Up and Down Day for Wrestling at NCAA Champs
ST. LOUIS, Mo. ? Day one complete at the 75th NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships with two of Oregon’s four wrestlers still alive. The Ducks had a promising start as both Joey Bracamonte (165-pounds) and No. 4 seed Scott Barker (197) won by way of pin in their first round matches. Both wrestlers, however, suffered defeats in the second round and fell to tomorrow’s consolation draw. No. 9 seed Shane Webster (184) and Cody Parker (hwt.) were both eliminated after two defeats apiece.
"It was a tough day for us," Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney said. "We had some great opportunities and just didn’t capitalize. At a tournament with this many good wrestlers, it is imperative you show up to compete every match, every period. We look for Scott (Barker) and Joey (Bracamonte) to pick up some big wins for us tomorrow."
In the afternoon session, junior Joey Bracamonte got things started for the Ducks with a pin over No. 11 seed Nate Yetzer of Edinboro. Yetzer was a 2004 All-American at 174 and a three-time NCAA qualifier. Bracamonte then lost a heartbreaker in overtime in the second round, 8-5, to No. 6 seed Jon Sioredas of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Bracamonte slips to tomorrow’s consolation draw.
No. 4 seed Scott Barker cruised in his first-round match, pinning Boston University’s John DeCruz, but was then upset in the second round by unseeded Morgan Horner of Lock Haven, 6-4. Horner gained entrance to the NCAA’s by winning the Eastern Wrestling League title. Barker is now 32-6 on the year and will wrestle out of the consolation bracket.
No. 9 seed Shane Wesbter lost an 8-5 decision to Missouri’s Matt Pell in the first round and then bowed out of the tournament after a tough 3-2 loss to Alex Dolly of Northern Iowa. Webster finishes the year 21-4.
Sophomore heavyweight Cody Parker lost a 10-5 decision to Duquense’s Marc Allenmang in the first round and then lost to Sacred Heart’s Payam Zarrinpour in the consolation draw. Parker finishes the year 16-14.
As a team, Oregon currently sits in 32nd place.
76 colleges and universities and 330 wrestlers are being represented at this year’s event.
ESPNU joins ESPN360.com to air live coverage of day two's sessions (Fri.) three competition on their respective outlets. The final NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship bouts (Sat.) will be picked up and broadcast live nationally by ESPN at 2 p.m. PST.
Up-to-date brackets and team scores can be found at www.ncaa.org or www.intermatwrestle.com.
Session three will begin tomorrow at 8 a.m. PST and include quarterfinal and consolation rounds. Session four will be tomorrow night (4 p.m.) and included semifinal and consolation rounds. Fans can follow each match via live scoring at www.ncaa.org.
NCAA Championships
St. Louis, Mo.
Savvis Center
March 17
(#) seed
First Round
165 ? Joey Bracamonte (UO) pins (11) Nate Yetzer (EU) 4:34
184 ? Matt Pell (UM) dec. over (9) Shane Wesbter (UO) 8-5
197 ? (4) Scott Barker (UO) pins John DaCruz (BU) 4:53
Hwt. ? Marc Allemang (DU) dec. over Cody Parker (UO) 10-5
Second Round-Championship Bracket
165 ? Jon Sioredas (UTC) dec. over Joey Bracamonte (UO) 8-5 OT
197 ? Morgan Horner (LH) dec. over (4) Scott Barker (UO) 6-4
Consolation
184 ? Alex Dolly (NIU) dec. over (9) Shane Webster (UO) 3-2
Hwt. ? Payam Zarrinpour (SH) pins Cody Parker (UO) 3:53
