Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, March 9
Pueblo, CO
11 a.m.
Grand Canyon
vs
NCAA Division II Championships
Kyle McCrite is one of three GCU wrestlers still in contention for a national title Saturday.
GCU Fourth; Three Wrestlers in Semifinals Saturday
3/9/2012 10:40:00 PM | Wrestling
Grand Canyon is in fourth place and has three wrestlers still vying for national titles after the first day of action at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships at Massari Arena in Pueblo, Colo., Friday.
Kyle McCrite (125), Bobby Ward (149) and Victor Carazo (174) all won first-round and quarterfinal matches and will compete in the semifinal round beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Links to live coverage of the tournament are available at www.GCULopes.com.
“There’s no reason we can’t make a run for second,” said GCU coach R.C. LaHaye, whose team was seventh last season, the best the program has done in its short five-year history. “I’m very confident of our three in the semis. All are capable of making a strong run for a national title.”
All three and Celic Bell (197) have secured All-America honors. It is the third straight year for Carazo, who finished third last season.
Bell is competing in the consolation rounds and can finish as high as third. Ted Bristol (157) and Jordan Johnson (285) were eliminated Friday.
Nebraska-Kearney, who defeated GCU at the Super Region IV/RMAC Championships two weeks ago, appears to be headed for a team title. It has 56.5 points. St. Cloud State is second with 41. Wisconsin-Parkside is third with 34 and GCU has 31.5.
McCrite, ranked No. 4 in the country, defeated No. 1 ranked Corey Ulmer of Minnesota State-Morehead 9-8 in the quarterfinals and will face unranked Dave Fogle of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in the semis. McCrite opened with a 10-3 win over Newberry’s Jonathan Cronin.
Ward, No. 2 in the nation, opened with an 8-5 victory against Shippensburg’s Kenny Stank, then handled Ashland’s Marc Hoff 10-5 in the quarters. He will take on unranked John Hagerty of Maryville in the semifinals.
Fifth-ranked Carazo made easy work of West Liberty’s Matt Littleton, winning by technical fall 18-3, before avenging his only loss of the season against St. Cloud State’s third-ranked Shamus O’Grady in the quarters. Carazo was in control from the outset and picked up an 8-3 decision. He’ll take on seventh-ranked Travis Sheehy of Newberry in the semis. Carazo beat Sheehy 7-2 at the Grand Canyon University Duals at GCU Arena on Dec. 31.
“Victor dominated the match (with O’Grady),” said LaHaye. “He’s wrestling the best he has all season and the same goes for McCrite. Bobby is just like he’s been all season – consistent and solid.”
Bell lost by fall in his first-round match, but came back with two wins to stay alive for third place.
Ranked No. 3 in the nation after his region championship, Bell lost in 1:34 to Ashland’s Joseph Brandt. He bounced back in his first consolation match with a 15-3 win over Augustana’s Sean Derry, and then beat No. 2 Matthew Baker of Maryville 6-4. Bell hopes to keep his run alive tomorrow with an opening match against No. 7 Eddie Ebewo of East Stroudsburg.
Bristol, an All-American last season, was close to that status again Friday.
Unranked, he opened with one of the more exciting wins of the day, knocking off a region runner-up in No. 6 Winston Robbins of Upper Iowa. Down 9-5 heading into the final period and looking as if he would lose another point on riding-time, Bristol came back for a 13-12 win.
In the quarterfinals and one victory away from solidifying All-American status, Bristol lost in overtime 9-7 to Jarrod Shaw of West Liberty. He was eliminated with a 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh-Johnstown’s Zack Lundgren in the consolations.
Johnson had a difficult draw coming in as a fourth-place region finisher. He suffered a tough first-round loss, dropping a 5-4 overtime decision to Jake Elkins of Newberry, who he had edged 3-2 earlier in the season. He lost to Findlay’s Andrew Tumlin 3-1 in the consolations.
“It’s tough for Teddy and Jordan,” said LaHaye. “They’ve both had great college careers.”
Updated Brackets
Kyle McCrite (125), Bobby Ward (149) and Victor Carazo (174) all won first-round and quarterfinal matches and will compete in the semifinal round beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Links to live coverage of the tournament are available at www.GCULopes.com.
“There’s no reason we can’t make a run for second,” said GCU coach R.C. LaHaye, whose team was seventh last season, the best the program has done in its short five-year history. “I’m very confident of our three in the semis. All are capable of making a strong run for a national title.”
All three and Celic Bell (197) have secured All-America honors. It is the third straight year for Carazo, who finished third last season.
Bell is competing in the consolation rounds and can finish as high as third. Ted Bristol (157) and Jordan Johnson (285) were eliminated Friday.
Nebraska-Kearney, who defeated GCU at the Super Region IV/RMAC Championships two weeks ago, appears to be headed for a team title. It has 56.5 points. St. Cloud State is second with 41. Wisconsin-Parkside is third with 34 and GCU has 31.5.
McCrite, ranked No. 4 in the country, defeated No. 1 ranked Corey Ulmer of Minnesota State-Morehead 9-8 in the quarterfinals and will face unranked Dave Fogle of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in the semis. McCrite opened with a 10-3 win over Newberry’s Jonathan Cronin.
Ward, No. 2 in the nation, opened with an 8-5 victory against Shippensburg’s Kenny Stank, then handled Ashland’s Marc Hoff 10-5 in the quarters. He will take on unranked John Hagerty of Maryville in the semifinals.
Fifth-ranked Carazo made easy work of West Liberty’s Matt Littleton, winning by technical fall 18-3, before avenging his only loss of the season against St. Cloud State’s third-ranked Shamus O’Grady in the quarters. Carazo was in control from the outset and picked up an 8-3 decision. He’ll take on seventh-ranked Travis Sheehy of Newberry in the semis. Carazo beat Sheehy 7-2 at the Grand Canyon University Duals at GCU Arena on Dec. 31.
“Victor dominated the match (with O’Grady),” said LaHaye. “He’s wrestling the best he has all season and the same goes for McCrite. Bobby is just like he’s been all season – consistent and solid.”
Bell lost by fall in his first-round match, but came back with two wins to stay alive for third place.
Ranked No. 3 in the nation after his region championship, Bell lost in 1:34 to Ashland’s Joseph Brandt. He bounced back in his first consolation match with a 15-3 win over Augustana’s Sean Derry, and then beat No. 2 Matthew Baker of Maryville 6-4. Bell hopes to keep his run alive tomorrow with an opening match against No. 7 Eddie Ebewo of East Stroudsburg.
Bristol, an All-American last season, was close to that status again Friday.
Unranked, he opened with one of the more exciting wins of the day, knocking off a region runner-up in No. 6 Winston Robbins of Upper Iowa. Down 9-5 heading into the final period and looking as if he would lose another point on riding-time, Bristol came back for a 13-12 win.
In the quarterfinals and one victory away from solidifying All-American status, Bristol lost in overtime 9-7 to Jarrod Shaw of West Liberty. He was eliminated with a 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh-Johnstown’s Zack Lundgren in the consolations.
Johnson had a difficult draw coming in as a fourth-place region finisher. He suffered a tough first-round loss, dropping a 5-4 overtime decision to Jake Elkins of Newberry, who he had edged 3-2 earlier in the season. He lost to Findlay’s Andrew Tumlin 3-1 in the consolations.
“It’s tough for Teddy and Jordan,” said LaHaye. “They’ve both had great college careers.”
Updated Brackets
Tuesday, June 09
Tuesday, June 09
Tuesday, June 09
Monday, June 08