March 20, 2009

Brackets Through Session II

Team Standings

Match by Match Results

ST. LOUIS -- All four University of Pittsburgh Panther wrestlers are still alive after day one of the NCAA Championships. Redshirt freshman Tyler Nauman was the lone Pitt wrestler to win his first-round match, advancing by way of a 7-1 decision over Justin Accordino (Hofstra).

After his opening-round win, Nauman met defending national champion J Jaggers (Ohio State) Thursday night. The third-seeded Jaggers was able to escape with a 6-4 win in sudden victory. Nauman will meet Frank Molinaro (Penn State) in the consolation bracket Friday morning. Molinaro advanced due to a medical forfeit from ninth-seeded Corey Jantzen (Harvard).

Junior Jimmy Conroy drew the No. 2 seed, Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) in his first-round match in the 133-pound bracket. The two-time Eastern Wrestling League champion was pinned in the first period. Conroy was a 17-5 winner by major decision in his consolation bracket match over Matt Bonson (Virginia). Up next for Conroy is No. 12 seed Steve Bell (Maryland).

After dropping an opening-round 10-2 major decision to eighth-seeded Jonathan Reeder, sophomore Ethan Headlee was a 3-1 winner in sudden victory over No. 9 Brandon Mason (Oklahoma State). Headlee will meet Jason Lapham (Rider) tomorrow for the second time this season. Headlee dropped a 5-3 decision to Lapham at the Keystone Classic earlier this year.

Redshirt senior Zach Sheaffer entered his final NCAA Championship unseeded in the heavyweight division. Sheaffer drew the second seed, Mark Ellis (Missouri) in the opening round. In a repeat of their Midlands Championships finals match, Ellis was a 2-1 winner. In the consolation bracket, Sheaffer met Nate Everhart (Indiana), another Midlands rematch whom he defeated by fall to card his 100th career win. Sheaffer advanced tonight with a 7-1 decision, setting up a date with Jarod Trice (Central Michigan) tomorrow morning.

Action in St. Louis continues tomorrow, March 20, at the Scottrade Center with quarterfinal and wrestleback matches starting at 11 a.m.