Maryland
NC State Open
Bannister, Rappo Lead Terps at Wolfpack Open
11/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
RALEIGH, N.C. – Freshman Alfred Bannister broke through for the first open tournament championship of his career, capturing the 141-pound title at the Wolfpack Open in Raleigh, N.C. Sunday afternoon.
Bannister, who had finished in the top-4 of his previous two open endeavors, methodically advanced through the rounds before earning a 6-5 decision over North Carolina-Pembroke's Daniel Ownbey in the final.
Sophomore Billy Rappo also performed well, earning a fourth-place finish at 133 pounds.
After a pin in the first round, Bannister advanced to the quarterfinals through an injury default. The LaPlata, Md. native then got past Duke's Brandon Gambucci by 7-4 decision. In the semifinals, Bannister edged Kevin Jack of NC State, 5-3.
In the first open final of his college career, Bannister was up to the task, holding off Ownbey to take the title.
Rappo advanced to the semifinals of the 133-pound division with a pin in the second round and a decision in the quarterfinals. The Pennsylvania native would eventually fall in the third-place match to earn Maryland's second best result of the tournament.
Alfred Bannister
Champ. Round 1 - Alfred Bannister (Maryland) won by fall over Tejon Anthony (Unattached) (Fall 6:12)
Champ. Round 2 - Alfred Bannister (Maryland) won by injury default over Nick Anderson (Virginia Tech) (Inj. 4:04)
Quarterfinal - Alfred Bannister (Maryland) won by decision over Brandon Gambucci (Duke) (Dec 7-4)
Semifinal - Alfred Bannister (Maryland) won by decision over Kevin Jack (North Carolina State) (Dec 5-3)
1st Place Match - Alfred Bannister (Maryland) won by decision over Daniel Ownbey (North Carolina-Pembroke) (Dec 6-5)
Billy Rappo
Champ. Round 1 - Billy Rappo (Maryland) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Billy Rappo (Maryland) won by fall over Robert Dooley (George Mason) (Fall 6:35)
Quarterfinal - Billy Rappo (Maryland) won by decision over Drew Walker (Campbell) (Dec 6-4)
Semifinal - Mitchell Finesivler (Duke) won by decision over Billy Rappo (Maryland) (Dec 12-10)
3rd Place Match - Bailey Jack (Duke) won by forfeit over Billy Rappo (Maryland) (FF)
-Maryland-
Players Mentioned
