March 18, 2011

PHILADELPHIA - Fourth-seeded Jimmy Kennedy (141 pounds) and seventh-seeded B.J. Futrell (133) both dropped their quarterfinal bouts at the NCAA Championships at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, while junior 149-pounder Eric Terrazas bowed out of the tournament two wins short of earning his first All-America honor. Kennedy and Futrell both need to win their first match in Friday's evening session in order to become All-Americans. The session begins at 6 p.m. CT.

Futrell took to the mat against No. 2 seed Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State) and fired through on a sweep single just 22 seconds into the bout for a takedown. But Hochstrasser scrambled through and got the reversal after 43 seconds, tying the bout 2-2. Futrell was warned for stalling after nearly giving up near-fall points and Hochstrasser rode him out to go to the second period tied 2-2 with the Bronco holding 1:12 of riding time. Hochstrasser started down in the second and rolled through for a reversal after a 30-second ride by Futrell to go up 4-2. Hochstrasser nearly got back points but Futrell bellied out and the Bronco rode him out to earn 2:12 of riding time heading to the third period. Futrell chose a neutral start to the third but Hochstrasser shot in and hit a takedown 15 seconds into the period and finally was able to turn Futrell for three near-fall points with 20 seconds left, going ahead 9-2. He rode out Futrell to add the riding-time point for the 10-2 major decision, sending Futrell to the consolation bracket. He'll face No. 9 seed Devin Carter in Friday night's Round of 12, needing one win to secure All-America status.

Kennedy dodged a shot by No. 5 seed Montell Marion (Iowa) early on, then shot in and grabbed a leg, eventually turning the corner for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. Kennedy put on a sensational ride, controlling Marion for the rest of the period to rack up 2:21 of riding time. He started down in the second and picked up a penalty point before escaping after a restart 20 seconds into the period to go up 4-0. Marion shot in and got a quick takedown before cutting Kennedy loose with 1:21 left in the period to get within 5-2. Kennedy was hit with a stalling warning and they ended the period neutral and Marion chose a neutral start to the third. Kennedy then gave up a stalling point with 45 seconds left and Marion scored a takedown on the edge before cutting him loose to get within 6-5 of the Illini senior. Kennedy was hit with another stalling call and Marion gained a controversial takedown on the edge to go up 8-6. Kennedy added the riding-time point but it wasn't enough as he dropped an 8-7 decision to fall into the Round of 12, also needing a win to gain All-America status for the third time in his career. He'll take on No. 11 seed Matthew Mariacher (American) in his next match.

Terrazas shot in and finished a single-leg for a takedown with 2:09 left in the first period against Rider's Zac Cibula and Cibula escaped after 30 seconds. But Terrazas scored another takedown on the edge to go up 4-1. After Cibula required a blood timeout, Terrazas rode him for 20 seconds before the Bronc broke free to get within 4-2. Cibula was hit with a stalling warning with seven seconds left in the period and the pair finished the period on their feet. Cibula started down in the second and Terrazas got his riding time up over a minute before the Bronc escaped, cutting the Illini's lead to 4-3. But Terrazas fired back in on a takedown to go ahead 6-3. After Cibula shot in and Terrazas blocked it, the Illini junior re-shot and nailed a double-leg to take an 8-4 lead with 1:48 of riding time after the second period. Terrazas chose a neutral start to the third and powered through on a double-leg with a minute left to push his lead to 10-4. Cibula broke free but after a restart, Terrazas hit a double-leg off the whistle and rode him out for the 13-5 major decision to advance to the next round of consolation action.

In his Round of 16 match, Terrazas fought off an early shot by Edinboro's Torsten Gillespie and the pair traded shots a minute later with no scoring. Gillespie finally managed to break through on a double-leg takedown near the edge with 21 seconds left in the period and Terrazas escaped with 10 seconds left to trail 2-1 heading to the second period. Gillespie started down in the second and escaped in nine seconds. Gillespie fired through on another double-leg to go up 5-1 with a minute left in the period and rode out Terrazas. The Illini junior chose a neutral start to the third and scored a takedown with 52 seconds left in the bout to get within 6-3 after he cut Gillespie free. He got in on another double-leg on the edge but was ruled out of bounds as he turned the corner, so the wrestlers remained on their feet. But Terrazas couldn't land another shot and Gillespie took the 6-3 win to end the Illini junior's season.

133: No. 7 seed B.J. Futrell, r-So., Park Forest, Ill., 27-8
First Round: Dec. Eric Morrill (Edinboro), 11-6
Second Round: Maj. dec. Flint Ray (Utah Valley), 12-4
Quarterfinals: Maj. dec. by No. 2 seed Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State), 10-2
Consolation Round of 12: vs. No. 9 seed Devin Carter (Virginia Tech)

141: No. 4 seed Jimmy Kennedy, r-Sr., Ingleside, Ill., 20-3
First Round: Dec. Justin Morrill (Utah Valley), 9-3
Second Round: Pinned Chris Diaz (Virginia Tech), 4:43
Quarterfinals: Dec. by No. 5 seed Montell Marion (Iowa), 8-7
Consolation Round of 12: vs. No. 11 seed Matthew Mariacher (American)

149: Eric Terrazas, Jr., Wheaton, Ill., 26-11
First Round: Dec. No. 12 seed Desi Green (Buffalo), 3-1 SV1
Second Round: Dec. by No. 5 seed Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State), 3-1
Consolation Second Round: Maj. dec. Zac Cibula (Rider), 13-5
Consolation Third Round: Dec. by Torsten Gillespie (Edinboro), 6-3
Terrazas eliminated