Of all the rounds, the semi-finals of today’s championships had to be the most exciting. For others, namely top heavyweight seed Ryan Flores of American University, they had to be intensely disappointing. In the course of executing a takedown, Flores seemed to absorb a bad headbutt that clearly rocked him. Able to keep participating, but unable to do much of anything, foe Zach Rey had his way with him. In a tournament where Flores pinned all four previous opponents, this loss has to be particularly upsetting.
NCAA Wrestling Championships 2012 Results: Penn State Sends Five To Finals
Top seeds such as Cornell’s Kyle Dake and Penn State’s David Taylor rolled. Taylor, like Flores, has now pinned all four opponents (Flores pinned four as a result of first winning the pigtail round). Also of note, Penn State is sending five finalists in ten weight classes into the finals.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) prospect Chris Honeycutt managed to managed to earn a hard fought decision over Matthew Wilps, but will face a far more technical wrestler in Cornell’s Cam Simaz tomorrow.
Team scores headed into the finals:
1. Penn State 124.0
2. Minnesota 94.5
3. Iowa 87.5
4. Cornell 86.0
5. Oklahoma State 57
Full results below. Tomorrow’s finals begin at 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN:
125lbs
Nicholas Megaludis (Penn State) dec. Frank Perrelli (Cornell) 3-2
Matt McDonough (Iowa) dec. Nicholas Bedelyon (Kent St.) 8-5
FINAL: Matt McDonough vs. Megaludis
133lbs
Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) dec. Futrell (Illinois), 8-2
Logan Stieber (Ohio St.) dec. Tony Ramos (Iowa), 4-2
FINAL: Logan Stieber vs. Jordan Oliver
141lbs
Kellen Russell (Michigan) dec. Hunter Stieber (Ohio State) 4-2
Montell Marion (Iowa) dec. Kendric Maple (Oklahoma) 3-1
FINAL: Kellen Russell vs. Montell Marion
157lbs
Kyle Dake (Cornell) dec. Ganbayar Sanjaa (American), 4-0
Derek St. John (Iowa) dec. Jason Welch (Northwestern), 5-1
FINAL: Kyle Dake vs. Derek St. John
165lbs
David Taylor (Penn State) pins Bezkod Abdurakhmonov (Clarion), 4:44
Brandon Hatchett (Lehigh) dec. Josh Asper (Maryland) 5-4
FINAL: David Taylor vs. Brandon Hatchett
174lbs
Ed Ruth (Penn State) dec. Logan Storley (Minnesota), TF 17-1
Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) dec. Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) 6-3
FINAL: Nick Amuchastegui vs. Ed Ruth
184lbs
Quentin Wright (Penn State) dec. Robert Hamlin (Lehigh), 3-2
Steve Bosak (Cornell) dec. Austin Trotman (Appalachian State), 4-2
FINAL: Steve Bosak vs. Quentin Wright
197lbs
Cam Simaz (Cornell) dec. Cayle Byers (Oklahoma State), 6-3
Chris Honeycutt (Edinboro) dec. Matthew Wilps (Pittsburgh)
FINAL: Cam Simaz vs. Chris Honeycutt
285lbs
Zach Rey (Lehigh) dec. Flores (American), 6-2
Tony Nelson (Minnesota) dec. Clayton Jack (Oregon St), 4-3
FINAL: Zach Rey vs. Tony Nelson
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