Iowa wrestler denied 4th straight title in stunner

TULSA, Okla. — Purdue’s Matt Ramos pulled some of the beautiful upsets in NCAA Division I wrestling historical past, ending Iowa’s Spencer Lee’s chase for 4 nationwide titles with a pin within the closing seconds of their semifinal match on Friday night time.

Ramos, the No. 4 seed at 125 kilos, bought the autumn with one second remaining within the third interval to finish the nation’s longest win streak at 58 matches.

Ramos had been vocal about his perception that he might beat Lee.

“I work actually arduous and I belief in what I imagine in, and with the ability to communicate it out into existence — I am not attempting to be cocky or something, but when I am unable to get it out into the world, then I do not imagine it is going to occur,” he mentioned.

That can depart Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis as the one wrestler nonetheless in rivalry for a fourth title on Saturday. He defeated Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness 8-3 in his semifinal match at 149 kilos. If Diakomihalis defeats Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso within the ultimate, he’ll turn into the fifth wrestler to win 4 Division I nationwide championships.

Diakomihalis was effectively conscious that Lee had misplaced earlier than his semifinal.

“Within the second it was like, ‘Wow, I did not know what to suppose,’” Diakomihalis mentioned. “I imply, he is a kind of guys who’s been very dominant — in all probability extra dominant than I have been.”

Diakomihalis mentioned he understood the strain Lee confronted.

“You bought to really feel for him just a little bit, proper?” he mentioned. “I am sort of in the same place. The entire area is ready so that you can lose. Possibly they are not cheering towards you, however secretly at the back of their head, it will get just a little louder when the opposite man goes to attain.”

Penn State is closing in on its tenth nationwide title in 12 years. The Nittany Lions have 116.5 factors. Iowa is in second with 77.5 factors adopted by Cornell (64) and Ohio State (62).

However Ramos was the story of the night time. He led Lee 4-1 on the finish of the primary interval, however Lee scored a four-point close to fall within the second interval to take a 5-4 lead and arrange the drama within the third.

Ramos will face Princeton’s Pat Glory, who defeated Nebraska’s Liam Cronin 8-2 within the different semifinal, for the championship on Saturday. Glory, the No. 2 seed, is undefeated.

“It is a dream for me,” Ramos mentioned. “The job just isn’t executed but.”

The three Penn State wrestlers in search of their third nationwide titles — Roman Bravo-Younger at 133, Carter Starocci at 174 and Aaron Brooks at 184 — all superior to the finals.

Bravo-Younger bought a two-point takedown in sudden victory time towards Arizona State’s Michael McGee. He now has the nation’s longest win streak at 56 matches.

“That was a enjoyable match there,” Bravo-Younger mentioned. “Discovered a strategy to get it executed.”

Bravo-Younger will face Cornell’s Vito Arujau, who defeated Oklahoma State’s Daton Repair 11-3 within the different semifinal. Repair had misplaced within the finals 3 times, however he was unbeaten and seeded second.

Starocci defeated Cornell’s Chris Foca within the semifinals and superior to face Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola within the ultimate. Starocci defeated Labriola 6-1 within the Huge Ten ultimate in a battle of unbeatens.

Brooks, seeded third, defeated No. 2 seed Trent Hilday of North Carolina State 6-3 in a semifinal. He’ll face the highest seed, Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen, within the ultimate.

Penn State bought a fourth finalist when freshman Levi Haines, the No. 2 seed, defeated Nebraska’s Peyton Robb within the semifinals at 157. He’ll face North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor within the ultimate. The highest seed remained unbeaten after defeating Lehigh’s Josh Humphreys.

At 165, No. 1 seed David Carr defeated Princeton’s Quincy Monday 6-5 in a semifinal. Monday’s father is 1988 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kenny Monday.

Different No. 1 seeds who superior to the finals had been Michigan’s Mason Parris at 285, Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi at 197 and Iowa’s Actual Woods at 141.