Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU's Tyrell Fortune finished third at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas Friday, avenging his lone loss against the 2011 D-I National Champion.
Photo by: Darryl Webb
Fortune Takes Third at U.S. Open
4/19/2013 9:40:00 PM | Wrestling
Avenges Lone Loss to 2011 D-I Champ
Grand Canyon’s Tyrell Fortune finished third at the 2013 Las Vegas/ASICS U.S. Open Wrestling National Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center Friday.
Fortune, who won the NCAA Division II National Championship in March, setting a GCU record for pins in a single season (20) and going 37-1 for the year, went 5-1 at Saturday's competition and avenged his only loss of the tournament by beating Zachery Rey, the 2011 NCAA Division I champion from Lehigh, 7-1 in the third-place match. He had lost 4-0 to Rey in the quarterfinals earlier in the day.
Fortune won twice by fall, defeating Mike Brown (OKCU Gator RTC) in just :26 and opening the consolation round -- after losing to Rey -- by pinning Cody Davis (Rocky Mountain Region) in 1:54.
To get to the consolation championship, Fortune beat Nick Gwiazdowski (NYAC), who was a Division I All-American at Binghamton, 9-5 and downed Kyle Massey (NYAC/USOEC) 7-4.
Fortune credited "mental toughness" to getting through the long day. He was still trying to cut weight for Saturday's Greco competition and was wrestling on an empty stomach and without water for his first five matches.
"It was a real intense day," said Fortune, who was able to re-fuel for his second attempt at Rey.
With the third-place finish in the men's freestyle 264.5 weight-class, Fortune has qualified for the World Team Trials.
"My goal is to be a world champion," said Fortune. "It's been my goal since I started wrestling."
According to GCU coach R.C. LaHaye, Fortune is well on his way. "He beat some world-class wrestlers today," said the coach.
Earlier this week, Fortune was named the Wrestling Coaches Association Division II National Wrestler of the Year.
GCU's Peter Anguiano also wrestled in the 264.5 category and held his own against Tervel Dlagnev, who won the 2012 Olympic Trials and placed fifth after losing the Bronze Medal match. Anguiano only lost 4-0.
Fortune, who won the NCAA Division II National Championship in March, setting a GCU record for pins in a single season (20) and going 37-1 for the year, went 5-1 at Saturday's competition and avenged his only loss of the tournament by beating Zachery Rey, the 2011 NCAA Division I champion from Lehigh, 7-1 in the third-place match. He had lost 4-0 to Rey in the quarterfinals earlier in the day.
Fortune won twice by fall, defeating Mike Brown (OKCU Gator RTC) in just :26 and opening the consolation round -- after losing to Rey -- by pinning Cody Davis (Rocky Mountain Region) in 1:54.
To get to the consolation championship, Fortune beat Nick Gwiazdowski (NYAC), who was a Division I All-American at Binghamton, 9-5 and downed Kyle Massey (NYAC/USOEC) 7-4.
Fortune credited "mental toughness" to getting through the long day. He was still trying to cut weight for Saturday's Greco competition and was wrestling on an empty stomach and without water for his first five matches.
"It was a real intense day," said Fortune, who was able to re-fuel for his second attempt at Rey.
With the third-place finish in the men's freestyle 264.5 weight-class, Fortune has qualified for the World Team Trials.
"My goal is to be a world champion," said Fortune. "It's been my goal since I started wrestling."
According to GCU coach R.C. LaHaye, Fortune is well on his way. "He beat some world-class wrestlers today," said the coach.
Earlier this week, Fortune was named the Wrestling Coaches Association Division II National Wrestler of the Year.
GCU's Peter Anguiano also wrestled in the 264.5 category and held his own against Tervel Dlagnev, who won the 2012 Olympic Trials and placed fifth after losing the Bronze Medal match. Anguiano only lost 4-0.
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