But after two days of the NCAA Division I Championships, Ohio State, who finished sixth at the Big Ten Championships, leads the team race with 84.5 points. Iowa sits in second place with 81 points. Iowa State (71.5), Edinboro (63.5), and Nebraska (62) round out the top five heading into Saturday.
Day 1 was a day of upsets, with a total of nineteen upsets of higher-ranked seeds, including two top seeds getting knocked out of title contention. In the course of eleven hours of competition, the title dreams of 250 wrestlers were terminated. Of the eighty athletes (from forty schools) who were still in title contention at the start of the quarterfinal round, nine were unseeded … a third more than last year.
However, going into the semis on Friday, there was just one unseeded wrestler -- Maryland's Alex Krom. Last year, no unseeded wrestlers were in the title hunt. The previous two years, there were two non-seeds who made it into the semifinals.
Want proof of parity? The forty wrestlers competing in the semis represent 24 schools. That's just one more than in 2008, but one-third more than in 2001.
It's been a rough NCAA for some traditional powerhouses. In the nearly 80-year history of the NCAAs, for the first time ever, Oklahoma State did not have a single wrestler in the semifinals. Oklahoma didn't have a single All-American for the second year in a row. And, for Lehigh, it's the third straight year not to have any All-Americans.
Quarterfinal Notes
� At 125 pounds, Cornell's Troy Nickerson barely broke a sweat; the second seed pinned No. 7 Joey Fio of Oklahoma in just fourteen seconds, which is believed to rank among the five fastest falls in NCAA history for matches wrestled under folkstyle rules. Continuing with the history lesson … Anthony Robles of Arizona State became the first single-legged wrestler to earn All-American status.
� 133: There was a lot of back-and-forth lead changes between No. 4 Daniel Dennis of Iowa and fifth-seeded Andrew Hochstrasser of Boise State … but, at the end of regulation, the Bronco defeated the Hawkeye, 9-8 based on riding time.
� 141: Defending champ J Jaggers of Ohio State broke a 2-2 tie by pinning Iowa State's Nick Gallick at 1:48. Unseeded Alex Krom of Maryland continued his title quest with a 3-2 win over twelfth-seeded Drew Lashaway of Kent State… while eighth-seeded Ryan Williams of Old Dominion scored an end-of-match reversal to break what had been a tie, defeating Illinois' Ryan Prater, 8-6.
� 165: Iowa's Ryan Morningstar was dinged for two penalty points in the third period in his match with Ohio State's Colt Sponseller, tying the match at 2-2 and sending it into overtime. The Hawkeye scored a takedown to win 4-2 SV.
� 184: The match between Iowa's Phil Keddy and Rider's Doug Umbehauer was tied 4-4 at the end of regulation. In overtime, Keddy was assessed with a stalling point, then cut Umbehauer loose. The seventh-seeded Rider wrestler then scored a takedown to win 8-4 TB.
� Heavyweight: Iowa State's top-seeded David Zabriskie got a takedown with four seconds left to get a 3-2 win over Illinois' ninth-seeded John Wise.
Here is a weight-by-weight breakdown of the semifinals:
125 pounds
Top-seeded Paul Donahoe of Edinboro vs. Arizona State's Anthony Robles, the twelfth seed. No scoring in the first period. Donahoe scored an escape in the second, the only points of the period. Robles got a quick escape to start third, Donahoe got a takedown about 30 seconds in. Robles followed with a second escape. With a few seconds left in the match, the Fighting Scot secured a takedown to make the final score 5-2 Donahoe. It will be his second trip to the finals, having won the 125 title for Nebraska in 2006.
No. 2 Troy Nickerson of Cornell vs. No. 3 Angel Escobedo of Indiana, the defending champ. No scoring in the first. Nickerson scored a quick escape at beginning of second; no other scoring. Towards end of third, Escobedo scored an escape. With riding time, Nickerson won the match, 2-1. The finals will feature the top two seeds in this weight class.
In commenting on his history with Nickerson, Donahoe said, "He beat me a couple times in high school, then I beat him in a controversial match the year I won it (the title). I think it's going to be a great match. He's a great wrestler."
Nickerson responded: "He's a tough competitor. He beat me two years ago. It's definitely a loss I look forward to avenging."
133 pounds
No. 1 Franklin Gomez of Michigan State vs. No. 5 Alex Hochstrasser of Boise State. Gomez scored first with a takedown; Hochstrasser got an escape with about 30 seconds left. No scoring in the second. In the third, the Bronco got an escape, followed by the Spartan scoring a takedown… followed by another Hochstrasser escape and a Gomez takedown with about fifteen seconds left. Final score: 6-3, Gomez.
Second-seeded Reece Humphrey of Ohio State vs. No. 6 Minnesota's Jayson Ness. No scoring in the first period… or the second… or the third. Humphrey wins, 1-0, based on two minutes' riding time. The two finalists are the top two seeds, both from the Big Ten.
Asked about his finals rival, Gomez said, "It should be a great match. He's strong, and a tough worker."
141 pounds
No. 3 J Jaggers of Ohio State vs. seventh-ranked Chris Drouin of Arizona State. Jaggers scored a takedown in the first period, followed by an escape in the second. In the third, Drouin got an escape… but the Buckeye got a takedown, then locked on a cradle to secure the pin at 4:27 to win the opportunity to defend his title.
Commenting on the top two seeds falling away in earlier rounds, Jaggers said, "When Kellen Russell went down in the second round, it didn't mean much to me because I was three rounds away from him. Same thing with (Zach) Tanelli. Now I just have to focus on one guy."
Eighth-seeded Ryan Williams of Old Dominion vs. unseeded Alex Krom of Maryland. Williams scored a takedown with about 30 seconds left in the first period, then got an escape. There was no scoring in the second. Krom got an escape in the third. With riding time, Williams wins the match, 4-1, and becomes the first Old Dominion wrestler to make it to the finals in fifteen years.
"It's a little unbelievable," said Williams of wrestling in the finals. "I mean, going into this tournament I knew I had as good a shot as anyone. I'm not surprised I'm here. I worked hard at it, and it's finally paying off."
149 pounds
Top-seed Brent Metcalf of Iowa vs. No. 4 Lance Palmer of Ohio State. No scoring in the first. In the second, Metcalf scored an escape, then a takedown to make the score 3-0. In the third, Palmer got an escape, answered by the Hawkeye's takedown. The Buckeye scored a second escape, but it wasn't enough to make up the deficit. With just over two minutes' riding time, Metcalf won 6-2, earning the chance to defend his title.
Third-seeded Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State vs. Navy's No. 7 Bryce Saddoris. It was all Caldwell, all the time. In the first period, he scored an early takedown, followed by three nearfall points, a takedown, and two more nearfall points… answered only by an escape from Saddoris to make the score 9-1 at the end of the first. The only scoring in the second was an escape by the Middie. In the third, the Wolfpack wrestler notched an escape and yet another takedown. With riding time, Caldwell got the 13-2 major decision… and the opportunity for a much-anticipated match with Metcalf for the title.
157 pounds
Top-seeded Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska vs. No. 4 Edinboro's Gregor Gillespie. Burroughs scored first with a takedown, with Gillespie getting an escape. In the second period, it was Gillespie scoring an escape, followed by a Burroughs takedown, then a second Gillespie escape, followed by yet another Cornhusker takedown. In the third, Burroughs earned two more takedowns, answered only by Gillespie's escape. With a minute-and-a-half riding time, Burroughs won 11-4.
Defending champ Jordan Leen of Cornell (third seed) vs. second-seeded Mike Poeta of Illinois. It was a rematch of the 2008 NCAA finals, which Leen won. In the first period, Poeta scored a takedown, with Leen getting an escape… with that pattern repeated in the opening round to make the score 4-2. In the second, Leen made it 4-3 with an escape. In the third, the Illini scored a reversal. Leen got another escape, making the score 6-4 Poeta… his second straight trip to the finals, and a battle between the top two seeds.
"Poeta is tough," said Burroughs of his finals rival. "He's a senior. He was runner-up last year. I know he's looking forward to finishing his senior year with a bang, but I'm a junior and I really want that national title. It's going to be a good match."
Poeta responded, "I think we wrestle a lot alike. We're both very explosive. It's going to be an exciting match when you got two guys that are that quick. It's going to be entertaining for the fans to watch."
165 pounds
Wisconsin's No. 2 Andrew Howe vs. third-seeded Ryan Morningstar of Iowa. There was no score in the first period. In the second, HOwe got an escape; in the third, Morningstar answered with an escape of his own, making the score 1-1 at the end of regulation. There was no scoring in the sudden victory period. In the first tiebreaker, no scoring. In the second tiebreaker, Howe got the escape to win 2-1 TB.
Sixth seed Jon Reader of Iowa State vs. No. 12 Jarrod King of Edinboro. In the first period, King got a takedown; Reader followed up with a reversal. In the second, Reader scored an escape, answered by another takedown by King, followed by another Reader escape to tie up the score 4-4. No scoring in the third sent the match into overtime. There was no scoring in the first sudden victory period. In the first tiebreaker, King got an escape, followed by one by Reader to re-knot the score. In the second sudden victory, no scoring. In the second tiebreaker, Reader escaped in 25 seconds… while King got out in just eleven seconds. King's net riding time of just 18 seconds was the difference, giving him the 6-6, TB 2 win.
Asked about the finals, Howe -- a true freshman -- responded, "I don't want to hype it up too much. I just want to relax. I want to go out there and wrestle my match."
King responded, "It's probably going to be a grind again. I need to go out, score a lot, and score early."
174 pounds
Top-seeded Steve Luke of Michigan vs. fifth-seeded Raymond Jordan of Missouri. No score in the first period. In the second, Luke scored the escape; Jordan matched that in the third, sending the match into overtime. No scoring in the sudden victory period. In the first tiebreaker, Jordan got an escape, with Luke scoring a takedown. In the second tiebreaker, Luke got an escape of his own, to make the final score 4-2, TB.
Nebraska's third-seeded Brandon Browne vs. seventh-seeded Mike Miller of Central Michigan. In the first period, Miller scored a takedown. In the second, Browne got the escape. In the third, Miller scored an escape, followed by a Browne takedown and escape… then answered by a takedown by Miller. With 2:49 in riding time, Miller won 6-3. It'll be an all-state-of-Michigan finals.
184 pounds
No. 1 Jake Herbert of Northwestern dominated No. 12 Vince Jones of Nebraska, 11-1.
Third-seeded Ohio State's Mike Pucillo edged Doug Umbehauer of Rider, 3-2.
197 pounds
Top-seeded Craig Brester of Nebraska vs. fourth-seeded Tyrel Todd of Michigan. The Cornhusker got the 7-2 win over the Wolverine to advance to the finals.
Second-seeded Jake Varner of Iowa State vs. Missouri's sixth-seed Max Askren. In a match of Big 12 rivals, Varner came through with the win, 8-3. It's the Cyclone's third straight trip to the finals.
Heavyweight
Top-seeded David Zabriskie of Iowa State vs. fifth-seeded Konrad Duziak of Duke. There was no scoring in the first period. In the second, Duziak got an escape. In the third, Zabriskie got an escape … followed by a takedown by the Blue Devil … followed by the Cyclone scoring an escape. Final score: 3-2 Duziak, who becomes the first Duke wrestler to make it into the finals, and to earn All-American status.
No. 2 Mark Ellis of Missouri vs, third-seeded Jermail Porter of Kent State. In the first period, Porter scored first with a takedown and an escape; Ellis responded with a takedown of his own, making the score 3-2 Porter. In the second, Ellis got an escape. In the third, Ellis took the lead … winning the match 5-3.
Sixteen different teams represented in the finals
Team Rankings (at the end of Session 4):
1. Ohio State 84.5
2. Iowa 81
3. Iowa State 71.5
4. Edinboro 63.5
5. Nebraska 62
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