GWU Grapplers Compete at NCAA Championships; Alex Medved to Compete on Day Two
March 18, 2011 | Wrestling
Philadelphia, Pa. - The Gardner-Webb wrestling team had four individuals - Ryan Medved, Alex Medved, Jonathan Velazquez and Travis Porter - compete in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Thursday, March 17th, in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Runnin' Bulldogs' Alex Medved went 1-1 on the day to move on to the second round of the consolation round on day two on Friday morning, while Ryan Medved, Velazquez and Porter all went 0-2 on day one to see their stellar season's come to an end.
First Round:
First up for the Runnin' Bulldogs on the day was Ryan Medved at 149-pounds, as the redshirt-sophomore took on Torsten Gillespie of Edinboro. Gillespie scored an early takedown, while Ryan Medved was unable to escape. At the start of the second period, Medved chose a neutral start, but was again taken down and ridden out for the rest of the second period. Gillespie chose the bottom position to start the third period and quickly scored a reversal. A penalty point, as well as a point for riding time, secured an 8-0 major decision victory for Gillespie, sending Ryan Medved to the consolation round.
Next up at 157, redshirt-sophomore Alex Medved faced off with Arizona State's Bubba Jenkins, who was an NCAA runner-up for Penn State back in 2008 and the No. 4 seed in this year's tournament. Jenkins's strength and speed proved to be too much for GWU's Alex Medved, as he suffered a 16-5 major decision loss in round one.
GWU's Velasquez took the mat at 184 pounds to face Luke Rebertus of Navy. The first period ended at 2-0 in favor of Rebertus, who also scored an escape early in the second period to take a 3-0 lead into the third frame. Down 3-0, Velasquez scored a quick escape, but failed to score another point in the match, as Rebertus was able to hold on for the 3-1 victory.
At 197, Porter took on the No. 12 seeded Zack Giesen of Stanford in the first round. While Giesen initiated the scoring with a takedown, Porter countered with an escape to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of Giesen as the first period ended. To start the second period, Giesen chose down and scored a quick escape, and was then awarded a penalty point after Porter was called for stalling. The second period ended with another takedown for Giesen, as Porter found himself down 6-1 heading into the third period. To start the third period, Porter chose the bottom position but was unable to escape, while Giesen also picked up a bonus point for riding time to give him a 7-1 win over Porter of GWU.
Consolation Round:
In Thursday's evening session, Ryan Medved was first up at 149 lbs versus Oklahoma's Matt Lester. After being taken down in the first period, Ryan Medved battled through the second period with no scoring. Going into the third period, Lester held a 2-0 lead when two caution warnings on Lester gave Ryan Medved a point, yet he was unable to score at the end of the match and with riding time, Lester won 3-1.
Next up at 157 Alex Medved, who was facing off against his former high school teammate, Josh Condon of Chattanooga saw a first period that was a flurry of action as Alex Medved started with a takedown before giving up a reversal, and then escaping, to make the score 3-2 in favor of GWU's Alex Medved. Condon chose bottom to start the second period, and quickly escaped to tie up the score, but neither wrestler was able to score a takedown leaving the score at a 3-3 tie after two frames. Alex Medved choose bottom to start the third period and escaped to go up by one where he then held on for a 4-3 win.
Velazquez, who was the third Runnin' Bulldog grappler to wrestle in the evening session, suffered a quick takedown and a pin fall loss in the first period to Brice Arand of Oregon State, ending what was a very strong career for Velazquez at Gardner-Webb University.
At 197, Gardner-Webb's Porter faced off with Cal State Bakersfield's Riley Orozco. After Orozco scored a quick takedown, Porter was able to escape with one minute left in the period to put the score at 2-1. However, Orozco quickly scored with another takedown and rode Porter out for the remainder of the first period. Porter chose neutral to start the second period, was taken down, then escaped again to head into the third period down 6-3. Orozco began the third period in the bottom position, escaped, scored another takedown, and with a bonus for riding time, defeated Porter 10-3.
Friday morning's session begins at 10:30, where Alex Medved will face No. 10 seed Daryl Cocozzo of Rutgers.
###
(Courtesy of Sara Koenig, NCMat.com)
