March 12, 2005

Wrestling Has Four Alive at NCAA's

Sylvester Falls in Overtime; Dlagnev Sets Record

            Kearney, Neb. –  The 3^rd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team has four individuals remaining after the first day of the NCAA Championships in Omaha.

            After two sessions were completed today, UNK is in sixth place with 34.5 points. No. 1 Augustana, with six wrestlers alive in the championship bracket, leads with 61.5 points while No. 2 UNO is in second at 57.5 points. 

            This morning in the first round, UNK posted a 4-5 record.

            In the championship bracket tonight, the Lopers went 2-2 at senior Bryce Abbey (125 lbs.) and redshirt freshman Tervel Dlagnev (Hwt.) advanced to the semifinals.

            Abbey, ranked 4^th nationally, beat 8^th-ranked Ricky Randazzo of Mercyhurst (Pa.), 7-3, while Dlagnev, ranked 2^nd nationally, edged 4^th-ranked Aldo Campea of Ashland (Ohio), 3-2.

            This was Dlagnev's 38^th win of the year, breaking the Loper mark for wins in a single season, held by Abbey and Frank Kuchera.

            Both of these Lopers will see the No. 1 ranked individual in their class tomorrow in the semifinals. Abbey will face Aaron Graumann of Augustana and Dlagnev will meet Les Sigman of UNO, a two-time national champion.

            These four are very familiar with each other as Graumann beat Abbey, 5-4, back in February while Sigman has handed Dlagnev three of his five losses this year.

            While Abbey and Dlagnev will face their classes No. 1 ranked individual tomorrow, Lyman junior Jeff Sylvester, ranked 3^nd nationally, had no such luck, facing second ranked Tim Boldt of Augustana tonight. Boldt was ranked No. 1 for most of the last four weeks.

            The defending national champion at 197 lbs., Sylvester was looking to payback Boldt for a 11-4 loss in February. While it was much closer this time, Boldt still came out on top, winning 10-8 in overtime.

            Sylvester came back to pin Ben Strandberg of UNO at 3:58 to stay alive.

            Finally in the winners bracket, Fremont senior Aaron Dalton, ranked 5^th at 165 lbs., fell to 4^th-ranked Cody Henriksen of Augustana, 6-3.

            Dalton was then eliminated by Peter Jenson of Colorado Mines, 9-4

            In the consolation round, Kearney senior Adam Keiswetter (133 lbs.) bounced back from a first round loss by pinning J.J. Zanetta of Mercyhurst (2:40) and 4^th-ranked Dan Hilario of UNO (3:58).

            The other four Lopers in this bracket all lost for the second time and are eliminated from the tournament.

            Mitchell sophomore Matt True, ranked 8^th at 141 lbs., lost to Ben Keen of Minnesota State-Moorhead, 6-2, while brother Pat, at 149 lbs., fell to Dugan Bentley of Ashland (Ohio), 10-4.

            Idaho junior Zac Rice (174 lbs.) faced 2^nd-ranked Tom Bauer of Ashland in his consolation match. Bauer was stunned in the first round, 8-7. He bounced back from the upset loss by pinning Rice at 1:54.

            Finally, Gretna freshman Dan Hospodka, on lone from the football team, was pinned by Mark Murphy of Shippensburg (Pa.) at 1:01.