CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) added a couple special moments to a spectacular season on Saturday at the NCAA Division II Championships. The redshirt sophomore fought all the way back to the 184-pound consolation final, knocking off national No. 1 Billy Higgins in the process, to solidify his All-America status with a fourth-place finish.

Weinberg, already assured of an All-America finish after defeating McKendree's Josh Jones in the second round of consolations Friday evening, came out firing on all cylinders in his first match of the day against Colton Bye of host Upper Iowa. Weinberg registered three takedowns and almost secured a pin with a two-point nearfall to lead 8-2 after a period.

In a great back-and-forth battle, Weinberg secured four points with a pair of escapes and takdown in the second, while Bye countered with a takedown and four-point nearfall to cut the deficit to 12-8 heading to the final two minutes. Though Bye got an escape and a penalty point for stalling, it wasn't enough as Weinberg pushed through to the consolation semifinals with a 12-10 decision.

Top-ranked and top-seeded Billy Higgins of Nebraska-Kearney was Weinberg's next opponent. Kearney had his national title hopes dashed in the semifinals with a 3-2 loss to Lander's Logan Hall and Weinberg was in no mood to let him recover his form. The Philadelphian scored two takedowns in the opening 2:07 and overcame a takedown and two-point nearfall to hold a slim 6-5 edge after one.

The score would become irrelevant midway through the second when Weinberg took Higgins down for the final time and stuck him for the pin at 4:03. It marked Weinberg's 14th pin and fourth victory over a nationally-ranked opponent this season.

In the consolation final, Weinberg went down to the wire with No. 4 Daniel Beemer of Ashland but suffered a 3-1 defeat to take fourth. Following a scoreless first, Weinberg escaped from bottom for a 1-0 lead 11 seconds into the second. Beemer jumped in front with a takedown in the final 40 seconds of the period and added a penalty point in the final stanza for a 3-1 lead that he'd maintain to the buzzer.

Weinberg finished his first full season at Kutztown with a 28-3 record and spent the entire campaign ranked in the top 10 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). His All-America honor is the 34th in program history.
 

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NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 10-11, 2023 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Alliant Energy PowerHouse
 
KUTZTOWN RESULTS
 
184 LBS.
#5 Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan)

Friday, March 10
R1 – LOSS pinned by #10 Alex Kauffman (Central Oklahoma), 5:26
CR1 – WIN technical fall Clint Morrisette (King), 15-0 (7:00)
CR2 – WIN pinned #12 Josh Jones (McKendree), 6:16

Saturday, March 11
CQF - WIN dec. Colton Bye (Upper Iowa), 12-10
CSF - WIN pinned #1 Billy Higgins (Nebraska-Kearney), 4:03
CF - LOSS dec. #4 Daniel Beemer (Ashland), 3-1
4th PLACE/ALL-AMERICAN