Page locks up All-American status, advances to day two of NCAA Championships

Trey Page highlighted the Tigers first day of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships with a semifinal berth of the 285 pound bracket. The Tigers’ other qualifiers, Noah Killip (141), Bradley Little (157) and Jon Inman (184) were eliminated from competition.

Page went 2-0 on the day and will face top-seeded Ziad Haddad (Kutztown) in the semifinals on Saturday. Page started the competition with a first period technical fall (15-0) over Pittsburgh-Johnstown’s Damon Sims, followed by a 4-0 decision over Chris Giddens of UNC Pembroke. Page has locked up an All-American performance with his two wins.

Little and Inman both went 1-2 on the day, but losses in the second consolation round ended the two wrestlers’ seasons. After a first round loss (4-1 to Derrick Weller of Lindenwood), Little advanced in the tournament with an 11-4 decision against Belmont Abbey’s Daniel Callahan. From there, however, Matt Martoccio of Kutztown won a narrow 5-4 decision against Little in the second consolation round. Inman got caught in a first period fall (1:47) in his opening round against John Vogt (McKendree) but rebounded with an 8-0 major decision against Notre Dame’s Garett Lineberger. Inman, like Little, was one match away from guaranteeing All-American status but fell just short, dropping a 13-2 major decision to Jacob Waste to end the tournament.

Killip battled with defending national champion Daniel Ownbey (UNC Pembroke) in the first round but fell in sudden death, 3-1. From there, Killip was dealt an early exit for the tournament with an 8-5 loss to Sam Hanau (Pittsburg-Johnstown) in the first consolation round.

After day one, the Tigers were tied for 18th in the team standings with 11.5 points. St. Cloud State was first with 47 points and Nebraska-Kearney was second with 44.5 points.

Wrestling for day two begins at 10 a.m., with the Championship finals occurring at 7 p.m.

Complete results from Friday’s action at the NCAA Championships is below…

141 – Noah Killip
Champ. Round 1 – Daniel Ownbey (UNC Pembroke) wins in sudden victory (3-1) over Killip
Cons. Round 1 – Sam Hanau (Pitt.-Johnstown) wins by decision (8-5) over Killip

157 – Bradley Little
Champ. Round 1 – Derrick Weller (Lindenwood) wins by decision (4-1) over Little
Cons. Round 1 – Little wins by decision (11-4) over Daniel Callahan (Belmont Abbey)
Cons. Round 2 – Matt Martoccio (Kutztown) wins by decision (5-4) over Little

184 – Jon Inman
Champ. Round 1 – John Vogt (McKendree) wins by fall (1:47) over Inman
Cons. Round 1 – Inman wins by major decision (8-0) over Garrett Lineberger (Notre Dame [OH])
Cons. Round 2 – Jacob Waste (CBU) wins by major decision (13-2) over Inman

285 – Trey Page
Champ. Round 1 – Page wins by tech fall (15-0, 2:40) over Damon Sims (Pitt.-Johnstown)
Quarterfinals – Page wins by decision (4-0) over Chris Giddens (UNC Pembroke)

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