Bernie Truax, shown in a first-round match against Jacob Oliver of Edinboro, is Cal Poly's first semifinalist in the NCAAs since 2011.
Photo by: TONY ROTUNDO
Truax Becomes First Mustang to Reach NCAA Semifinals in 10 Years
3/19/2021 12:59:00 PM | Wrestling
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ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Redshirt sophomore wrestler Bernie Truax is Cal Poly's first national semifinalist in 10 years.
Without benefit of a takedown, Truax earned a 4-2 decision over fourth-seeded Mikey Labriola of Nebraska in a quarterfinal-round match Friday at the 2021 NCAA Division I National Championships inside the Enterprise Center.
"Bernie has been laser focused on continuous growth for quite some time, in both his wrestling and his character development," said fifth-year Mustang head coach Jon Sioredas. "He is an unbelievable competitor, but more importantly an incredible young man.
"We could not be more proud of his attitude and effort," Sioredas added.
Truax is the first Mustang to reach the semifinals since Boris Novachkov accomplished the feat en route to a second-place national finish in 2011. With the quarterfinal-round win, Truax also has earned All-American status, the first Cal Poly wrestler to do that in competition since Novachkov and Ryan DesRoches were All-Americans in 2012. Tom Lane was named an All-American last year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association after the 2020 nationals were canceled.
Labriola scored a takedown midway through the first period, but the ninth-seeded Truax was able to escape.
Labriola chose the bottom position for the second period and was unable to escape the grasp of Truax throughout the round. Truax earned a penalty point for Labriola's stalling, tying the score at 2-2.
Starting the third period in the bottom position, Truax was able to escape early, defended himself well against a second takedown and, due to the riding time compiled in the second period, came away with the 4-2 decision.
In the semifinals later tonight, Truax will face top-seeded Michael Kemerer of Iowa, who earned his spot in the semis with a pair of technical falls and a major decision. Kemerer is a three-time NCAA All-American with an 85-7 career mark, placing third in the 2017 nationals and fourth in 2018.
To get to the semifinals, Truax (12-1) notched an 18-3 technical fall (3:19) over Jacob Oliver of Edinboro in the first round, a 3-1 overtime win over fifth-seeded Logan Massa of Michigan, scoring a takedown 18 seconds into the first period, and Friday morning's 4-2 decision over Labriola.
Truax, who qualified for the 2020 nationals in Minneapolis -- that event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic -- is 44-19 in his Mustang career. Legend Lamer competes against Kyle Parco.
Meanwhile, Mustang 149-pounder Legend Lamer was eliminated from competition Friday after splitting two more matches, finishing his first trip to the nationals with a 2-2 record.
Seeded ninth, Lamer opened his second day in the tournament with a 3-2 decision over No. 26 Anthony Cheloni of Northern Illinois in the second round of the wrestlebacks. Lamer scored a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second period while giving up just two escapes in the one-point win.
In the third round of wrestlebacks, Lamer fell 5-2 to No. 17 Kyle Parco of Fresno State. Parco scored two takedowns in the first period for a 4-1 lead and added a riding time point. Lamer's only points were escapes in the first and third periods.
Lamer concluded his redshirt freshman season with a 13-3 record.
On Thursday, Lamer earned a 16-2 major decision over Luke Nichter of Drexel, then dropped a 10-4 decision to 25th-seeded Yahya Thomas of Northwestern.
After the pigtail and first two rounds of the championship bracket along with the pigtail and first round of wrestlebacks were conducted Thursday, quarterfinals and two more rounds of wrestlebacks were scheduled for Friday morning followed by the semifinals and an additional two rounds of wrestlebacks in the evening.
Wrestleback semifinals and the matches for third, fifth and seventh place will be contested Saturday morning, with the championship finals Saturday night.
This year, the first three rounds of competition were split into two segments — 125 through 157 weight classes first followed by the 165 through 285 weight classes — to reduce the number of competitors in the arena at the same time.
ESPN2 and ESPNU is providing coverage of all matches in the first five sessions with the championship finals on ESPN on Saturday at 4 p.m. PDT. Every match on every mat will also be available on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.
Photo above of Bernie Truax in first-round match Thursday courtesy of Tony Rotundo
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