7-1). This is utter domination. The Cornell wrestler now has over five minutes of riding time in a seven minute match. Dake finishes yet another period on top. that leaves him with over six minutes of riding time.
Dake dec. 8-1
157
#4 Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State) vs. #3 David Taylor (Penn State)
Reshot by Jenkins, but the referee calls a stalemate in the Iranian lift position. The first period ends 0-0. Taylor goes down first and gets up quickly (1-0). Taylor gets in deep on a shot off a restart. Jenkins transitions and picks up an inside cradle. He turns Taylor to his back for the takedown and back points. HE GETS THE FALL! Huge win for Bubba Jenkins!
Jenkins by Fall
165
#1 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) vs. #3 Tyler Caldwell (Oklahoma)
Burrroughs starts off right where he finished in the semis, he scores a double leg for the first takedown of the match (2-0). After a tough ride, he collects the riding time, but Caldwell gets away (2-1). Burroughs goes right back to work. He shoots a single, but transitions to a double and finishes it (4-1). The Nebraska finishes the period on top. Caldwell takes down, and Burroughs cuts him (4-2). He then switches from several different attacks and eventually finishes for the deuce. (6-2). Burroughs goes back into ride mode. Whenever Caldwell gets to his feet, Burroughs puts him back down and finishes the period on top. The Nebraska wrestler picks to start the last period on the feet. He scores another double (8-2). He cuts Caldwell (8-3). This time Burroughs tries and single and completes it easy. (10-3). He rides it out for the win.
Burroughs dec. 11-3
174
#1 Jon Reader (Iowa State) vs. #7 Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford)
Reader gets a deep underhook and gets to a leg. He eventually goes for a slam and gets the takedown (2-0). He follows it up with a quick turn with a claw and pushes the lead to 4-0. There is tap wrapped around Reader’s face, but the blood is still pouring through. He goes back to the claw on the restart and picks up two more backs (6-0). Amuchastegui eventually gets out (6-1). Reader goes down to start the second. The Stanford wrestlers rides tough and takes off the riding time, but Reader gets out (7-1). Now they call blood time on Amuchastegui. After the second period ends, he picks to go down. Reader thinks the bout is out of bound and that allows Amuchastegui to get free (7-2). Reader stuffs a shot and spins quick for a takedown (9-2). The Stanford wrestler takes injury time, and then gets an escape (9-3). Reader uses a full split to defend a shot as the match ends.
Reader dec. 9-3
184
#9 Quentin Wright (Penn State) vs. #2 Robert Hamlin (Lehigh)
Hamlin shows off some great defense early, but then action slows down. The period ends with no score. Wright goes down in the second. He hits a switch and Hamlin lets him go (1-0). The Penn State wrestler hits a double leg takedown the edge to extend the lead (3-0). Hamlin gets out quick (3-1). After a short scramble, Wright locks up another double leg and scores (5-1). Hamlin gets out early (5-2). The Penn State wrestler gets warns for stalling, but still becomes Cael Sanderson’s first NCAA champion.
Wright dec. 5-2
197
#4 Dustin Kilgore (Kent State) vs. #2 Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State)
A sweet double leg gives Foster the first takedown of the match (2-0). Kilgore works back to his feet and gets away (2-1). Kilgore picks up a single leg, but can’t finish it as they go out of bounds. Foster pushes forward after a Kilgore shot and gets his own takedwon with an ankle pick( 4-1). He rides out the period and starts the next period down. After a few trips out of bound, Foster finally escapes. In a scramble, Kilgore tries to go for the defensive pin. He transitions to a pinning combination match and finishes the fall. Kilgore becomes the first NCAA champion in Kent State history.
Kilgore by fall
285
#1 Zach Rey (Lehigh) vs. #3 Ryan Flores (American)
The opening period was a typical heavyweight period. There was lots of pushing and shoving, but not a lot of action. Rey goes down first. Flores really makes him work, but he still gets out early (1-0). The period ends without any points. Flores now goes down. He hits a standing Granby, but Rey holds onto a single to keep him down. The referee calls a questionable stand up and then Flores takes injury time. He gets back to his feet, but Rey slams him back down twice. Rey secures to riding time to take a potential 2-0 lead. Flores scrambles and Rey holds onto a leg for dear life. He nearly goes to his back, but Rey is able to hold on for a stalemate. The Lehigh heavyweight takes injury time with 17 seconds left in the match. Rey cuts Flores (1-1). Rey stalls out the time. With the riding time he takes the national title.
Rey dec. 2-1