CENTRAL FLORIDA WINS FIRST NCWA TITLE WITH CLOSEST MARGIN IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
UCF COACH
ROUSE, NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
RICHARDSON, TEXAS - The University of Central Florida edged out two-time champion
Grand Valley State University 166-163.5 to take the title in the seventh annual
National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships held at University
of Texas-Dallas.
The margin was the closest in the seven-year history of the tournament.
The Knights took titles at
184, 197 and 235 to hold off the challenge of the Lakers who took their lone
title at 174 pounds with senior Rick Bolhuis winning his first title in four
tries recording a takedown in the last 30 seconds. Bethel College edged out
the Apprentice School for third place scoring 104.5 points to the Builders
104.Winning the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award was Catawba College's Willie
Housch who was the champion at 165 pounds.
Coach of the Year honors
went to Johnny Rouse of Central Florida.
"What can I say about this. The guys wrestled so hard today," said
Rouse. "It's been the same style that we've worked with them on
all year long, no changes. They had to believe in themselves and hold
off a strong Grand Valley team. This is special to win this title for
us."
Championship Bout Results:
125 pounds
Eric Vallejo opened with
a takedown for Bethel but allowed Dave Miller to escape for a 2-1 lead after
one period. The same scenario repeated itself in the second to give
Vallejo a 4-2 lead. Miller recorded an escape midway in the third period
but couldn't overturn the riding time advantage Vallejo built up as Vallejo
won the 125 pound title with a 5-3 decision.
133 pounds
Douglas College's Adam Harada
recorded an escape at the buzzer of the first period to trail Vince Gervais
of Grand Valley State 2-1. He had a near takedown at the 1:30
mark of the second period but aggravated an upper arm injury.
Right after the injury time
he took down Vince Gervais for a 3-2 lead which immediately turned into a
tie when Gervais was allowed to come up after being taken down out of bounds.
Gervais took down Harada with five seconds left in the second period to take
a 5-3 lead after two.
He started the third period
with a release for a 6-3 advantage and a takedown with 1:10 left put him ahead
8-3. Gervais rode him out in the period to take the 133 pound title
with a 9-4 decision.
141 pounds
John Pineda of Douglas opened
with a takedown at 1:25 and allowed Matt Palladino an escape for a 2-1 lead.
Palladino took control late in the first period and pulled away for a 8-6
victory.
149 pounds
Robert Zuber of Northampton
Community College recorded three takedowns and allowed three escapes to Apprentice
School's Jeff Davis as he won the 149-pound title with a 6-3 decision.
157 pounds
Chris Banket of Blair Academy
recorded a takedown in the first period and the third with an escape in the
second to take a 4-2 victory over Apprentice School's Ron Vecchione for the
157-pound title.
165 pounds
Willie Hosch scored a takedown
with two seconds left in opening period and had a takedown allowing two escapes
in the second period. Catawba's standout held on in the third period
to take a 4-3 victory over Jeff Ruberg of Central Florida.
174 pounds
Grand Valley State senior
Rick Bolhuis recorded a takedown with 30 seconds left in the final period
and rode out the riding time advantage for Raun Jessee of Central Florida
to take his first title with a 4-3 decision. He had been runner-up the
last three years at 165, 174 and 184 pounds in his three previous finals.
184 pounds
Central Florida's Jason Ruberg
recorded a takedown and a nearfall for an early 5-0 lead as he cruised to
an 8-4 victory over Eric Bender of Santa Fe (FL) Community College.
197 pounds
Todd Hauser pinned teammate
Danny Fernandez in 2:18 to take the title at 197 pounds in a battle of Central
Florida teammates.
235 pounds
Central Florida's Tom Lawlor
sealed a 10-4 victory over Zachary Hammond from Blair Academy with a two-point
takedown at the final buzzer.
285 pounds
In a battle of Mid-Atlantic
Conference rivals, Brandon Neuman of Richmond took a 3-2 decision over Ron
Richard from Belmont Abbey College.
Go to
http://www.ncwa.net/nationals
for complete information
