Bears Advance Two (Olson & Linsacum) To Semifinals & Sit In 8th-Place Overall After Day One At NCAA Championships
The UNC wrestling squad still has four wrestlers competing at the 2003 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Wheeling, W.Va. The Bears have two wrestlers, Brody Olson and Tanner Linsacum, in the championship bracket and two wrestlers, Ronnie Stafford and Jared Deaguero, still competing in the consolation bracket. All four UNC wrestlers have clinched All-America status.
Team-wise the Bears are in 8th place overall with 28.5 points. Nebraska-Kearney is the overall team leader with 44.0 points.
Senior Brody Olson (157 lbs.) and junior Tanner Linsacum (174 lbs.) each advanced to the championship semifinals by garnering victories in the quarterfinals.
Olson scored a 5-2 victory over Travis Koppenhafer (Adams State) to move on to the semifinals. Olson will battle Adam Morris (Findlay), who scored a 12-7 win over Jared Cooley (Southwest State) in the quarters. Gary Skoch (Ashland Univ.) will take on Paul Carlson (North Dakota State) in the other 157-pound semifinal.
Linsacum earned an 8-7 decision over Drew Bouwman (Southwest State) in the quarterfinals. Linsacum advances to the semifinals to take on Jon Duncombe (St. Cloud State). Duncombe earned a 5-3 win over Jason Tapia (Central Oklahoma). Frank Kuchera (Nebraska-Kearney) will take on Zach Stephens (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville) in the other 174-pound semifinal.
Junior Ronnie Stafford (141 lbs.) came away with a 13-12 shootout victory over Zach Leathers (Shippensburg Univ.) in the consolation first round. Stafford then made sure of his All-America status with an 8-7 victory over R.C. LaHaye (Western State) in the consolation second round. Stafford will take on Jason Nester (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) in the consolation third round on Saturday.
Sophomore Jared Deaguero (165 lbs.) advanced in the consolation first round with a pin (3:30) over Anthony Corpora (Kutztown Univ.). Deaguero also guaranteed himself All-America honors with an 18-6 major decision over Matt Neely (Ashland Univ.). Deaguero will take on Greg Chirieleison (Colorado Mines) in the consolation third round on Saturday. Chirieleison won his second round consolation match over Josh McDonald (San Franciso State), 8-3. Deaguero and Chirieleison split a pair of decisions in the regular season. Deaguero won by defeault to capture the Colorado Collegiates title but Chirieleison won 3-2 during the teams' dual match.
Freshman Mark Hastings (125 lbs.) suffered a 5-4 loss to Aaron Mann (Central Washington) in the consolation first round and has been eliminated from the championships.
Junior Loren Hutchins (149 lbs.) was also eliminated from the championships after being pinned at 6:45 by Brad Becker (Wisconsin-Parkside).
Redshirt freshman Dusty Hoffschneider (HWT.) earned his first win of the day in the consolations with a 9-6 decision over Celester O'Garro (Carson-Newman). Hoffschneider advanced to the second round of consolations to take on Baron Blanchard (Northern State). Blanchard eliminated Hoffschneider from the championships with a 5-2 decision.
