Live Results & Video | Session 3 Photo Gallery SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –
Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South (Lock Haven)) will go down as one of the most decorated Kutztown University wrestlers of all-time. Even though Saturday didn't go his way on the final day of the 2016 NCAA National Championships, the two-time All-American cemented his legacy this weekend as one of the greatest Golden Bears of all-time.
The redshirt-senior entered the day 2-0 at nationals and a chance at a national title. He needed to overcome an injury suffered in Friday's quarterfinal bout, but in the final moments of Martoccio's three matches on Saturday, it was clear that the injury had an effect on Kutztown's 157-pounder.
Wrestling in tied or one-point matches in all three of his matches on Saturday, Martoccio started on bottom in third periods and struggled to get up. His hard work and determination, not only this weekend but his entire career, earned him a sixth place finish at the national championships, the best of his career.
Martoccio will get his moment in the sun Saturday evening. He'll take the podium for the second straight year as one of eight All-Americans at 157 pounds.
A team captain, Martoccio closes his career with 89 wins, third in program history. He is a two-time All-American, two-time national qualifier, four-time regional medalist and this year's Super Region I champion. He held a 28-6 record and 17-match winning streak this season and finishes with an 89-38 record.
Martoccio competed in a 157-pound national semifinal to start Session 3 on Saturday morning. Martoccio, well-bandaged and padded on his right knee due to injury, faced third-ranked Brady Bersano of California Baptist for the first time as the two squared off, testing the waters in a scoreless first period.
Bersano took a 1-0 lead off an escape point to start the second and later scored a takedown to go up 3-0. Martoccio started on bottom, hoping to get a quick escape point to give him time for a needed takedown, but Bersano kept him down for the entire third period. Bersano scored back points and a riding time point to defeat Martoccio by a 10-1 major decision, ending his bid at a national title.
Martoccio, a 2016 and two-time All-American, continued his day through the consolation bracket with a new goal of winning third place. He squared off against Notre Dame's Jonatan Rivera in a rematch of the Super Region I final in which Martoccio won, 6-2. The match went to overtime at 1-1, but in the final 10 seconds of the first overtime period, Rivera worked his way around Martoccio for a takedown. The KU coaches reviewed the call, but officials upheld the takedown in Martoccio's 3-1 defeat.
The final match of Martoccio's career came in the fifth place match against Jordan Rinken of Upper Iowa. Trailing 1-0 entering the third, Martoccio started on bottom but couldn't make any progress as he dropped a 15-0 tech. fall, the only one against him in three years.
As a team, following Saturday night's finals, Kutztown finished in 27th out of 48 tams with 11 points. St. Cloud State defended its national title.
Kutztown Results 157 - Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South (Lock Haven)) (Sixth Place)Champ: #3 Brady Bersano (California Baptist) maj. dec. Martoccio (KU), 10-1
Cons: #4 Jonatan Rivera (Notre Dame) dec. Martoccio (KU), 3-1 (SV-1)
5th Place Match: Jordan Rinken (Upper Iowa) tech. fall Martoccio (KU), 15-0 (6:49)
