While many of us were basking in the glory of Wisconsin's repeat hoops title, another Big Ten champion was crowned in Madison this past weekend. The UW wrestling team (1-7-0 Big Ten, 9-7-0 overall) played host to the Big Ten wrestling championships and finished in ninth place with 71.5 points. No. 3 Minnesota (6-1-0 Big Ten, 16-5-0 overall) repeated as Big Ten Champs by accumulating 126.5 points. At the end of the two-day grapple fest, seven Badgers placed in the top seven of their respective weight classes, earning tickets to the NCAA championships in Kansas City, Mo. March 20-22.
\It was great having the home crowd, I don't think I have ever wrestled in front of such a loud crowd,"" senior Tony Black said.
Black put forth the best finish for the Badgers, taking fourth at 125 pounds. In his first match of the tournament, Black dominated freshman Nick Simmons, the No. 3 seed of Michigan State, 8-0 en route to the upset victory. After falling to the No. 2 seed, senior A.J. Grant of Michigan, 5-0, Black pinned Minnesota sophomore Bobbe Lowe on his way to the consolation finals. In the match that determined third place, Black again faced Simmons, the wrestler he sent packing earlier. With the score knotted at two apiece in the waning seconds of the third period, Black worked desperately to execute a reversal, but it did not work and Simmons earned three back points for the win.
Senior Justin Staebler took fifth place at heavyweight in dramatic fashion, beating Michigan freshman Greg Wagner 1-0 in double overtime. In the 141 pound third place match, sophomore Tyler Laudon felt the wrath of Ohio State junior Jeff Ratliff, losing 13-2. In a match that was as exciting as it was close, freshman Tom Clum beat sophomore Rene Hernandez of Purdue 10-5 for fifth place at 133 pounds. While the score may not show it, Clum's match was very close, tied at five with little time left in the third period. As both wrestlers worked the edge of the mat, Clum scored a huge ""heads-up"" takedown by keeping his feet inbounds as his opponent went out, and then turned him, earning three back points and the win.
Sophomore Brady Reinke was pinned by Ohio State's junior Blake Kaplan at the end of the first period of the fifth place match at 174 pounds.
Junior Ralph DeNisco earned sixth place but was unable to compete in the second day of wrestling because of an injury.
At 197 pounds, the Buckeyes continued their dominance over UW in the consolation matches as senior Anton Talamantes defeated freshman Lee Kraemer 10-6 for fifth place. In the match that determined seventh place at 149 pounds, freshman Eddie Gutnik was one win away from the NCAAs, but lost a heartbreaker 6-4 to Penn State freshman Nathan Galloway.
""Some high caliber wrestling, some exciting wrestling and some very intense matches,"" said Head Coach Barry Davis, commenting on what he saw this past weekend at the Field House.
