| 2005 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS Oklahoma State leads the 75th annual NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Savvis Center in St.Louis, Missouri. The Cowboys hold a commanding lead with 133 points, ahead of Michigan(79), Oklahoma(73.5), both Cornell and Minnesota who tallied 72.5 points.The Cowboys are led by defending NCAA Champion Chris Pendleton at 174 pounds and former NCAA winners from 2003, Jake Rosholt (197) and Iowa transfer, unbeaten Steve Mocco at 285 pounds, that trio all advanced to the finals. Coach John Smith and the Pokes seek their third consecutive crown, something they haven't done since 1956, along with a NCAA leading 33rd NCAA team title. Other Cowboys that advanced to the championship finals were; top-seeded Zack Esposito, an NCAA runner-up last year, who defeated 2003 All-American Hofstra's Jon Masa(24-10), 6-2, at 149 pounds and third-seeded Johny Hendricks at 165 pounds. Cornell advanced 2003 NCAA titlist, top-seeded,Travis Lee at 133, along with Tyler Baier who upset second-seeded Kurt Backes(Iowa State), 4-3, and Travis Pascoe(Nebraska),10-8, at 184 pounds. Reigning NCAA champion Greg Jones(184) of West Virginia advanced to the championship bout, as did former NCAA Champions; Teyon Ware(141) of Oklahoma and Ryan Bertin(157) of Michigan. Two defending NCAA titlists were defeated; Stanford's Matt Gentry was upset by Iowa State's Trent Paulson, by virtue of an 8-6 sudden victory at 157 and Lehigh's Troy Letters was defeated by Iowa's Mark Perry, 3-0. at 165 pounds. Hofstra was in 17th place with 31 points and third-seeded Chris Skretkowicz(31-4) was pinned in his first round match by Darren Burns(UNC Greensboro Southern) at 197 pounds. Skretkowicz, a two-time All-American won three consecutive matches, before bowing to Penn State's Philip Davis,12-6, in his quest for a third NCAA medal. Pride's Jon Masa(24-10), a Long Beach HS product, became a two-time All-American, as he decisioned Oklahoma's Matt Storniola, 11-3, at 149 pounds. Masa then decisioned Cornell's Dustin Manotti,11-3, and defeated Michigan's Eric Tannebaum, 8-1, to finish in third place. Hofstra's Mike Patrovich(16-3) won three matches before being eliminated by Jon Sioredas from Chattanooga, by a 3-1 sudden victory, at 165 pounds. Another Big Red grappler, Joe Mazzurco, a former NYS Champion from Mahopac HS, was guaranteed All-American status, he was defeated by Oklahoma State's NCAA titlist Chris Pendleton, 16-1, in the semifinals. Mazzurco then defeated Eric Hauan(NIowa), 7-3, to earn fifth place at 174 pounds. Another NYS product, Chris Horning from Baldwinsville HS, now at Clarion, earned All-American status by finishing in eighth place at 157 pounds. - SEMIFINAL RESULTS - 125- Dubuque(Indiana) d. Hazewinkel(Oklahoma) 3-1. Ott(Illinois) d. Nick Simmons(Michigan State) 3-1. 133- Lee(Cornell) p. Clum(Wisconsin) 2:55. Bunch(Edinboro) d. Reiter(Minnesota) 6-4. 141- Gallick(Iowa State) d. Andy Simmons(Michigan State) 2-0. Ware(Oklahoma) d. Keefe(Chattanooga Southern) 18-3. 149- Esposito(Oklahoma State) d. Tannebaum(Illinois) 7-2. Simpson(Army) d. Manotti(Cornell) 8-0. 157- Johnston(Iowa) d. Percival(Ohio) 9-8. Bertin(Michigan) d. Paulson(Iowa State) 10-7. 165- Perry(Iowa) d. Letters(Lehigh) 3-0. Hendricks(Oklahoma State) d. Ryan Churella(Michigan) 6-2. 174- Pendleton(Oklahoma State) Mazzurco(Cornell) 16-1. Askren(Missouri) d. Freidl(Illinois) 6-2. 184- Jones(West Virginia) d. Glynn(Illinois) 5-2. Baier(Cornell) d. Pascoe(Nebraska) 10-8. 197- Stender(Northern Iowa) d.Trenge(Lehigh) 5-3. Rosholt(Oklahoma State) d. Padden(Nebraska) 10-9. 285- Mocco(Oklahoma State) d. DeGain(Indiana) 4-0. Konrad(Minnesota) d. Velasquez(Arizona State) 6-2. TEAM SCORES: 1.Oklahoma State...................133 2.Michigan.............................79 3.Oklahoma............................73.5 4.Cornell................................72.5 4.Minnesota............................72.5 6.Illinois.................................70.5 7.Iowa...................................66 8.Lehigh.................................60 9.Iowa State...........................56 10.Indiana..............................53.5 |
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| OKLAHOMA STATE LEADS NCAA TOURNAMENT |