Waynesburg’s Wilson, Evans achieve D-III All-American status
Waynesburg’s Shaun Wilson and Jake Evans and Mercyhurst’s Francis Mizia all earned All-America status Saturday afternoon with their performances in the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Evans placed seventh, while Wilson finished eighth at the Division III championship, while Mizia placed third in the Division II tournament. The top eight places earn All-America honors.
Mizia, a Bentworth graduate, defeated Nebraska-Kearney’s Calvin Ochs by a 9-1 major decision in the consolation bout at 165 pounds.
Mizia advanced to the semifinals by pinning California Baptist’s Christian Smith in 4:59 and securing an 8-0 major decision against Northern State’s Sean Havlovic. He lost to McKendree’s Brock Wingbermuehle in the semifinals when he was pinning in 1:50, but recovered with a 7-3 decision over Findlay’s Alonzo Turner in his next bout.
Wilson lost to Stevens Tech’s Zach Wilhelm, 5-3, in the 149-pound eighth-place consolation bout. The Waynesburg Central graduate opened Saturday with a loss by fall in 6:50 to Coe’s Cole Erickson.
The freshman opened the tournament Friday with a 9-3 win over Stevens Institute of Technology’s Zach Wilhelm. Wartburg’s Kenny Martin, the defending champion, pinned Wilson at 6:58 in the quarterfinals. Wilson stayed alive in the bracket with a 6-2 decision over Centenary’s Chris Muce.
Evans held on for an 8-6 decision in his 285-pound eighth-place consolation bout to Ithaca’s Jake O’Brien. Leading 7-4 in the final period, O’Brien was awarded two penalty points after Evans was warned for stalling. Evans’ gained a point for riding time.
The Elizabeth Forward graduate opened Saturday with a 20-8 major decision loss to Adarios Jones, of Augustana (Ill.).
Evans opened the tournament Friday with a 10-5 decision against Concordia-Moorhead’s Justice Davis. Evans then edged O’Brien in the next round, 4-3.
Evans was relegated to the consolation round when he was pinned at 2:52 by second-seeded Lance Evans, of Wartburg. He recovered for a pin at 3:51 against Olivet’s Jesse Judge.
The Yellow Jackets’ Ryan Shank lost his opening bout at 184 pounds when he was pinned at 2:25 by Luther’s Justin Kreiter. He rallied back with a come-from-behind 11-10 decision over Luke Dodd, of St. John’s. His bid for All-America came to a close with an 8-0 loss to Wartburg’s Bryan Levsen.
Seton Hill freshman Billy Bowlen bowed out of the 184-pound bracket in the Division II tournament with a pair of losses Friday.
The Carmichaels graduate was pinned at 5:39 in his opening bout by Minnesota State’s Corey Abernathy. He then took a medical forfeit in his first-round consolation match against Western State’s Konnor Schmidt.