Dec. 30, 2007

Full Brackets

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Junior Mike Roberts upset the top- and third-ranked wrestlers in the country at 149 pounds to claim the title at the Southern Scuffle - one of the nation's premier tournaments - on Sunday at UNC-Greensboro. In the championship match, Roberts posted a 3-2 victory over previously undefeated and top-ranked Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota and went on to earn the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler award.

Roberts, who opened his run with a 17-6 major decision against William Powell (App. St.) followed that up by pinning No. 3 Darrion Caldwell (N.C. State) in the closing seconds of their match on Saturday to advance to the round of 16. 

He reached the quarterfinals with a 9-3 triumph over Matthew Fittery (Lock Haven) before qualifying for the semifinals by posting a 5-3 victory against Joey Metzler of Old Dominion. Sixth-seeded Kaylen Baxter (Old Dominion) was the only wrestler in the way of a spot in the championship match, but Roberts came out on top, 9-6.

In the title bout, Roberts earned a takedown against Schlatter in the opening minute of action. After cutting Schlatter free, Roberts continued to be aggressive but settled for the 2-1 lead after one. Each wrestler opened the next two periods (Roberts in the 2nd, Schlatter in the 3rd) with an escape and that would be the end of the scoring, as Roberts capped his unseeded run to the title.

Other highlights for the Terriers, who finished in 19th place among the 29 participating teams, included three wins by senior Joey Whitaker in the 141-pound wrestlebacks and victories by freshman Alex Cournoyer (141) and junior Carlo Ferrandino (157).

The Terriers will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 12, when they travel to Fairfield, Conn., for a 2 p.m dual against Sacred Heart.

 

133

Ryan Goddu

Lost to No. 5 Mike Grey (Cornell), TF: 22-7

Lost to T.J. Mitchell (Liberty), 13-5 (md)

 

141

Joey Whitaker

Lost to Marcus Cox (App. St), 12-4 (md)

Defeated Ben Wilmore (UNC-Greensboro), 4-3

Defeated Scott Clymer (Liberty), 8-5

Defeated Cam Jones (Boise St.), 3-2

Pinned by Torsten Gillespie (Edinboro), 5:08

 

Alex Cournoyer

Defeated Michael Arias (Citadel), 4-1

Lost to Kareem Naguib (Binghamton), 11-5

Pinned by Justin Accordino (Hofstra), 1:00

 

Ryan Buff

Lost to Ben Wilmore (UNC-Greensboro), 13-3 (md)

Lost to Clint Shirk (Lock Haven), 8-2

 

149

Mike Roberts

Defeated William Powell (App. St.), 17-6 (md)

Pinned No. 2 Darrion Caldwell (N.C. State), 6:58

Defeated Matthew Fittery (Lock Haven), 9-3

Defeated Joey Metzler (Old Dominion), 5-3

Defeated No. 6 Kaylen Baxter (Old Dominion), 9-6

Championship: Defeated No. 1 Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota), 3-2

 

157

Carlo Ferrandino

Defeated Julian Colon (Liberty), 15-3 (md)

Lost to No. 5 Matt Moley (Bloomsburg), 18-5 (md)

Pinned by Brandon Franklin (VMI), 5:34

 

Anthony Ng

Lost to Thomas Ferguson (North Carolina), 5-2

 

165

A.J. Detwiler

Pinned by Matt Epperly (Virginia Tech), 4:11

Lost to Ryan Kennett (Maryland), 11-8

 

C.J. Inglin

Lost to No. 7 Michael Chaires (Virginia), 5-2

 

184

Eli Vidal

Pinned by Scott Cust (Old Dominion), 4:23

Pinned by Tommy Spellman (Virginia Tech), 2:09

 

197

John Hall

Lost to No. 2 Hudson Taylor (Maryland), 13-0 (md)

Lost to Ben Hepburn (Lock Haven), 3-2

 

285

Jim Connors

Lost to Jason Marshall (Ohio U.), 8-2

Pinned by Dan Craig (Lock Haven), 0:14