Horner Makes Quarterfinals After First Day of NCAAs

 

ST. LOUIS – Lock Haven University junior wrestler Morgan Horner (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) needed one of the top upsets of the tournament, but advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championships today (March 17) at the Savvis Center.

Horner made short work of Ohio University’s Joel Weimer, topping him 10-2, scoring three takedowns. He followed that up with an upset of No. 4 Scott Barker of the University of Oregon.

After a scoreless first, with Horner on top, he nabbed a nearfall to break the scoreless tie. He added a takedown and allowed a pair of escapes to put the tally at 5-2 after two. Barker got a late takedown and cut Horner loose to try and score another for the tie, but couldn’t get it done. Add a riding-time point and Horner won 6-4.

The junior 197-pounder will have another tall mountain to climb tomorrow, as he faces No. 5 Sean Stender of the University of Northern Iowa.

The remaining five national qualifiers for the Bald Eagles didn’t fare quite as well, however, as all of them dropped their first matches of the day. Junior Joshua A. Medina (Las Vegas/Pima C.C.) is the lone Bald Eagle remaining in the consolation bracket.

At 125, freshman Obe Blanc (Naples, Fla./Lely) had the hardest draw for the LHU squad, getting No. 1 Sam Hazewinkel of the University of Oklahoma. Blanc was dropped by fall in the first period. Blanc’s tournament hopes came to an end in the wrestlebacks, as he lost a hard-fought first-round bout to the University at Buffalo’s Mark McKnight, 7-5.

Freshman 141-pounder Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) suffered a pinfall loss to Hofstra University’s No. 10 Ricky LaForge. Fittery then had his first consolation bout against Columbia University’s Anthony Constantino finish with a tough 3-1 loss.

At 149, Medina is still alive despite a first-round blow by Cal State-Bakersfield’s Anthony Baza, 4-2. Medina followed that up with a 12-6 win over Alex Herndandez of North Carolina State University. Medina continues the road to All-America status against No. 12 Darren McKnight of Michigan State University tomorrow.

Sophomore 157-pounder Seth Martin (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) earned a bye in round one, only to face No. 5 Jake Percival of Ohio to the tune of a tech fall. Martin couldn’t get things going against Indiana University’s Brandon Becker, as Martin lost by fall in the first two minutes.

Sophomore Carlos Ponce (Hialeah, Fla./Hialeah Miami Lakes) has now faced American University’s Daniel Waters three times this season, dropping 12-3 and 5-2 decisions before falling today 4-1. Ponce saw his NCAA bid come to an end with a 19-4 loss to Eastern Michigan University’s J.J. Holmes.

Horner and Medina continue NCAA bouts tomorrow, March 18.

125 Obe Blanc
v. #1 Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) L, Fall 2:01
v. Mark McKnight (Buffalo) L, dec. 7-5

141 Matt Fittery
v. #10 Ricky LaForge (Hofstra) L, Fall 1:29
v. Anthony Constantino (Columbia) L, dec. 3-1

149 Joshua A. Medina
v. Anthony Baza (Cal State-Bakersfield) L, dec. 4-2
v. Alex Hernandez (NC State) W, 12-6
v. #12 Darren McKnight (Michigan St.)

157 Seth Martin
Bye round one 
v. #5 Jake Percival (Ohio) L, TF 15-0
v. Brandon Becker (Indiana) L, Fall 1:59

174 Carlos Ponce
Bye round one
v. Daniel Waters (American) L, dec. 4-1
v. J.J. Holmes (Eastern Michigan) L, 19-4

197 Morgan Horner
v. Joel Weimer (Ohio) W, MD 10-2
v. #4 Scott Barker (Oregon) W, dec. 6-4
v. No. 5 Sean Stender (Northern Iowa)

 

Joshua A. Medina

Morgan Horner