Fittery in Finals at NCAA Championships, Groller and Murphy Vying for Third Place
Mar. 10, 2007
KEARNEY,
Neb. - Shippensburg freshman Steve Fittery (Denver/Cocalico) dispatched
another opponent at the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championships Saturday
morning and advanced to the National Championship match this evening. Meanwhile,
senior Mark Murphy (Dillsburg/Northern York) and redshirt sophomore Jason
Groller (Easton/Easton) fell in the semifinals and will vie for third-place
through wrestlebacks.
At 141, No. 3-ranked Fittery took on No. 5-ranked John Gamble of Upper Iowa
and recorded a solid 6-1 decision to place him in the National Championship
match against the nation‚s lone undefeated wrestler from any weight
class, No. 1-ranked Kyle Evans of Central Oklahoma. Evans squeaked out a
4-2 decision with one save to edge West Liberty State's Doug Surra.
After his three decisions thus far at the National Championships, Fittery's
overall record now stands at 36-6, and the freshman wrestler has recorded
nine consecutive wins dating back to Feb. 9.
At 184, No. 5-ranked Murphy dropped a tight 6-5 decision to No. 7-ranked
Austin Boehm of Nebraska-Omaha. Now in the consolation bracket, Murphy will
wrestle against No.1-ranked Mike Corcetti of UPJ, whom Murphy (16-8) defeated
by fall in 0:53 to win the 2007 East Region Championship. The winner of that
match will compete in the third-place match this evening.
At heavyweight, Groller dropped a 6-0 decision against one of the nation‚s
top heavyweights, No. 2-ranked Josh Leadingfox of Central-Oklahoma. Leadingfox
will battle No. 1-ranked Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney in an epic matchup
to determine the heavyweight champion.
Groller now advances to take on Travis Clark from the University of Findlay,
who has recorded two wins in the consolation bracket after falling to Brady
Wilson of Minnesota State-Mankato in Session 2.
The 141 weight class will be the third to wrestle once the final session
begins at the National Championships this evening at 8:15 p.m. EST from the
UNK Health and Sports Center. Be sure to consult raiders.ship.edu and the
Shippensburg University sports hotline (717-477-7678) throughout the day
for the status of Murphy and Groller in the wrestlebacks that are currently
taking place. In addition, Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh (Comcast channel 47
in Shippensburg) will be airing the Championships on a tape delay basis this
Monday at 12:30 p.m. EST.
- Red Raider Wrestling -
