IOWA CITY, Iowa – Redshirt senior Geoffrey Alexander (133) earned an automatic qualification bid to the 2016 NCAA Championships after going 2-2 on day one of the Big Ten Championships Saturday. The Big Ten was allocated nine automatic qualifier spots in the 133-pound weight class, and Alexander can finish no lower than eighth after securing a pair of victories in the first two sessions.
The Pittsburgh, Pa. native picked up a win in his opening round match vs. No. 13 Alonzo Shepherd (Indiana), beating the Hoosier for the second time this year by major decision, 9-0. Alexander then met Nebraska's No. 5 seed Eric Montoya in the quarterfinals, where he fell 6-3 to move to session 2 of wrestle-backs.
Alexander got back in the win column with a 6-0 decision over Luke Welch (Purdue) in the second round of the consolation ladder. He was then on the wrong end of a 6-0 decision, dropping to 10th-seeded Anthony Giraldo in the third round of wrestlebacks. Regardless, Alexander has guaranteed himself a spot in the NCAA Championships, as he moves on to wrestle No. 7 seed Johnni Dijulius (Ohio State) in the seventh place match tomorrow. Session 3 at Hawkeye-Carver Arena is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm (ET)/12:00 pm (CT).
Freshman Brendan Burnham (165) picked up his first career Big Ten Tournament win in wrestlebacks, notching a 5-2 decision over Michigan State's Dean Vettese. It was Burnham's second win of the season over the Spartan, after he dropped his second bout of the day to Steven Rodrigues (Illinois) in the opening round of the championship. Burnham's run came to an end against No. 5 Chad Walsh (Purdue).
Redshirt freshman Alfred Bannister (141) had the momentum in the second period of his opening match vs. No. 4 seed Jameson Oster (Northwestern) leading by as much as 5-1. Oster climbed back into it with a reversal and near fall in the second, before scoring four more unanswered points in the third for a 9-5 decision. Bannister secured his first career Big Ten Tournament win in round one of the consolation, taking down Tommy Cash (Indiana) 4-2 to advance.
Redshirt senior Josh Snook (174) bounced back from an opening round defeat to No. 5 seed Nate Jackson (Indiana) s. with a win over Shane Shadaia (Michigan State) in his first consolation match. A pair of second period takedowns proved to be the difference, as Snook notched his second career Big Ten Tournament win by decision, 5-1.
Snook was pinned in his ensuing consolation match, but still had a shot at the Big Ten's final qualification allocation in the ninth place bout against Nick Wanzek (Minnesota). Snook hung tough against the No. 7 seed, and appeared to have forced overtime with the match tied at one in the third. But a coach's challenge was reversed in favor of the Golden Gophers, and Wanzek ultimately came out ahead 5-2.
After an opening round defeat to No. 3 seed Sam Stoll, freshman Youssif Hemida (285) kept his day alive with an overtime consolation victory over Tyler Kral (Purdue). Trailing 4-3 in the third period, Hemida came through with a takedown in the final minute to get ahead 5-4, before an escape from Kral forced overtime. It appeared as though the Boilermaker had the upper hand at the start of sudden victory, as he got a hold of Hemida's leg. The Mamaroneck, NY native found a way out, then quickly countered with a shot get the two points and his first career Big Ten Tournament victory.
Senior Mark Colabucci (184) and redshirt freshman Garrett Wesneski (197) both had another shot during session 2 after opening round losses and first round consolation byes. Colabucci got behind early, and couldn't overcome the deficit as his season came to an end vs. No. 8 seed Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin). Wesneski kept both of his matches close, but ultimately had his tournament ended at the hands of No. 6 seed Mark Martin (Ohio State).
Redshirt freshman Michael Beck (125), freshman Wade Hodges (149) and redshirt senior Lou Mascola (157) saw early exists after consecutive session 1 defeats. Beck surrendered a technical fall (16-0) to No. 4 seed Tim Lambert (Nebraska) in his opening match, before getting ousted in the first round of consolation to Steven Polakowski by major decision.
Hodges dropped a decision to No. 8 seed Jake Short in the first Championship round, before getting pinned by Kyle Langenderfer (Illinois) in his consolation match. Mascola met the same fate, dropping a pair of decisions to Brandon Kingsley (Minnesota) and Doug Welch (Purdue) in his two matches. Mascola will still be a candidate for an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships.
Day One Big Ten Championship Results for Maryland
(# - represents tournament seed)
125 – Michael Beck
Champ. Round 1 – #4 Tim Lambert (Nebraska) technical fall over Michael Beck (Maryland), 16-0
Consolation Round 1 – Steven Polakowski (Minnesota) major decision over Michael Beck (Maryland), 11-1
133 – Geoffrey Alexander
Champ. Round 1 – #4 Geoffrey Alexander (Maryland) major decision over #13 Alonzo Shepherd (Indiana), 9-0
Champ. Round 2 – #5 Eric Montoya (Nebraska) decision over #4 Geoffrey Alexander (Maryland), 6-3
Consolation Round 2 – #4 Geoffrey Alexander (Maryland) decision over #11 Luke Welch (Purdue), 6-0
Consolation Round 3 – #10 Anthony Giraldo (Rutgers) decision over #4 Geoffrey Alexander (Maryland), 6-0
7th Place Match – #4 Geoffrey Alexander (Maryland) vs. #7 Johnni Dijulius (Ohio State)
141 – Alfred Bannister
Champ. Round 1 – #4 Jameson Oster (Northwestern) decision over Alfred Bannister (Maryland), 9-5
Consolation Round 1 – Alfred Bannister (Maryland) decision over Tommy Cash (Indiana), 4-2
Consolation Round 2 – #6 Anthony Abidin (Nebraska) decision over Alfred Bannister (Maryland), 5-2
149 – Wade Hodges
Champ. Round 1 – #8 Jake Short (Minnesota) decision over Wade Hodges (Maryland), 11-5
Consolation Round 1 – Kyle Langenderfer (Illinois) fall over Wade Hodges (Maryland), 3:44
157 – Lou Mascola
Champ. Round 1 – Brandon Kingsley (Minnesota) decision over #8 Lou Mascola (Maryland), 8-3
Consolation Round 1 – Doug Welch (Purdue) decision over #8 Lou Mascola (Maryland), 10-4
165 – Brendan Burnham
Champ. Round 1 – #3 Steven Rodrigues (Illinois) major decision over Brendan Burnham (Maryland), 15-5
Consolation Round 1 – Brendan Burnham (Maryland) decision over Dean Vettese (Michigan State), 5-2
Consolation Round 2 – #5 Chad Welch (Purdue) major decision over Brendan Burnham (Maryland), 8-0
174 – Josh Snook
Champ. Round 1 – #5 Nate Jackson (Indiana) major decision over #12 Josh Snook (Maryland), 13-5
Consolation Round 1 – Josh Snook (Maryland) decision over Shane Shadaia (Michigan State), 5-1
Consolation Round 2 – #6 Micah Barnes (Nebraska) fall over Josh Snook (Maryland), 3:36
9th Place Match – #7 Nick Wanzek (Minnesota) decision over Josh Snook (Maryland), 5-2
184 – Mark Colabucci
Champ. Round 1 – #7 Jeff Koepke (Illinois) major decision over Mark Colabucci (Maryland), 17-7
Consolation Round 2 – #8 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin) decision over Mark Colabucci (Maryland), 8-2
197 – Garrett Wesneski
Champ. Round 1 – #5 Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska) decision over Garrett Wesneski (Maryland), 6-2
Consolation Round 2 – #6 Mark Martin (Ohio State) decision over Garrett Wesneski (Maryland), 5-1
285 – Youssif Hemida
Champ. Round 1 – #3 Sam Stoll (Iowa) major decision over Youssif Hemida (Maryland), 15-4
Consolation Round 1 – Youssif Hemida (Maryland) sudden victory decision over Tyler Kral (Purdue), 7-5 (SV-1)
Consolation Round 2 – #4 Billy Smith (Rutgers) decision over Youssif Hemida (Maryland), 8-1
-Terps-
