Saturday, March 9
Lexington, Va.
All Day
Davidson College Athletics
vs
SoCon Championships
Anthony Elias is presented with the "Most Outstanding" plaque
Photo by: SoConPhotos.com
Seventh-Seeded Elias Wins SoCon 133-Pound Wrestling Title, Advances to NCAA’s
3/9/2013 9:25:00 PM | Wrestling
Complete Brackets | Results
LEXINGTON, Va. – Ranked seventh out of eight wrestlers entering the 2013 Southern Conference Wrestling Championship, Davidson sophomore Anthony Elias was undeterred, eliminating the second seed in the first round and the top seed in the finals to win the individual title at 133 pounds, an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships and “Most Outstanding Wrestler” honors Saturday in VMI's Cameron Hall. Davidson finished seventh as a team.
The Southern Conference coaches recognized Elias' feat by electing him Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament. Elias is the first Davidson wrestler to ever win the award.
Elias was not the only Wildcat to enjoy success, as junior Scott Patrick placed third at 184 pounds, and sophomore Kevin Birmingham took fourth at 149 pounds. They helped Davidson accumulate 25.5 points to finish seventh, ahead of host VMI, which placed last with 23.5 points. The Wildcats did not field wrestlers in two weight classes and, based on seedings, were not expected to win a single match, as Birmingham was the highest seed at No. 5. Davidson had finished last as a team at the past seven SoCon Championships, and aside from 2005, in each tournament since rejoining the Southern Conference in 1992.
Elias defeated The Citadel's Aaron Hansen, 9-5 for the championship. Elias scored first with a takedown in the first period, but Hansen later tied the match with a pair of escapes and scored a takedown of his own to take a 4-2 lead into the final period. Elias was able to take Hansen down though and score back points for an 8-4 lead. Hansen escaped again, but the Pittsburgh, Pa. native fended off his challenges and claimed the riding time point for the final margin.
“When I saw who I would be wrestling I felt I was prepared and I expected to do well today, but I'm in a little bit of shock,” said Elias following the match. “I'm beyond excited and overwhelmed right now.”
Elias knocked off the second seed, Brett Boston of Appalachian State, in a 7-3 decision to advance out of the first round to the semifinals. In the semis, Elias earned a 9-6 decision over sixth-seeded Robbie Golde of Gardner-Webb. Elias who was 8-8 overall and 2-4 in SoCon action during the 2012-13 regular season, had lost to both Boston and Golde this year.
Elias becomes the first Wildcat to win a SoCon title and advance to the NCAA Tournament since Alex Radsky did so at the same weight class in 2010, and the seventh Davidson individual SoCon Champion all-time. It was the ninth individual title ever won by a Davidson wrestler. Prior to Radsky's 2010 championship, Davidson had not had a SoCon individual champion in 41 years. Radsky was the first NCAA qualifier for head coach Bob Patnesky, who is in his ninth season guiding the Wildcats.
The NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held in the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, March 21-23. Elias will learn his NCAA Tournament seeding during the NCAA Wrestling Championship Selection Show, Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Patrick, a six-seed, lost his first-round match to The Citadel's Josh Tuck, the No. 3 seed by one point, 4-3, but did not lose the rest of the day. He scored a major decision over second-seeded Jake Johnson (Appalachian State), 13-4 and advanced to the third-place match after Conor Black (VMI) was unable to compete in the consolation semifinal match. Patrick claimed third place with a 3-2 win over No. 4 seed Gray Jones from Gardner-Webb.
Birmingham defeated the No. 4 seed, Jordan Dix (The Citadel), 6-1 in the first round, but was defeated by No. 1 seed and eventual champion Alex Hudson (Chattanooga) in a major decision, 13-4. He pinned No. 7 seed Cory Wagner (Campbell) in 1:25 in the consolation semis to reach the third-place match, but lost in the first overtime period, 10-8, to No. 6 seed Zachary Kechter (Appalachian State).
Five other Wildcats competed, but they each went 0-2.
Chattanooga won the team title.
Team Standings - FINAL Team Scores
1) Chattanooga - 102.5
2) Campbell - 62.5
3) The Citadel - 59.0
4) Gardner-Webb - 49.5
5) SIUE - 29.5
6) Appalachian State 27.0
7) Davidson - 25.5
8) VMI - 23.5
Davidson Individual Results
133 lbs
First Round
No. 7 Anthony Elias (DAV) Dec. No. 2 Brett Boston (APP) 7-3
Semifinals
No. 7 Anthony Elias (DAV) Dec. No. 6 Robbie Golde (GWU) 9-6
Final
No. 1 Aaron Hansen (CIT) vs No. 7 Anthony Elias (DAV)
141 lbs
First Round
No. 3 Ryan Goodsell (VMI) Dec. No. 6 Matt Zarth (DAV) 6-1
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 7 Chris Johnson (APP) Dec. No. 6 Matt Zarth (DAV) 5-2
149 lbs
First Round
No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) Dec. No. 4 Jordan Dix (CIT) 6-1
Semifinals
No. 1 Alex Hudson (UTC) M.Dec. No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) 13-4
Consolation Semifinals
No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) Pin No. 7 Cory Wagner (CAM) 1:25
Consolation Final // 3rd Place Match
No. 6 Zachary Kechter (APP) Dec.SV-1 No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) 10-8
157 lbs
First Round
No. 3 Alex Medved (GWU) Dec. No. 6 Nathaniel Powers (DAV) 8-6
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 7 Kyle Lowman (SIUE) Pin No. 6 Nathaniel Powers (DAV) 3:32
165 lbs
First Round
No. 2 Zac Strickland (APP) M.Dec.No. 7 Chris Cirenza (DAV) 10-1
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 6 Vinnie Bellaran (CIT) M.Dec. No. 7 Chris Cirenza (DAV) 10-2
174 lbs
First Round
No. 1 John Lampe (UTC) Pin No. 8 Ian Solcz (DAV) 2:43
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 4 Jack Duane (CIT) Dec. No. 8 Ian Solcz (DAV) 1-0
184 lbs
First Round
No. 3 Josh Tuck (CIT) Dec. No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) 4-3
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) M.Dec. No. 2 Jake Johnson (APP) 13-4
Consolation Semifinals
No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) MF No. 5 Conor Black (VMI)
Consolation Final // 3rd Place Match
No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) Dec. No. 4 Gray Jones (GWU) 3-2
HWT // 285 lbs
First Round
No. 1 Odie Delaney (CIT) Pin No. 8 Eddie Isola (DAV) 1:56
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 5 Joe Nolan (CAM) Dec. No. 8 Eddie Isola (DAV) 8-1
LEXINGTON, Va. – Ranked seventh out of eight wrestlers entering the 2013 Southern Conference Wrestling Championship, Davidson sophomore Anthony Elias was undeterred, eliminating the second seed in the first round and the top seed in the finals to win the individual title at 133 pounds, an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships and “Most Outstanding Wrestler” honors Saturday in VMI's Cameron Hall. Davidson finished seventh as a team.
The Southern Conference coaches recognized Elias' feat by electing him Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament. Elias is the first Davidson wrestler to ever win the award.
Elias was not the only Wildcat to enjoy success, as junior Scott Patrick placed third at 184 pounds, and sophomore Kevin Birmingham took fourth at 149 pounds. They helped Davidson accumulate 25.5 points to finish seventh, ahead of host VMI, which placed last with 23.5 points. The Wildcats did not field wrestlers in two weight classes and, based on seedings, were not expected to win a single match, as Birmingham was the highest seed at No. 5. Davidson had finished last as a team at the past seven SoCon Championships, and aside from 2005, in each tournament since rejoining the Southern Conference in 1992.
Elias defeated The Citadel's Aaron Hansen, 9-5 for the championship. Elias scored first with a takedown in the first period, but Hansen later tied the match with a pair of escapes and scored a takedown of his own to take a 4-2 lead into the final period. Elias was able to take Hansen down though and score back points for an 8-4 lead. Hansen escaped again, but the Pittsburgh, Pa. native fended off his challenges and claimed the riding time point for the final margin.
“When I saw who I would be wrestling I felt I was prepared and I expected to do well today, but I'm in a little bit of shock,” said Elias following the match. “I'm beyond excited and overwhelmed right now.”
Elias knocked off the second seed, Brett Boston of Appalachian State, in a 7-3 decision to advance out of the first round to the semifinals. In the semis, Elias earned a 9-6 decision over sixth-seeded Robbie Golde of Gardner-Webb. Elias who was 8-8 overall and 2-4 in SoCon action during the 2012-13 regular season, had lost to both Boston and Golde this year.
Elias becomes the first Wildcat to win a SoCon title and advance to the NCAA Tournament since Alex Radsky did so at the same weight class in 2010, and the seventh Davidson individual SoCon Champion all-time. It was the ninth individual title ever won by a Davidson wrestler. Prior to Radsky's 2010 championship, Davidson had not had a SoCon individual champion in 41 years. Radsky was the first NCAA qualifier for head coach Bob Patnesky, who is in his ninth season guiding the Wildcats.
The NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held in the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, March 21-23. Elias will learn his NCAA Tournament seeding during the NCAA Wrestling Championship Selection Show, Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Patrick, a six-seed, lost his first-round match to The Citadel's Josh Tuck, the No. 3 seed by one point, 4-3, but did not lose the rest of the day. He scored a major decision over second-seeded Jake Johnson (Appalachian State), 13-4 and advanced to the third-place match after Conor Black (VMI) was unable to compete in the consolation semifinal match. Patrick claimed third place with a 3-2 win over No. 4 seed Gray Jones from Gardner-Webb.
Birmingham defeated the No. 4 seed, Jordan Dix (The Citadel), 6-1 in the first round, but was defeated by No. 1 seed and eventual champion Alex Hudson (Chattanooga) in a major decision, 13-4. He pinned No. 7 seed Cory Wagner (Campbell) in 1:25 in the consolation semis to reach the third-place match, but lost in the first overtime period, 10-8, to No. 6 seed Zachary Kechter (Appalachian State).
Five other Wildcats competed, but they each went 0-2.
Chattanooga won the team title.
Team Standings - FINAL Team Scores
1) Chattanooga - 102.5
2) Campbell - 62.5
3) The Citadel - 59.0
4) Gardner-Webb - 49.5
5) SIUE - 29.5
6) Appalachian State 27.0
7) Davidson - 25.5
8) VMI - 23.5
Davidson Individual Results
133 lbs
First Round
No. 7 Anthony Elias (DAV) Dec. No. 2 Brett Boston (APP) 7-3
Semifinals
No. 7 Anthony Elias (DAV) Dec. No. 6 Robbie Golde (GWU) 9-6
Final
No. 1 Aaron Hansen (CIT) vs No. 7 Anthony Elias (DAV)
141 lbs
First Round
No. 3 Ryan Goodsell (VMI) Dec. No. 6 Matt Zarth (DAV) 6-1
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 7 Chris Johnson (APP) Dec. No. 6 Matt Zarth (DAV) 5-2
149 lbs
First Round
No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) Dec. No. 4 Jordan Dix (CIT) 6-1
Semifinals
No. 1 Alex Hudson (UTC) M.Dec. No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) 13-4
Consolation Semifinals
No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) Pin No. 7 Cory Wagner (CAM) 1:25
Consolation Final // 3rd Place Match
No. 6 Zachary Kechter (APP) Dec.SV-1 No. 5 Kevin Birmingham (DAV) 10-8
157 lbs
First Round
No. 3 Alex Medved (GWU) Dec. No. 6 Nathaniel Powers (DAV) 8-6
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 7 Kyle Lowman (SIUE) Pin No. 6 Nathaniel Powers (DAV) 3:32
165 lbs
First Round
No. 2 Zac Strickland (APP) M.Dec.No. 7 Chris Cirenza (DAV) 10-1
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 6 Vinnie Bellaran (CIT) M.Dec. No. 7 Chris Cirenza (DAV) 10-2
174 lbs
First Round
No. 1 John Lampe (UTC) Pin No. 8 Ian Solcz (DAV) 2:43
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 4 Jack Duane (CIT) Dec. No. 8 Ian Solcz (DAV) 1-0
184 lbs
First Round
No. 3 Josh Tuck (CIT) Dec. No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) 4-3
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) M.Dec. No. 2 Jake Johnson (APP) 13-4
Consolation Semifinals
No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) MF No. 5 Conor Black (VMI)
Consolation Final // 3rd Place Match
No. 6 Scott Patrick (DAV) Dec. No. 4 Gray Jones (GWU) 3-2
HWT // 285 lbs
First Round
No. 1 Odie Delaney (CIT) Pin No. 8 Eddie Isola (DAV) 1:56
Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 5 Joe Nolan (CAM) Dec. No. 8 Eddie Isola (DAV) 8-1
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