UNI edges Wyoming by 1.5 points to win Western Conference Championships
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by Tony Black
Greeley, CO - The tallest man in Greeley stood 5'8" tall.
Okay, although he was far from the tallest man in Greeley, Northern Iowa's Christian Brantley certainly played the biggest role of the night. Brantley's 7-5 decision in the final match of the Western Wrestling Conference tournament guaranteed the Panthers the 2009 WWC Tournament championship.
The WWC, which was formed for the 2006-07 season, has taken the place of the former Western Regional. Northern Iowa has dominated both tournaments, as this is the 24th consecutive year the Panthers have won this tournament.
No titles have been this close, though, as Northern Iowa scored 94 team points, only 1.5 points better than Wyoming.
Along with Brantley, UNI's barely outdistanced Wyoming for the team title. Senior captains Moza Fay and Andrew Anderson joined Brantley as conference champions, as did Trent Washington.
At 141 pounds, Washington held off 2007 NCAA qualifier Kenny Hashimoto, by the score of 5-3.
Fay, the 5th place finisher at 165 pounds at the 2008 NCAA Division I Championships, was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Championship. In the finals tonight, Fay disposed of Wyoming's Alex Rieder with a steady dose of takedowns on the way to a 19-8 major decision.
Anderson defeated South Dakota State's Tyler Sorenson to win his title at 197 pounds. A second period takedown by Anderson proved to be the difference, as he was able to maintain focus after splitting his forehead open.
"We wrestled alright today; we really did. Wyoming wrestled well," said Northern Iowa head coach Brad Penrith. "Everyone fought hard. This conference is going to get stronger and stronger. Everyone is young and hungry, and everyone is going to bring the level up."
Under first year head coach Mark Branch, who was named the WWC Coach of the Year, Wyoming came into the tournament looking to unseat Northern Iowa as the two-time reigning WWC team champion. However, the Cowboys came up just short in their quest.
Individual champions Michael Martinez, Cory VomBaur, Shane Onufer and Joe LeBlanc paced the Cowboys, which improved on their third-place finish from one year ago.
Martinez defeated Northern Colorado's Tony Mustari to capture the championship. Martinez, a former U.S. Olympic Training Center athlete, secured the deciding takedown with 1:14 left in the third period.
Cory VomBaur defeated Brett Bahe of Northern Colorado, by a score of 11-2 to claim his second-straight NCAA Championships at 133 pounds. The Cowboy dominated the match, racking up 3:21 in riding time.
At 174, freshman Shane Onufer defeated 2008 NCAA qualifier Stephen Crozier, outscoring the Air Force Academy Cadet 14-6 to earn the major decision.
Wyoming's Joe LeBlanc was the champion at 184 pounds, as he defeated Northern Iowa's Alex Dolly in the finals. The Meeker, Colorado native advances to the NCAA's with a 40-6 record.
Host-school Northern Colorado initially staked claim to the lead and figured to be a key player in the team race. The Bears advanced their first five wrestlers in the finals, but they were not able to maintain the momentum throughout the day, and finished in third place with two individual champions.
Northern Colorado's Mitchell Polkowske needed an escape at the buzzer to knock off Ryan Adams from North Dakota State 5-4 at 149 pounds. Polkowske won two hard-fought matches, 10-9 and 5-4 to claim the title as a freshman.
Justin Gaethje gave the hometown crowds plenty to cheer about with his 6-4 defeat of Northern Iowa's Tyson Reiner at 157 pounds. A sophomore, Gaethje will take his 22-6 record to St. Louis in two weeks.
Due to a qualification system change implemented for this season by the NCAA, 13 wrestlers from the WWC will earn automatic bids in the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The 13 wrestlers are the 10 champions at each weight, plus the true second place finishers at 149, 184, and 197 pounds.
The WWC may still qualify more wrestlers for the NCAA tournament, as 52 wild card spots will be selected on March 11 to round out the field.
Utah Valley University, the seventh member of the conference, will be eligible for post-season competition next year.
Championship finals
125 - Michael Martinez (Wyoming) dec. Tony Mustari (Northern Colorado) 3-2.
133 - Cory VomBaur (Wyoming) maj. dec. Brett Bahe (Northern Colorado) 11-2.
141 - Trent Washington (Northern Iowa) dec. Kenny Hashimoto (Northern Colorado) 5-3.
149 - Mitch Polkowske (Northern Colorado) dec. Ryan Adams (NDSU) 5-4.
157 - Justin Gaethje (Northern Colorado) dec. Tyson Reiner (Northern Iowa) 5-2.
165 - Moza Fay (Northern Iowa) maj. dec. Alex Rieder (Wyoming) 19-8.
174 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming) maj. dec. Stephen Crozier (Air Force Academy) 14-6.
184 - Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming) dec. Alex Dolly (Northern Iowa) 6-2.
197 - Andrew Anderson (Northern Iowa) dec. Tyler Sorenson (SDSU) 3-1.
285 - Christian Brantley (Northern Iowa) dec. Jason Stripling (SDSU) 7-5.
Final Team Standings
1 - Northern Iowa, 94 pts.
2 - Wyoming, 92.5 pts.
3 - Northern Colorado, 70.5 pts.
4 - North Dakota State, 39.5 pts.
5 - South Dakota State, 24.5 pts.
6 - Air Force, 12.5 pts.
Automatic NCAA Qualifiers
125 - Michael Martinez (Wyoming)
133 - Cory VomBaur (Wyoming)
141 - Trent Washington (UNI)
149 - Mitchell Polkowske (Northern Colorado)
149 - Trevor Kittleson (UNI)
157 - Justin Gaethje (Northern Colorado)
165 - Moza Fay (UNI)
174 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming)
184 - Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming)
184 - Alex Dolly (UNI)
197 - Andrew Anderson (UNI)
197 - Tyler Sorenson (SDSU)
285 - Christian Brantley (UNI)
Okay, although he was far from the tallest man in Greeley, Northern Iowa's Christian Brantley certainly played the biggest role of the night. Brantley's 7-5 decision in the final match of the Western Wrestling Conference tournament guaranteed the Panthers the 2009 WWC Tournament championship.
The WWC, which was formed for the 2006-07 season, has taken the place of the former Western Regional. Northern Iowa has dominated both tournaments, as this is the 24th consecutive year the Panthers have won this tournament.
No titles have been this close, though, as Northern Iowa scored 94 team points, only 1.5 points better than Wyoming.
Along with Brantley, UNI's barely outdistanced Wyoming for the team title. Senior captains Moza Fay and Andrew Anderson joined Brantley as conference champions, as did Trent Washington.
At 141 pounds, Washington held off 2007 NCAA qualifier Kenny Hashimoto, by the score of 5-3.
Fay, the 5th place finisher at 165 pounds at the 2008 NCAA Division I Championships, was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Championship. In the finals tonight, Fay disposed of Wyoming's Alex Rieder with a steady dose of takedowns on the way to a 19-8 major decision.
Anderson defeated South Dakota State's Tyler Sorenson to win his title at 197 pounds. A second period takedown by Anderson proved to be the difference, as he was able to maintain focus after splitting his forehead open.
"We wrestled alright today; we really did. Wyoming wrestled well," said Northern Iowa head coach Brad Penrith. "Everyone fought hard. This conference is going to get stronger and stronger. Everyone is young and hungry, and everyone is going to bring the level up."
Under first year head coach Mark Branch, who was named the WWC Coach of the Year, Wyoming came into the tournament looking to unseat Northern Iowa as the two-time reigning WWC team champion. However, the Cowboys came up just short in their quest.
Individual champions Michael Martinez, Cory VomBaur, Shane Onufer and Joe LeBlanc paced the Cowboys, which improved on their third-place finish from one year ago.
Martinez defeated Northern Colorado's Tony Mustari to capture the championship. Martinez, a former U.S. Olympic Training Center athlete, secured the deciding takedown with 1:14 left in the third period.
Cory VomBaur defeated Brett Bahe of Northern Colorado, by a score of 11-2 to claim his second-straight NCAA Championships at 133 pounds. The Cowboy dominated the match, racking up 3:21 in riding time.
At 174, freshman Shane Onufer defeated 2008 NCAA qualifier Stephen Crozier, outscoring the Air Force Academy Cadet 14-6 to earn the major decision.
Wyoming's Joe LeBlanc was the champion at 184 pounds, as he defeated Northern Iowa's Alex Dolly in the finals. The Meeker, Colorado native advances to the NCAA's with a 40-6 record.
Host-school Northern Colorado initially staked claim to the lead and figured to be a key player in the team race. The Bears advanced their first five wrestlers in the finals, but they were not able to maintain the momentum throughout the day, and finished in third place with two individual champions.
Northern Colorado's Mitchell Polkowske needed an escape at the buzzer to knock off Ryan Adams from North Dakota State 5-4 at 149 pounds. Polkowske won two hard-fought matches, 10-9 and 5-4 to claim the title as a freshman.
Justin Gaethje gave the hometown crowds plenty to cheer about with his 6-4 defeat of Northern Iowa's Tyson Reiner at 157 pounds. A sophomore, Gaethje will take his 22-6 record to St. Louis in two weeks.
Due to a qualification system change implemented for this season by the NCAA, 13 wrestlers from the WWC will earn automatic bids in the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The 13 wrestlers are the 10 champions at each weight, plus the true second place finishers at 149, 184, and 197 pounds.
The WWC may still qualify more wrestlers for the NCAA tournament, as 52 wild card spots will be selected on March 11 to round out the field.
Utah Valley University, the seventh member of the conference, will be eligible for post-season competition next year.
Championship finals
125 - Michael Martinez (Wyoming) dec. Tony Mustari (Northern Colorado) 3-2.
133 - Cory VomBaur (Wyoming) maj. dec. Brett Bahe (Northern Colorado) 11-2.
141 - Trent Washington (Northern Iowa) dec. Kenny Hashimoto (Northern Colorado) 5-3.
149 - Mitch Polkowske (Northern Colorado) dec. Ryan Adams (NDSU) 5-4.
157 - Justin Gaethje (Northern Colorado) dec. Tyson Reiner (Northern Iowa) 5-2.
165 - Moza Fay (Northern Iowa) maj. dec. Alex Rieder (Wyoming) 19-8.
174 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming) maj. dec. Stephen Crozier (Air Force Academy) 14-6.
184 - Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming) dec. Alex Dolly (Northern Iowa) 6-2.
197 - Andrew Anderson (Northern Iowa) dec. Tyler Sorenson (SDSU) 3-1.
285 - Christian Brantley (Northern Iowa) dec. Jason Stripling (SDSU) 7-5.
Final Team Standings
1 - Northern Iowa, 94 pts.
2 - Wyoming, 92.5 pts.
3 - Northern Colorado, 70.5 pts.
4 - North Dakota State, 39.5 pts.
5 - South Dakota State, 24.5 pts.
6 - Air Force, 12.5 pts.
Automatic NCAA Qualifiers
125 - Michael Martinez (Wyoming)
133 - Cory VomBaur (Wyoming)
141 - Trent Washington (UNI)
149 - Mitchell Polkowske (Northern Colorado)
149 - Trevor Kittleson (UNI)
157 - Justin Gaethje (Northern Colorado)
165 - Moza Fay (UNI)
174 - Shane Onufer (Wyoming)
184 - Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming)
184 - Alex Dolly (UNI)
197 - Andrew Anderson (UNI)
197 - Tyler Sorenson (SDSU)
285 - Christian Brantley (UNI)
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