ST. LOUIS, Mo. – After two wins over highly ranked opponents on the first day of the 2017 NCAA Championships, Northwestern heavyweight Conan Jennings saw his tournament come to a close in day two with losses to a pair of top-10 ranked wrestlers.
Jennings was just one win shy of earning All-America honors.
He started his day in the quarterfinals against No. 3 Ty Walz of Virginia Tech, falling in a 15-4 major decision. He then dropped down to the Blood Round to face No. 9 Denzel Dejournett from Appalachian State with the winner guaranteed All-America and a spot on the podium. Dejournett prevailed in a 9-0 major decision.
Jennings, just a sophomore, improved his win total by 13 this season – from six last year to 19 this year. He beat a team-high three ranked wrestlers and won 10 of his 19 matches by bonus point decisions.
Junior Mitch Sliga also saw his season come to an end with a loss to No. 16 Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan in the second round of wrestlebacks.
Northwestern improved its own win total by five in 2016-17, finishing 7-8 overall. The Wildcats return eight of 10 starters next year and will welcome highly touted redshirt-freshmen Sebastian Rivera and Ryan Deakin into the lineup.
Results
Quarterfinals
285: #3 Ty Walz (Va Tech) maj. dec. Conan Jennings (NU), 15-4
Blood Round
285: #9 Denzel Dejournett (App St) maj. dec. Conan Jennings (NU), 9-0
Wrestleback Round 2
184: #16 Jordan Ellingwood (CMU) maj. dec. Mitch Sliga (NU), 8-0
Jennings was just one win shy of earning All-America honors.
He started his day in the quarterfinals against No. 3 Ty Walz of Virginia Tech, falling in a 15-4 major decision. He then dropped down to the Blood Round to face No. 9 Denzel Dejournett from Appalachian State with the winner guaranteed All-America and a spot on the podium. Dejournett prevailed in a 9-0 major decision.
Jennings, just a sophomore, improved his win total by 13 this season – from six last year to 19 this year. He beat a team-high three ranked wrestlers and won 10 of his 19 matches by bonus point decisions.
Junior Mitch Sliga also saw his season come to an end with a loss to No. 16 Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan in the second round of wrestlebacks.
Northwestern improved its own win total by five in 2016-17, finishing 7-8 overall. The Wildcats return eight of 10 starters next year and will welcome highly touted redshirt-freshmen Sebastian Rivera and Ryan Deakin into the lineup.
Results
Quarterfinals
285: #3 Ty Walz (Va Tech) maj. dec. Conan Jennings (NU), 15-4
Blood Round
285: #9 Denzel Dejournett (App St) maj. dec. Conan Jennings (NU), 9-0
Wrestleback Round 2
184: #16 Jordan Ellingwood (CMU) maj. dec. Mitch Sliga (NU), 8-0