March 18, 2011
Updated: Brackets (pdf) | Team Scores (pdf)
PHILADELPHIA - Anthony Robles (125) and Bubba Jenkins (157) both won their quarterfinal matches on Friday morning to earn All-America honors and a place in the semifinals, setting them two wins shy of capturing national titles at the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships that are being held this week inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Levi Cooper (285) also competed in the quarterfinals, but fell short in his match and will need to win tonight to stave off elimination.
As a team, the Sun Devils are currently tied for eighth place with fellow Pac-10 team Boise State with 35.0 points while Cornell has taken over the lead from Penn State, leading the Nittany Lions, 61-60.5. The remaining Top 5 teams currently are Iowa (52.0), American (49.0) and Oklahoma State (44.5).
Robles received a tough challenge from No. 8 Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma), who Robles had defeated twice earlier this season, before adding a third win in the series today with a 9-3 decision in the quarterfinals. Robles struck first as he scored on a takedown in the first and rode Patterson out as the Sooner prevented Robles from turning him, keeping the match at 2-0 heading into the second. Robles chose down to open the second and escaped before grabbing another takedown for a 5-0 lead. Patterson escaped and then slipped behind Robles to make it 5-3 before Robles escaped to end the scoring, making it 6-3 through two.
In the third, Patterson chose neutral and continued to press Robles, but the Sun Devil senior came up with another takedown and added one point for riding time to score the 9-3 victory and his second appearance in the semifinals (did so as well in 2009). Robles now will face unseeded Ben Kjar (Utah Valley), who has upset the No. 4 and No. 5 wrestlers already this weekend. Robles and Kjar have met twice in their careers with Robles winning a 17-1 technical fall to finish seventh at the 2008 Midlands and then a 10-2 major decision at the 2010 Lone Star Duals.
Jenkins made it 2-for-2 on Sun Devils advancing to the semifinals as he punched his ticket for the second time in his career, this time scoring a 4-3 decision over No. 12 Paul Young (Indiana) in the quarterfinals. After a scoreless first period, Young chose down and escaped to make it 1-0 before Jenkins scored a takedown, giving him a 2-1 lead. But, shortly before the end of the period, Young escaped, making it 2-2 heading into the final period. In the third, Jenkins chose down and eventually reversed Young for a 4-2 lead before the Hoosier escaped to make it 4-3. Jenkins held of Young the rest of the way to secure the win and move on to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Jenkins will take on No. 8 Jason Welch (Northwestern), who upset top-ranked Adam Hall (Boise State) in the quarterfinals. Jenkins and Welch have not met before. The last time Jenkins reached the semifinals came in the 2008 tournament when he was competing at 149 for Penn State. That year, he won a 12-8 decision over Darrion Caldwell (NC State) to reach the title match.
Cooper’s run in the championship side of the bracket came to a close in the quarterfinals as the Sun Devil big man dropped a 5-3 decision to No. 5 Dom Bradley (Missouri). After a scoreless first period, cooper chose down and escaped, but was taken down by Bradley to make the score 2-1 for the Tiger through two. In the third, Bradley escaped (3-1) and added another takedown (5-1) before Cooper escaped and added a point for riding time (5-3). Cooper battled to the end and tried to take down Bradley, but was unable to bring him down. Cooper will now face Brandon Barlow (Kent State) in the consolation Round of 12 where the winner becomes and All-American and the loser falls once win shy of placing in the Top 8.
In the consolation rounds, both Eric Starks (174) and Jake Meredith (184) dropped matches and were eliminated from the tournament. Starks lost a 6-0 decision to Scott Glasser (Minnesota) while Meredith suffered an 8-0 major decision loss to Jonathan Fausey (Virginia). Both men finished 1-2 overall in their first NCAA appearances.
The semifinals and consolation rounds will continue at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. Arizona) tonight.
2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Wells Fargo Center • Philadelphia, Pa.
Day Two Results - Session 3 ONLY - March 18, 2011
# before name indicates tournament seeding
125 - #1 Anthony Robles (3-0, All-American)
Quarterfinal - #1 Robles dec. #8 Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma), 9-3
Semifinal - #1 Robles vs. Ben Kjar (Utah Valley)
157 - #4 Bubba Jenkins (3-0, All-American)
Quarterfinal - #4 Jenkins dec. #12 Paul Young (Indiana), 4-3 - All-American
Semifinal - #4 Jenkins vs. #8 Jason Welch (Northwestern)
174 - Eric Starks (1-2, DNP)
Conso. Second - Scott Glasser (Minnesota) dec. Starks, 6-0
184 - Jake Meredith (1-2, DNP)
Conso. Second - Jonathan Fausey (Virginia) major Meredith, 8-0
285 - Levi Cooper (2-1)
Quarterfinal - #5 Dom Bradley (Missouri) dec. 5-2
Conso. Fourth - Cooper vs. Brendan Barlow (Kent State)
FULL TOURNAMENT RESULTS
# before name indicates tournament seeding
125 - #1 Anthony Robles (3-0)
Round of 32 - #1 Robles tech fall Matthew Snyder (Virginia), 17-1 (4:23)
Round of 16 - #1 Robles tech fall Steven Keith (Harvard), 15-0 (3:32)
Quarterfinal - #1 Robles dec. #8 Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma), 9-3 - All-American
Semifinal - #1 Robles vs. Ben Kjar (Utah Valley)
157 - #4 Bubba Jenkins (3-0)
Round of 32 - #4 Jenkins major Alex Medved (Gardner Webb), 16-5
Round of 16 - #4 Jenkins pinned Mark Lewandowski (Buffalo), 5:41
Quarterfinal - #4 Jenkins dec. #12 Paul Young (Indiana), 4-3 - All-American
Semifinal - #4 Jenkins vs. #8 Jason Welch (Northwestern)
174 - Eric Starks (1-2, DNP)
Round of 32 - #5 Chris Henrich (Virginia) major Starks, 10-2
Conso. First - Starks dec. Brandon Wright (Chattanooga), 2-0
Conso. Second - Scott Glasser (Minnesota) dec. Starks, 6-0
184 - Jake Meredith (1-2, DNP)
Round of 32 - Meredith major Richard Shafer (Iowa State), 10-0
Round of 16 - #3 Steve Bosak (Cornell) pinned Meredith, 4:41
Conso. Second - Jonathan Fausey (Virginia) major Meredith, 8-0
197 - Luke Macchiaroli (0-2, DNP)
Round of 32 - #2 Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State) major Macchiaroli, 11-1
Conso. First - Tyler Dickerson (Michigan State) major Macchiaroli, 8-0
285 - Levi Cooper (2-1)
Round of 32 - Cooper dec. #4 Dominic Russo (Rutgers), 5-2
Round of 16 - Cooper pinned Joseph Rizqallah (Michigan State), 6:24
Quarterfinal - #5 Dom Bradley (Missouri) dec. 5-2
Conso. Fourth - Cooper vs. Brendan Barlow (Kent State)
Top 5 Team Standings - Through Session 3
1. Cornell - 61.0
2. Penn State - 60.5
3. Iowa - 52.0
4. American - 49.0
5. Oklahoma State - 44.5
8. Arizona State - 35.0