WPU News
Sat, Mar 6, 2010 - [Wrestling]
Matt Chustz won all four of his matches on Friday and can still finish as high as third at 125 pounds
Oklahoma City, Okla.--Matt Chustz (Sr., Manassas Park, Va., Manassas Park HS) will conclude his Penn mat career as an All-American Saturday. Now all that is to be determined is what position he takes on the podium as he continues to compete at the 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships.
The 125-pounder entered Friday as one of four Statesmen grapplers still competing. Unfortunately, he is the only one still standing entering Saturday's placing matches.
The senior needed to win three times to guarantee a top-eight placing to become an All-American. He bettered that by one victory, claiming four matches and currently stands at 5-1 at nationals and 34-11 on the year.
Chustz began the day by dropping Akmal Adilov of Great Falls (Mont.) 7-5. He then won two more tight matchups, 3-1 in overtime over Noah Hunt of Cumberland (Tenn.) and 3-2 over Johnny Papesh of Campbellsville (Ky.), to assure the All-American status.
The senior ended his perfect Friday with a 10-5 win against Zach Meury of Missouri Baptist to advance him to Saturday's consolation semifinals versus Tyler Savage of Notre Dame (Ohio). A win puts him in the third-place match, while a loss will drop him to the fifth-place duel where the lowest he can place is sixth.
Chustz's three other remaining teammates opened Friday strong as well, but their national tournament ended soon thereafter.
Fellow 125-pounder Taylor Louie (Jr., West Covina, Calif., West Covina HS) claimed a 12-1 major decision over Alan Callahan of Baker (Kan.), but was then shut down by Paulie Hansen of Missouri Valley, losing 4-0 to conclude nationals at 2-2. He finished his junior campaign with a 17-12 record.
Dustin Howa (Sr., Price, Utah, Carbon HS) received a forfeit in Friday's first match, but then lost a tight 4-3 decision to Timothy Mitchem of Cumberlands (Ky.) to go 1-2 at nationals (tournament forfeits do not count as wins). His final collegiate season ended with a 20-15 mark.
Ryan Groom (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) was also 1-1 on Friday to finish the national meet at 2-2. He began the day with a 4-2 win over Alexander Evers of California Baptist, but was then doubled up 8-4 against Jeremiah Fennell of Campbellsville (Ky.). Groom was 21-20 as a sophomore in the navy blue and gold.
As a team, Penn is tied for 21st with Simon Fraser (B.C.) with 21.5 points. Notre Dame, who has advanced four wrestlers to the finals, is dominating the team standings with 152.5 points.
Many points behind, there is a tightly-contested fight for second through sixth place. Southern Oregon leads that pack in second with 105.5 points and three finalists (two will meet head-to-head at 141 pounds), while Great Falls (Mont.) is third with 103.5 points and two finalists. Missouri Valley is fourth with 97 points and one finalist, while McKendree (Ill.) is fifth with 95.5 points (one finalist) and Dickinson State (N.D.) is sixth with 92 points (one finalist).
For more information on the 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships, click here
The 125-pounder entered Friday as one of four Statesmen grapplers still competing. Unfortunately, he is the only one still standing entering Saturday's placing matches.
The senior needed to win three times to guarantee a top-eight placing to become an All-American. He bettered that by one victory, claiming four matches and currently stands at 5-1 at nationals and 34-11 on the year.
Chustz began the day by dropping Akmal Adilov of Great Falls (Mont.) 7-5. He then won two more tight matchups, 3-1 in overtime over Noah Hunt of Cumberland (Tenn.) and 3-2 over Johnny Papesh of Campbellsville (Ky.), to assure the All-American status.
The senior ended his perfect Friday with a 10-5 win against Zach Meury of Missouri Baptist to advance him to Saturday's consolation semifinals versus Tyler Savage of Notre Dame (Ohio). A win puts him in the third-place match, while a loss will drop him to the fifth-place duel where the lowest he can place is sixth.
Chustz's three other remaining teammates opened Friday strong as well, but their national tournament ended soon thereafter.
Fellow 125-pounder Taylor Louie (Jr., West Covina, Calif., West Covina HS) claimed a 12-1 major decision over Alan Callahan of Baker (Kan.), but was then shut down by Paulie Hansen of Missouri Valley, losing 4-0 to conclude nationals at 2-2. He finished his junior campaign with a 17-12 record.
Dustin Howa (Sr., Price, Utah, Carbon HS) received a forfeit in Friday's first match, but then lost a tight 4-3 decision to Timothy Mitchem of Cumberlands (Ky.) to go 1-2 at nationals (tournament forfeits do not count as wins). His final collegiate season ended with a 20-15 mark.
Ryan Groom (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) was also 1-1 on Friday to finish the national meet at 2-2. He began the day with a 4-2 win over Alexander Evers of California Baptist, but was then doubled up 8-4 against Jeremiah Fennell of Campbellsville (Ky.). Groom was 21-20 as a sophomore in the navy blue and gold.
As a team, Penn is tied for 21st with Simon Fraser (B.C.) with 21.5 points. Notre Dame, who has advanced four wrestlers to the finals, is dominating the team standings with 152.5 points.
Many points behind, there is a tightly-contested fight for second through sixth place. Southern Oregon leads that pack in second with 105.5 points and three finalists (two will meet head-to-head at 141 pounds), while Great Falls (Mont.) is third with 103.5 points and two finalists. Missouri Valley is fourth with 97 points and one finalist, while McKendree (Ill.) is fifth with 95.5 points (one finalist) and Dickinson State (N.D.) is sixth with 92 points (one finalist).
For more information on the 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships, click here
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