Brackets | Trackwrestling Hub
PITTSBURGH - Redshirt junior Joey Gunther won his first wrestlebacks match in the 165-pound consolation bracket during Session II Thursday night at NCAA Championships. Gunther bounced back in the second session of nationals, picking up a 6-3 decision over Duke's Zach Finesilver to advance in the consolation bracket. Five Illini will continue competition at NCAA Championships in wrestlebacks during Session III on Friday morning. Session III will begin at 10 a.m. CT and will air on ESPNU.
Gunther took the initial 1-0 lead in his matchup with Duke's Zach Finesilver after a hands to the face call against Finesilver midway through the first. Late in the second frame, Gunther picked up a takedown to take a 3-2 lead into the third. Gunther closed the match out strong in the final period. He recorded a quick escape, followed not long after by a takedown to put his lead at 6-2 with just over a minute to go. Gunther would go on to win the bout over Finesilver in a 6-3 decision. Moving on to the next round in wrestlebacks at 165-pounds, No. 26 Gunther will take on No. 24-seed Cael McCormick of Army tomorrow during Session III.
Travis Piotrowski, Mike Carr, Eric Barone and Emery Parker head to wrestlebacks after coming up short in their second round championship bracket matchups Thursday night.
Carr battled with Max Murin, but would drop a 4-3 decision in the second round bout at 141-pounds. Parker was defeated in a close contest with Pittsburgh's Nino Bonaccorsi, with Bonaccorsi taking the 184-pound second round match in a 9-7 decision. Last season at NCAA Championships, Parker rattled off seven straight wins in wrestlebacks to place third and earn All-American honors at 184-pounds.
Session III of NCAA Championships begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT on ESPNU. There will be two rounds of wrestlebacks during the session.
Session III Consolation Matchups:
125 Cons Round 2: #12 (11) Travis Piotrowski vs. #22 (21) Sean Russell (Northern Iowa)
141 Cons Round 2: #9 (6) Mike Carr vs. #24 (21) Austin Headlee (North Carolina)
157 Cons Round 2: #13 (15) Eric Barone vs. #18 (17) BC LaPrade (Virginia Tech)
165 Cons Round 2: #27 (26) Joey Gunther vs. #26 (24) Cael McCormick (Army)
184 Cons Round 2: #4 (4) Emery Parker vs. #15 (14) Dylan Wisman (Missouri)
Full Day 1 Results:
125: #12 (11) Travis Piotrowski | 1-1
Champ Round 1: #12 (11) Travis Piotrowski dec. #25 (22) Cole Verner (Wyoming), 4-3
Champ Round 2: #6 (6) Sean Russell (Minnesota) major dec. #12 (11) Travis Piotrowski, 10-1
133: #22 (30) Dylan Duncan | 0-2
Champ Round 1: #3 (3) Nick Suriano (Rutgers) major dec. #22 (30) Dylan Duncan, 12-3
Cons Prelim: (32) Devan Turner (Oregon State) dec. #22 (30) Dylan Duncan, 7-5
Dylan Duncan is eliminated.
141: #9 (6) Mike Carr | 1-1
Champ Round 1: #9 (6) Mike Carr dec. #27 (7) Anthony Sparacio (Binghamton), 8-2
Champ Round 2: #18 (22) Max Murin (Iowa) dec. #9 (6) Mike Carr, 4-3
157: #13 (15) Eric Barone | 1-1
Champ Round 1: #13 (15) Eric Barone dec. #19 (18) Logan Parks (Central Michigan), 5-3
Champ Round 2: #2 (2) Tyler Berger (Nebraska) Fall #13 (15) Eric Barone, 6:07
165: #27 (26) Joey Gunther | 1-1
Champ Round 1: #7 (7) Isaiah White (Nebraska) dec. #27 (26) Joey Gunther, 5-1
Cons Round 1: #27 (26) Joey Gunther dec. #24 (23) Zach Finesilver (Duke), 6-3
184: #4 (4) Emery Parker | 1-1
Champ Round 1: #4 (4) Emery Parker dec. #30 (29) Will Schany (Virginia), 5-2
Champ Round 2: #8 (13) Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh) dec. #4 (4) Emery Parker, 9-7
#-Coach's Poll Ranking
()- NCAA Championships Seed
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