Emery Parker Earns Second Career All-America Honor
March 22, 2019 | Wrestling
Parker finishes day 4-0 in 184-pound wrestlebacks.
PITTSBURGH - Redshirt senior Emery Parker clinched All-America honors for the second time in his career and for the second straight season with his 5-2 decision victory over Samuel Colbray in 184-pound wrestlebacks Friday night at NCAA Championships. No. 4 Parker then went on to defeat No. 3-seed Zach Zavatsky by decision, 7-4, in the next round of wrestlebacks to cap off a 4-0 day and advance once again. Parker will wrestle Ohio State's Myles Martin in the next round of wrestlebacks tomorrow morning in Session V of NCAA Championships. Session V will begin at 10 a.m. CT and air on ESPNU.
With his his first victory in Session IV over Colbray, Parker clinched himself a podium finish, and, subsequently, All-America honors for the second time in his career and second straight season. With Parker earning All-American honors in 2019, Illinois wrestling has now had at least one wrestler earn All-America honors for 28 consecutive seasons. Parker is now the 41st wrestler in UI program history to earn All-American honors at least twice in his career. Illinois had seven wrestlers this decade earn All-America honors at least twice in their careers.
"I think it's really special," said Parker on being a two-time All-American at Illinois. "Just being next to those guys physically on the wall (in the wrestling room) as well as in the history of our school, I think it gives the younger guys something to look up to... I hope my legacy can inspire, and that's what I was looking for to just cap off the rest of this tournament. Just inspiring the next generation of Illini, and having pride in my team and where I come from."
After going 2-0 in Session III, Parker carried his momentum into the evening session, with All-American honors on the line against No. 10 seed Samuel Colbray of Iowa State. Parker got out to the early 2-0 lead with a takedown just under a minute in to the opening period. After Colbray tied it with an escape point in the first period and another to start the second frame, Parker took the lead once again with a takedown near the end of the second to put his advantage at 4-2 entering the final period. That late second period takedown would prove to be the difference, and Parker would go on to win a 5-2 decision and clinch a podium finish and All-American honors for the second time in his career.
Parker was not done yet, though, looking to continue his run through wrestlebacks in his next matchup with No. 3 seed Zach Zavatsky of Virginia Tech. Parker got out in front first once again in the match with Zavatsky, picking up a takedown nearing a minute into the bout to take a 2-0 lead. With a 2-1 lead in the second, Parker was able to extend that lead to 5-1 midway through after his second takedown of the match. In the final period, Parker recorded his third takedown of the bout to put his point total at seven for the match. Parker recorded three takedowns, didn't allow one, and won the match over Zavatsky in a 7-4 decision to cap a 4-0 day in 184-pound wrestlebacks at NCAA Championships.
Emery Parker has won 11 straight matches at NCAA Championships between wrestlebacks this season and last season at nationals. Parker placed third at 184-pounds in 2018 at NCAA Championships. Tomorrow he will wrestle No. 1 seed Myles Martin for a spot in the third-place bout later on in the session. Parker defeated Martin at nationals in 2017 in a 14-9 decision.
"That third-place match is my new championship," Parker said "That's what I'm looking for... In my immediate scope, it's the next two matches tomorrow and winning and being a third-place All-American."
Session V will begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT and air on ESPNU. Online mat streams can be accessed on espn.com.
Session V Consolation Matchups:
184 Cons Round 4: #4 (4) Emery Parker vs. #1 (1) Myles Martin (Ohio State)
Full Illinois Results:
184: #4 (4) Emery Parker | 5-1
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
Cons Round 2: #4 (4) Emery Parker SV-1 #15 (14) Dylan Wisman (Missouri), 8-6
Cons Round 3: #4 (4) Emery Parker Fall #13 (12) Cash Wilcke (Iowa), 5:23
Cons Round 4: #4 (4) Emery Parker dec. #11 (10) Samuel Colbray (Iowa State), 5-2
Cons Round 5: #4 (4) Emery Parker dec. #3 (3) Zach Zavatsky (Virginia Tech), 7-4
125: #12 (11) Travis Piotrowski | 1-2
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
Cons Round 2: #22 (21) Jay Schwarm (Northern Iowa) dec. #12 (11) Travis Piotrowski, 8-2
Travis Piotrowski is eliminated.
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 | 2-2
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
Cons Round 2: #9 (6) Mike Carr dec. #24 (21) Austin Headlee (North Carolina), 10-4
Cons Round 3: #16 (20) Matt Findlay (Utah Valley) Fall #9 (6) Mike Carr, 2:19
Mike Carr is eliminated.
157: #13 (15) Eric Barone | 2-2
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
Cons Round 2: #13 (15) Eric Barone dec. #18 (17) BC LaPrade (Virginia Tech), 6-3
Cons Round 3: #7 (10) Steve Bleise (Minnesota) TB-2 #13 (15) Eric Barone, 3-2
Eric Barone is eliminated.
165: #27 (26) Joey Gunther | 2-2
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
Cons Round 2: #27 (26) Joey Gunther TB-2 #26 (24) Cael McCormick (Army), 5-4
Cons Round 3: #22 (18) Gordon Wolf (Lehigh) dec. #27 (26) Joey Gunther, 13-7
Joey Gunther is eliminated.
#-Coach's Poll Ranking
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