8:55 pm - Well ladies and gentlemen I am going to wrap things up tonight. Thanks for following our first official live blogging event, it was an interesting and long day in the gym. We had broken bones, strained ligaments, pulled muscles, black eyes, and three trips to the emergency room before the day was over. However, one thing is apparent... Wrestling fans are some of the most dedicated followers of any sport. A majority showed up at dawn and still haven't left the gym, I however will be heading out in the cold of winter after a day of wrestling I won't soon forget.
For all results, check out the WPU Athletic Website. Congratulations to Matt Chustz on his individual championship.
8:45 pm - The results are in but not without a bit of controversy. Grand View was awarded the overall championship, but Missouri Valley immediately said that the score was wrong. After nearly twenty minutes of analysis Grand View was still on top, however the results remain unofficial.
8:03 pm - Grand View and Missouri Valley are in a heated battle for the tournament title. Both teams have a group of wrestlers in the finals for each weight.
8:00 pm - Today's tournament is now in its 12th hour of competition. I thought soccer tournaments were long, but wrestling trumps them all.
7:49 pm - William Penn's Matt Chustz came up with a big upset win against #3 nationally ranked Paulie Hansen of Missouri Valley. Chustz jumped out to the lead early with a take down 25 seconds into the 1st period. Hansen then closed the gap to 2-1 at the end of the period. Chustz continued to execute a perfect strategy against Hansen as he slid away from a number of take down attempts. In the final minutes both athletes added a point and Chustz was on top as the buzzer sounded. It was a sweet win for Chustz who lost to Hansen at home a few weeks ago.
I admit I don't know a great deal about wrestling, but this was by far the best match of the tournament.
7:26 pm - We're about ten minutes away from the much anticipated final at 125 between Matt Chustz and Paulie Hansen (Missouri Valley). Chustz tournament ranking is #2 while Hansen is the top seed.
7:04 pm - Updated team scores: 1. Missouri Valley (142), 2. Grand View (137.5), 3. Oklahoma City (114.5), 4. Waldorf (93), 5. Baker (67), 6. William Penn (47), 7. Bacone (28.5), 8. York (22), 9. Hannibal-LaGrange 21.
6:58 pm - Dustin Howa takes 5th with win over Delich (Baker). It was a tight first period with neither athlete gaining a huge advantage until Howa's take down with less than ten seconds to go. He got up by as many as 4 in the second period and ended the match by pinning Delich with 5o seconds left to go.
6:51 pm - Dustin Howa is on deck for his 5th place match...
6:48 pm - We're getting down to the nitty-gritty now ladies and gentlemen. Taylor Louie just secured a fifth place finish at 125 after pinning Ohnemus (Waldorf). Louie jumped ahead early with a 3-0 lead only to find himself tied after the first period 3-3. In the second period he found himself up 6-4 with one minute left, then made a late push to finish the period up 8-4. In the final stanza, Louie was up by 5 before he pinned Ohnemus with 21 seconds left in the match.
6:21 pm - Ryan Groom has pulled out of the tournament due to an injury. So that leaves only Chustz in the championship at 125, Louie in the fifth place match at 125, and Howa in the fifth place match at 141 as the only WPU wrestlers left.
6:15 pm - Team standings update: 1. Missouri Valley (142), 2. Grand View (134), 3. Oklahoma City (112.5), 4. Waldorf (85.5), 5. Baker (63.5), 6. William Penn (43), 7. Bacone (28.5), 8. Hannibal-LaGrange (21), 9. York (18.5).
5:44 pm - Just a quick update. It looks like the only WPU wrestler that will be battling for an indvidual championship will be Matt Chustz at 125.
5:41 pm - Dustin Howa loses match Williams (York) and will settle for 5th place match in 141.
5:34 pm - Taylor Louie falls to Rene (Waldorf) and will wrestle for 5th place in 125.
5:15 pm - Ryan Groom defeats Lloyd (York) and will be in the semi-finals of the consolation bracket.
4:31 pm - The excitement is starting to build as the medal rounds are just a few minutes away.
4:25 pm - Jesse Buchanan (WPU) falls to Wheatley (York) in consolation bracket.
3:50 pm - Great news from Wisconsin! Lady Statesmen basketball beat Viterbo 71-62.
3:48 pm - Updated teams standings: 1. Grand View (97.5) 2. Missouri Valley (95.5) 3. Oklahoma City (82) 4. Waldorf (36.5) 5. William Penn (36.5) 6. Baker (30.5) 7. Bacone (23) 8. Hannible-LaGrange (12) 9. York (8)
3:39 pm - As I was walking up the bleachers I nearly stepped on a wrestler that was sleeping. To my surprise there are wrestlers everywhere sleeping in between the aisles of the bleachers. This may not be surprising to some, but I am shocked. Not only will they eat anything after weighing in, but they will sleep anywhere!
3:33 pm - Burkart from Bacone College seems to have something seriously wrong with his leg and will forfeit the match against Valdez (Waldorf)in the consolation bracket at 157. College athletes train so hard and you never want to see someone come down with a serious injury. Hopefully, he is okay!
3:28 pm - All these athletes deserve a lot of respect. They compete in their matches and in some cases are forced to wait hours before their next match. In my opinion, that is pretty impressive.
3:10 pm - Howa falls to Graham in a close one 6-4. Every match I have seen Dustin wrestle is always a nail biter, he is a fun athlete to watch.
3:03 pm - This is the match I have been really anticipating. #3 Dustin Howa against #2 Graham (Missouri Valley) at 141 pounds....
2:45 pm - David Crow falls to Chatman (Bacone) 14-4 in the consolation bracket.
2:34 pm - Matt Chustz defeates Gomez (Oklahoma City) by a 12-7 decision. Chustz will go against Louie for the 125 pound championship.
2:14 pm - Taylor Louie falls to nationally ranked Hansen (Missouri Valley) on a questionable takedown call. The decision then went to Hansen on a 6-3 decision.
1:46 pm - Quarterfinals have finally concluded with the team scores staying the same. The following WPU wrestlers are in the semi-finals of the championship bracket: 125 pounds: #5 Louie will take on #1 Hansen (Missouri Valley), #2 Chustz will face #3 Gomez (Oklahoma City). 141 pounds: #3 Howa will take on #2 Graham.
12:26 pm - Updated team standings with 8 matches left in the quarters:
1. Grand View (68.5) 2. Missouri Valley (55.5) 3. Oklahoma City (38.5) 4. William Penn (23.5) 5. Waldorf (20.5) 6. Baker (13.5) 7. Hannibal-LaGrange (11.0) 8. York (4.0) 9. Bacone (0)
12:19 pm - Quarterfinals are coming to a end very soon... This is where things begin to get interesting. Update coming soon!
12:00 pm - You will find it rare to ever see me post something positive about our arch rival Grand View. Yet, one has to give a lot of respect to their wrestling program which is in its second year. Not only are they second after the first round today but they by far have more fans than anyone here.
11:55 am - We have a break in the action here at Penn Gymnasium. However, Curling is on and Team USA is beating Sweden 2-0. USA USA USA
11:54 am - Wade Steinlage has informed me we are almost 3/4 of the way through the Quarterfinals. As soon as I have an update on the Penn wrestlers and team stats I will let you know!
11:49 am - It's been almost an hour since my last post, I must apologize for that. I have been trying to make myself useful since I am useless when it comes to taking stats. So I have been the lunch boy, that's what I get for being an intern.
10:50 am - In the most exciting match thus far, Dirt Howa comes back from a 10-5 deficit to pin Brett Delich with 5 seconds left in the 2nd period.
10:44 am - Lots of people are watching Dirt Howa (WPU) as he wrestles for the first time today.
10:42 am - There is a lot going on at William Penn today. Not only are we hosting the wrestling qualifier but the PAC Center is also jam packed with a Women's Soccer 5 v. 5 tournament.
10:14 am - WPU Sports Information Director Wade Steinlage just posted a updated bracket on our website: http://www.statesmenathletics.com/index.php
10:12 am - Updated team standings after the first round:
1. Missouri Valley (13 points), 2. Grand View (12), 3. Oklahoma City (9) 4. Waldorf (7), 5. WPU (5.5), 6. Baker (3), 7. Bacone, Hannibal LaGrange, York 0.
10:10 am - A few minutes ago Taylor Louie won an 8-6 decision.
9:57 am - WPU's Taylor Louie is now on mat 2.
9:56 am - WPU's Bobby Proffitt pins Nathan Trumbo of York in the 1st period.
9:52 am - This is my first wrestling tournament and I have noticed the food of choice for these athletes is cereal... Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, Fruity Pebbles, you name it and it's here.
9:51 am - WPU's Josh Stutting pinned by Justin Rau (Grand View).
9:43 am - Just got done talking to WPU Assistant Wrestling Nate Stirgus about his team this year. He said, "We're very young and make young mistakes, but we're wrestling well right now. There are a lot of good teams here, like Missouri Valley who is #3 in the nation."
9:32 am - Lots of blood coming from a wrestler from Waldorf on mat 1. The William Penn Athletic Training staff is doing a great job cleaning things up.
9:31 am - Diaz is pinned by Bradshaw.
9:24 am - WPU's Chis Diaz is on mat 2 against #3 DW Bradshaw (Missouri Valley).
9:12 am - Matt Chustz beats Jared Steinbach (Bacone) on a technical knockout.
9:04 am - William Penn's Matt Chustz is on mat two...
9:00 am - Technical difficulties with the Star Spangled Banner... So in an event I have never seen before a group of wrestlers began singing it on their own. It wasn't the best rendition and I hope they never try out for "American Idol," but in this case it did the job.
8:55 am - PA System is playing "Zombie Nation," I have never seen so many wrestlers dance at once.
8:45 am - Penn Gymnasium is packed with over 90 wrestlers. Today's qualifier will take place on two mats and will last well into the evening.
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