Seven Huskers Advance at NCAA Wrestling

Oklahoma City - Three Nebraska wrestlers moved into the quarterfinals of the championship brackets in their respective weight classes and four others stayed alive in the consolation brackets to help the Huskers sit in a tie for fifth with 22 points at the end of the first day of the 2006 NCAA Championships at the Ford Center.

“It's great to still have seven guys going,” NU head coach Mark Manning said.  “The important thing now is to just keep going out there and winning.”

Three Huskers, B.J. Padden, Paul Donahoe and Jacob Klein, moved into tomorrow's quarterfinals after 2-0 performances on Thursday, while four other NU wrestlers, Patrick Aleksanyan, Robert Sanders, Vince Jones and Jon May, all remain in contention for All-America honors in the consolation bracket. 

Donahoe advanced to the quarterfinals at 125 pounds with a 4-2 win over Jeremy Mendoza of Arizona State.  With 27 seconds to go in the match, Donahoe earned a takedown to take the lead for the first time in the match, and he held on for the victory.  Donahoe will face Oklahoma's Sam Hazewinkel tomorrow morning.  Hazewinkel defeated Donahoe in their only meeting of the year on Feb. 10 at the NU Coliseum, 3-0.

Klein also advanced to Friday morning's quarterfinals with a 4-1 victory over West Virginia's Kurt Brenner.  After a scoreless first period, Klein earned a point after an escape three seconds into the second period, then took control of the match with a takedown in the closing seconds of the second period.  Klein rode Brenner for the first 1:12 of the third period before Brenner escaped, but Klein was able to hold off Brenner and earn the victory.  Klein will face Michael Patrovich of Hofstra in tomorrow's 174-pound quarterfinals.

At 197 pounds, Padden will move onto the quarterfinals in the championship bracket after an 8-6 victory over Dallas Herbst of Wisconsin.  Padden clinched the win with a takedown with 27 seconds to go in the sudden victory period, capping a match in which neither wrestler held a lead larger than two points.  Padden will face Phil Davis of Penn State in the quarterfinal match.

At 133 pounds, Patrick Aleksanyan will have to work through the consolation bracket to earn All-America honors after an 11-2 major decision loss to Thomas Clum of Wisconsin.

Robert Sanders also falls to the consolation bracket after an 11-2 major decision loss to Matt Storniolo of Oklahoma.  Sanders will face Trevor Chinn of Lehigh in tomorrow's consolation match at 149 pounds. 

Vince Jones stayed alive with a win by fall over Derrick Morgan of Lock Haven at 184 pounds in the consolation bracket.  Jones advanced to the first consolation round with a win by fall over Jesse Taylor of Cal State Fullerton 52 seconds into their pigtail consolation bracket match. 

At 141 pounds, Dominick Moyer ended his second career trip to nationals with a loss by fall to Charles Griffin of Hofstra 1:46 into their consolation match.  Earlier in the session, Moyer defeated Steve Adamcsik of Rutgers, 4-2, to pick up his first career win at nationals.  Moyer finishes his junior season with a record of 19-12 after his second career trip to nationals.

Junior Marc Harwood also saw his season end during the evening session Thursday night after a loss by major decision to Missouri's Matt Pell at 165 pounds.  Harwood ends his junior season with a 14-10 record.

Action resumes at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., with consolation bracket action starting at 10 a.m., followed by quarterfinal matches in the championship bracket.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, SESSION II
March 16, 2006
Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Attendance-15,752
First Round Consolation Bracket Matches
141-Dominick Moyer (NU) by dec. over Steve Adamcsik (Rutgers), 4-2
184-Vince Jones (NU) by fall over Jesse Taylor (CS-Fullerton), :52

Championship Bracket Matches
125-Paul Donahoe (NU) by dec. over Jeremy Mendoza (Arizona St.), 4-2
133-Thomas Clum (Wisconsin) by major dec. over Patrick Aleksanyan (NU), 11-2
149-Matt Storniolo (Oklahoma) by major dec. over Robert Sanders (NU), 11-2
174-Jacob Klein (NU) by dec. over Kurt Brenner (West Virginia), 4-1
197-B.J. Padden (NU) by dec. over Dallas Herbst (Wisconsin), 8-6 (SV1)

Consolation Bracket-Second Round Matches
141-Charles Griffin (Hofstra) by fall over Dominick Moyer (NU), 1:46
165-Matt Pell (Missouri) by dec. over Marc Harwood (NU), 10-1
184-Vince Jones (NU) by fall over Derrick Morgan (Lock Haven), 2:03
HWT-Jon May (NU) by fall over Matt Burkholder (Slippery Rock), 5:22