The UW-Parkside wrestling team is took part in the NCAA Division II national championships Friday and Saturday at the Sapp Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
At 149 pounds, Craig Becker won a national title.
Becker pinned Ryan McIntyre of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in 6:20 and then dispensed Travis Elg of Minnesota State, 18-5. In Saturday's semi-final, Becker edged Derek Bomstead in a wild 13-11 affair. Becker won a thrilling 4-3 decision over Esai Dominguez of Nebraska-Omaha in the championship bout. Becker finishes with a superb 38-2 record this season.
Becker became head coach Jim Koch's 14th national champion.
"I knew I had to control the pace," Becker told CBSC television after the match. "It was my day."
Nebraska-Omaha, which came into the meet ranked No. 1 in the nation, won the national title. UW-Parklside, which came in at No. 4, finished sixth.
Luke Rynish was the national runner-up at 174 pounds. He handled Curtis Chenoweth of Newberry, 12-4, in the opening round and then stuck Cody Vasconcellos of Central Oklahoma in 2:09. Rynish moved to the championship bout with a convincing 14-6 trouncing of Cody O'Grady. He dropped a tough 5-4 decision to Kamarudeen Usman of Nebraska-Kearney in the finals. Rynish finished the season with a 38-11 record.
Three Parkside wrestlers had their tournament end early. Cody Zimmerman dropped a 5-3 and 3-1 decision at 125 points. Teammate Luke Haag was decisioned 6-2 and 14-8 in the 184-pound grouping. At 197 pounds, Jon Treml was pinned in 6:25 and 2:26.
Zimmerman ended the 2009-10 campaign with a record of 31-7. Haag finished with a noteworthy 43-11 mark and Treml ended up at 28-17.
The remaining two Ranger competitors extended their run to Saturday.
Dillon Bera routed Kyle Francis of Western State, 15-2, before dropped an excruciating 6-5 decision to Jon Jackson of Augustana at 157. Bera rebounded to log a 5-1 win over Mike Lybarger of Findlay. On Saturday, Bera losed another tight one, this time to Andy Lamancusa of Mercyhurst, 5-3. Bera lost the seventh place match on forfeit and ended with a record of 31-12.
Matt Gille was pinned in 3:14 in a 165-pound opening round bout. He recovered to pin Bret Terry of Gannon in 5:54. Gille decisioned Blake Malloy of Fort Hays State, 11-9, then was pinned by Taylor May of Nebraska-Kearney in 6:56. Gille pined Gavin Nelson of Augustana in 1:40 for seventh place and finishes the season with a 43-11 mark.
