Multiple All-Americans Earned on Day 1 | Roughnecks in 7th
Birmingham, AL – The University of Findlay wrestling team took part in the first round of the NCAA Division II National Championship. The Roughnecks had six athletes in action on the first day of competition. After one day, Findlay sits in seventh place as a team with 27 points scored. Spots 2-7 are separated by just 4.5 points.
Ranked #1 in the nation, senior Nick Goebel, who enters the event with a perfect 20-0 record, took on Ty Lydic of Seton Hill in the first round. Goebel won with a 5-2 decision to advance to take on St. Cloud State's James Pleski, ranked tenth in the country. Chasing his third all-American award, Goebel took down Pleski with a 4-1 decision to advance to the second day of competition, ensuring his status as an all-American.
Senior Joey White, ranked seventh in the country, is on his second trip the DII National Championship event after qualifying a year ago. He defeated Kyle Fantin of Colorado St. Pueblo with a 6-3 decision and advanced to take on #9 Larry Bomstad of St. Cloud State. White won that bout with a 5-3 decision to earn all-American status and advance to the final day.
Sophomore Devin Rogers, wrestling at 133 pounds, got his first taste of DII National Championship action and was the first Findlay wrestler on the mat. He entered with a 22-20 record this season and won his first bout of the tournament against Paul Garcia of Colorado St. Pueblo with a pin in just 6:08. Rogers then took on #11 Carmon Ciotti from Gannon and was pinned in 4:21. He ended his National Championship tournament with a 4-2 sudden victory loss to Anthony Sparacio of LIU Post. Rogers ends the year with a record of 23-22.
A national qualifier a season ago, sophomore Alonzo Turner took on Kyle Jolas of Lindenwood in his first matchup of the event. Turner won with a 5-3 decision and advanced to take on #6 TC Warner of Kutztown in the next round. Warner won that matchup in a tightly contested 2-0 decision. However, Turner came back and took down Christian Smith of California Baptist by a score of 6-5 to stay alive in the consolation bracket.
Senior Bradley Metz, ranked fifth in the country, is also still alive in the consolation round. He defeated #11 Justin Rivera of Notre Dame college in the first round by a score of 14-9 then took on Adam Cooling of Minn. State-Mankato, ranked third in the country. Metz lost that battle 4-2 but came back to beat #9 Brandon Supernaw of Western State in a tie breaker to stay alive.
Junior Mimmo Lytle took on #12 Kameron Teacher of Notre Dame and lost by a 6-2 decision. He fell into the consolation bracket where he took on #9 Christian Lance of Fort Hays St. Lytle fell in that round by sudden victory, 3-1.
The Roughnecks will be back at it tomorrow, March 11 for the final day of the season where they will try to collect more hardware.