KUTZTOWN, PA (February 26, 2011) – The Kutztown University wrestling team had five wrestlers place and will have three wrestlers move onto nationals as it finished fifth overall at the 2011 NCAA Division II Super Region I tournament.
Austin Williams (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl) (133) and John Paukovits (Northampton, PA/Northampton) (149) can now call themselves regional champions in their respective weight classes as they each went 4-0 in the two-day tournament, earning them each a trip to nationals. Seth Csaszar (Northampton, PA/Northampton) will also represent KU at the next level as he placed third at 184.
Also placing with sixth-place finishes for Kutztown were Zach Marlatt (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) (174) and Justin Grant (Easton, PA/Easton) (285).
Williams came into the tournament as the No. 3 seed, but took down both higher seeds on his way to the championship. After defeating second-seeded Aaron Smith by a 5-3 decision, Williams entered the championship match set to go up against top-seeded Ryan Link from Pitt-Johnstown. Link didn't wrestle when KU and UPJ met earlier in the season, but after waiting all year to get to this point, Williams gave everything he had to earn himself a 3-2 decision and the 133 crown.
For his efforts throughout the tournament, Williams was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of this year's tournament. He heads into nationals on a 17-match winning streak.
“This was just a great weekend for us,” said head wrestling coach Robert Fisher. “Not only to have three guys head to nationals, but to have two champions is just the icing on the cake. We could have had a couple more guys make it into the top four, but to get three guys to move on to the national spotlight is great for the program. Austin has worked so hard this season and its outstanding that he won the award of top wrestler.”
Paukovits was also crowned champion as he proved his top-seed throughout the entire tournament. After going 2-0 in Friday's first session, Paukovits came out Saturday on a mission, taking down both his opponents and extending his winning streak to 13 matches. He opened the day by defeating fourth-seeded Nathan Link from UPJ by fall in 4 minutes. He then won in a tight 3-1 decision against second-seeded Ethan Swope from Gannon in the championship match. This marks the second time this season Paukovits defeated Swope.
Taking the regional championship will play a huge part for these two looking ahead to nationals. With seeding playing such a huge part in college wrestling matchups, these two are sure to be seeded towards the top of their classes.
“It feels awesome to see all our hard work pay off this weekend,” said Paukovits. “I've had an exhausting weekend but I've never felt better. It's great to see three guys make it to nationals, but I know this is just the first step of achieving my goal of becoming a national champion. It's been my goal all year and it would be a great way to end my KU career.”
Csaszar will join the two regional champions at nationals as he worked his way through the consolation bracket to earn himself a fourth place finish. Csaszar, a No. 3 seed, won two of his three matches Saturday, taking down No. 8 Sean O'Connell and No. 6 Shiheem Bryant before falling to Mercyhurst's Londele Cox in the third place match. Csaszar heads into nationals with nine wins on the season despite only wrestling during the second semester.
All three wrestlers will be making their first trip to nationals.
Marlatt seemed to take the underdog role to heart, as he took down top-opponent after top-opponent without even being seeded in the top eight in his class. Marlatt defeated fifth-seeded Matt Littleton by fall in just 1 minute, 50 seconds. This is Marlatt's fastest fall of the season. His run towards a third-place finish ended unfortunately when he dropped a 12-6 decision against second-seeded and eventual third-place finisher Trevor Sanford. Marlatt then went up against top-seeded Anthony Petrella, but ended up on the wrong side of a 14-3 major decision earning him sixth place.
Grant also took sixth-place in his sophomore season, as he finished the year winning an impressive 22 matches. He began Saturday by taking down eighth-seeded Daniel Estricher, but then dropped an 8-4 decision to third-seeded Fred Hale. Grant fell to sixth-seeded Ron Oswald in the fifth-place match in a close 2-1 decision.
Desmond Moore (Easton, PA/Easton) (125) and Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) (197) both made it to the second day of competition, but dropped their opening matches of the final day of competition. Both wrestlers ended their season with double digit victories. Moore finished his season with 11 wins and Ortiz ended with 10.
KU finished in fifth with 73 points. Newberry College who won the regional meet with 135, Pitt-Johnstown finished second (115.5), followed by Gannon (84.5) and Mercyhurst (75).
Williams, Paukovits and Csaszar move on to the NCAA Division II National Championship which takes place at the University of Nebraska Kearney on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12.
KU Results
Championship Semi-Finals:
133: #3-Austin Williams (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl) (Kutztown) DEC #2-Aaron Smith (American International) D 5-3
149: #1-John Paukovits (Northampton, PA/Northampton) (Kutztown) WBF #4-Nathan Link (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) F 4:00
Wrestleback Quarter-Finals:
174: Zach Marlatt (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) (Kutztown) WBF #5-Matt Littleton (West Liberty University) F 1:50
184: #3-Seth Csaszar (Northampton, PA/Northampton) (Kutztown) DEC #8-Sean OConnell (Anderson University) D 5-4
197: #5-Michael Pollard (Mercyhurst) DEC #8-Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) (Kutztown) M 8-0
285: #4-Justin Grant (Easton, PA/Easton) (Kutztown) WBF #8-Daniel Estricher (Shippensburg) F M FOR
Wrestleback Semi-Finals:
174: #2-Trevor Sanford (Anderson University) DEC Zach Marlatt (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) (Kutztown) D 12-6
184: #3-Seth Csaszar (Northampton, PA/Northampton) (Kutztown) DEC #6-Shiheem Bryant (North Carolina-Pembroke) D 14-12
285: #3-Fred Hale (Mercyhurst) DEC #4-Justin Grant (Easton, PA/Easton) (Kutztown) D 8-4
Finals – First Place:
133: #3-Austin Williams (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl) (Kutztown) DEC #1-Ryan Link (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) D 3-2
149: #1-John Paukovits (Northampton, PA/Northampton) (Kutztown) DEC #2-ethan swope (Gannon) D 3-1
Finals – Third Place
184: Londele Cox (Mercyhurst) DEC #3-Seth Csaszar (Northampton, PA/Northampton) (Kutztown) D 5-2
Finals-Fifth Place
174: #1-Anthony Petrella (Gannon) DEC Zach Marlatt (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh) (Kutztown) M 14-3
285: #6-Ron Oswald (Seton Hill) DEC #4-Justin Grant (Easton, PA/Easton) (Kutztown) D 2-1
