"Mike Poeta had a great career, it's just disappointing that he couldn't finish it with a national championship," Johnson said. "He as great of a young man as I've coached. It's a disappointing way to finish what has been a good weekend for us."
In the first shot by either wrestler, Poeta got in on a single with 1:25 left but Burroughs fought him off and the pair went out of bounds. Burroughs got in on a leg near the edge and finished the takedown with one second left in the first to go up 2-0 after three minutes. Burroughs started down in the second and earned a caution for a false start. After Poeta was given a caution for a false start, the pair finally got a clean start and Burroughs got out in eight seconds to go up 3-0. The two had a short scramble that yielded nothing except a restart. Burroughs shot near the edge and Poeta fended him off to bring another restart with nine seconds left and the period ended with the Husker leading 3-0.
Poeta started down in the third and got out off the whistle to make it 3-1. Poeta shot near the edge and looked to have a leg but the pair went out of bounds. Burroughs shot and Poeta slapped him away with 1:18 left in the bout and Poeta took another shot, looked to have a leg, but Burroughs spun back around and nearly got the takedown before a stalemate was called. Burroughs took a shot that Poeta fended off and tried to turn the corner, but the Husker wouldn't let him and the two went out of bounds. Poeta took another shot that Burroughs fought off and after a final neutral restart, Poeta missed on a shot and Burroughs passed him through to get the winning takedown with one second left and win, 5-1.
Poeta finished second for the second-straight year and ends his career as a three-time All-American, also taking third in 2007. His 105 career wins rank 17th in school history and his career winning percentage of .882 ranks second in the Illinois record books. Poeta is only the 10th three-time All-American in school history, and his 2008 campaign ranks eighth in single-season winning percentage and ninth in single-season wins.
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