Jan. 13, 2007
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Wrestling without injured top-ranked Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward), the eighth-ranked Wildcats defeated West Virginia 28-14 in the first round of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals, but fell 33-8 to top-ranked Missouri in the second round. Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) notched a major decision and a technical fall in his first two matches since Nov. 20. The 'Cats return to the mat later today at 5 p.m.
The top-ranked Herbert defeated West Virginia's Chance Litton 12-0 at 184 lbs. in his first action since the NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 20.
At 125, freshman Brandon Precin (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sanburg) won a 4-0 decision over Scott Stuart 4-0 to give the 'Cats an early 3-0 lead. Eric Metzler (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) pinned Mark Anderson at 2:03 to make the lead 6-0.
After James Kohlberg (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows), wrestling in place of the injured Lang at 141 lbs., and Marty Gould (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West) at 149 lbs., surrendered major decisions, the 'Cats held on to a 9-8 lead. The Mountaineers pulled ahead 14-9 when Zac Fryling pinned Dominic Marella (Roselle, Ill./Conant).
Greg Hagel (Linwood, N.J./Blair Academy) took a 2-0 decision and Nick Hayes (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Lewis Central) won by forfit to give the 'Cats a 18-14 lead heading into the last three matches.
Herbert's major decision pushed the lead to 22-14 and Mike Tamillow (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) and Dustin Fox (Galion, Ohio/Galion) both won close decisions to give the eighth-ranked 'Cats the 28-14 victory.
The 'Cats returned for a showdown against the Missouri Tigers, the top team in the nation, but the Tigers dominated the middle weights and the eighth-ranked 'Cats could not catch up, falling 33-8.
Precin had a strong showing at 125 lbs., but was edged in an 8-7 decision by John Olanowski. Missouri pulled out to a 6-0 lead when Tyler McCormick took an 8-3 decision over Metzler at 133.
The Tigers pulled way starting at 141 lbs. Kohlberg, in for the injured lang, dropped a 12-2 major decision to Austin Primus and Vincent Colletti (Naperville, Ill./Montini Catholic) fell by major decision to Joshua Wagner. After Marella got pinned by Michael Chandler, the Tigers had a 20-0 lead halfway through the dual.
Hagel was pinned by Matthew Pell and Hayes fell by major decision to Missouri's top-ranked Ben Askren before Herbert put the 'Cats on the board. The junior dominated Joey Garrity and took a technical fall with the score 20-5.
The second-ranked Tamillow stayed with Missouri's top-ranked Max Askren, but took his first lost of the season with a 9-4 decision. Fox remained undefeated in dual matches by topping Tyler Perry, 5-0.
The Wildcats will face the winner of Cornell and Oklahoma in the consolation bracket later today at 5 p.m.
Northwestern 28, West Virginia 14:
Precin (NU) dec. Scott 4-0 (3-0)
Metzler (NU) fall Anderson (2:03) (9-0)
Rader maj dec. Kohlberg (NU) 20-6 (9-4)
Jauregui maj dec. Gould (NU) 9-1 (9-8)
Fryling fall Marella (NU) (3:23) (9-14)
Hagel (NU) dec. Connolly 2-0 (12-14)
Hayes (NU) win by forfit (18-14)
Herbert (NU) maj dec. Litton 12-0 (22-14)
Tamillow (NU) dec. Villers 4-3 (25-14)
Fox (NU) dec. Rogers 2-1 (28-14)
Missouri 33, Northwestern 8:
Olanowski dec. Precin (NU) 8-7 (0-3)
McCormick dec. Metzler (NU) 8-3 (0-6)
Primus maj dec. Kohlberg (NU) 12-2 (0-10)
Wagner maj dec. Colletti (NU) 13-5 (0-14)
Chandler fall Marella (NU) 3:33 (0-20)
Pell fall Hagel 4:33 (NU) (0-26)
Askren maj dec. Hayes 14-6 (NU) (0-30)
Herbert (NU) tech fall Garrity 20-5 6:35 (5-30)
Askren dec. Tamillow (NU) 9-4 (5-33)
Fox (NU) dec. Perry 5-0 (8-33)
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