Top two seeds advance to semifinals of Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals
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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
01/18/2003
Columbus, Ohio - Despite numerous upsets throughout the first three sessions of action at the 2003 Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals, the top two seeds still remain through quarterfinal action. Top seed Oklahoma State and No. 2 seed Iowa advanced after each winning their first two duals. Oklahoma State will face No. 5 seed Ohio State in the semifinals and Iowa will square off with unseeded Oklahoma. Oklahoma State advanced with wins over Northern Iowa (28-10) and Arizona State (38-3). Against Northern Iowa, the Cowboys won seven of 10 matches while also resting regular starters Jerrod Sanders (149 lbs.) and Muhammed Lawal (197 lbs.). In a much-anticipated rematch, OSU freshman Zack Esposito downed Dylan Long 6-5. The two rolled around the mat furiously with neither being able to take complete control of the match. Esposito came away with the win after finishing a takedown late in the match for the win. The Cowboys received pins from Skyler Holman (125 lbs.) and Johnny Thompson (133 lbs.) in the dual. Against Arizona State, the Cowboys jumped out to a 9-0 team lead with wins by Holman and Thompson. Arizona State's only win came at 141 lbs., where Dana Holland narrowly defeated Ronnie Delk 8-6. Sun Devils All-American Eric Larkin (149 lbs.) did not wrestle in the dual to rest for the remainder of the tournament. Ohio State posted wins over Ohio (37-4) and Michigan State (19-15) in advancing to the semifinal round. Against in-state rival Ohio, the Buckeyes showed complete domination by winning all but one match. The Bobcats received a major decision victory by Jake Percival at 149 lbs. for their only win. The Buckeyes received pins from Jesse Leng (133 lbs.), Keaton Anderson (157 lbs.) and defending NCAA champion Tommy Rowlands (285 lbs.). The win over Michigan State was decided in the last match of a see-saw battle. The Spartans jumped out to a 6-0 lead after a pin by Nick Simmons at 125 lbs., but the Buckeyes battled back, tying the dual with wins by Jesse Leng at 133 lbs. and Jeff Ratliff at 141 lbs. Anderson tied the dual at 9-9 after five matches with an impressive 8-6 win over All-American Gray Maynard. In the match, Anderson trailed 5-2 before locking Maynard up in a cradle and scoring three nearfall points to go ahead 7-5. Anderson tallied riding time for the final point. But the Spartans never quit, receiving a win from All-American Nik Fekete at 197 lbs. to tie the dual at 15-15 heading into the final match, where Rowlands won by a 24-10 major decision over John Wechter. Unseeded Oklahoma advanced to the semifinals with wins over No. 6 seed West Virginia (20-18) and Big XII Conference rival Iowa State (19-15). Against West Virginia, the Sooners received a win from true freshman Teyon Ware at 141 lbs. over Shane Cunanan to take a 10-0 lead in the dual. West Virginia fought back, cutting the lead to 15-12 after seven matches with wins by Tom McMath at 165 lbs. and defending NCAA champion Greg Jones at 174 lbs. Jones defeated All-American Robbie Waller in an action-packed 6-5 match. But the Sooners closed the window of opportunity for the Mountaineers after 184-pound Josh Lambrecht and 197-pound Tom Grossman earned wins to put the Sooners up 20-12 heading into the final match. Ware was the hero once again versus Iowa State, defeating defending NCAA champion Aaron Holker 3-1 at 141 lbs. Ware scored on a double-leg with only 19 seconds remaining in the match to post the upset victory. Iowa State's Zach Roberson (133 lbs.) continued to move his way up the national ladder after posting a dominating 6-1 victory over Witt Durden. In the match, Roberson scored takedowns in the first and third periods as his lead was never in jeopardy. Earlier in the day, Roberson defeated Ryan Lewis of Minnesota. The Cyclones took a 12-6 lead after six matches in the dual, but the Sooners dominated the rest of the way, receiving wins from Waller, Lambrecht and Grossman before Joel Tapler lost his 285-pound match with BYU transfer Scott Coleman of Iowa State. Iowa advanced to the semifinals after defeating half of the Division I teams in the state of Michigan. The Hawkeyes defeated Central Michigan (28-8) and Michigan (29-11). Against Central Michigan, the Hawkeyes took control of the dual meet at 149 lbs. when freshman Ty Eustice defeated Ty Morgan 3-2 in a tiebreaker. The win gave Iowa a 10-4 lead in the dual. Iowa also received impressive wins from freshman Joe Johnston at 157 lbs., defeating David Bolyard 9-5, and Ryan Fulsaas at 197 lbs., defeated Brett Faustmann 6-5. Iowa All-American Steve Mocco (285 lbs.) survived a scare late in his match with Bill Stouffer. On the verge of a technical fall win, Mocco was thrown to his back at the edge of the mat, but the two went out of bounds before the official could count nearfall points. Iowa snapped a three-dual losing streak to Michigan in their quarterfinal win. The Hawkeyes dominated the entire dual, winning seven matches. The Hawkeyes clinched the win with a technical fall victory by Jessman Smith at 184 lbs. and pins by Ryan Fulsaas at 197 lbs. and Steve Mocco at 285 lbs. In early-round action, unseeded Iowa State upset two-time defending NCAA champion Minnesota 22-18. The Cyclones were led by Roberson's 8-6 win over Lewis, but received a pin from Nick Passolano at 174 lbs. to seal the victory. Unseeded Michigan State upended No. 4 seed Cornell 16-16, winning on the tiebreaker criteria of most nearfall points. Tonight's Semifinal Matchups, 8:30 p.m. (EST) Oklahoma State vs. Ohio State Oklahoma vs. Iowa