Saturday, March 18
BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
7 a.m.
vs
NCAA Division I National Championship
Cal Poly redshirt junior Bernie Truax tries to control Ethan Laird of Rider for a takedown in consolation semifinal match Saturday. Truax earned 5-2 decision en route to fourth-place NCAA finish and third All-American award.
Truax Claims Fourth Place for Third Year in a Row at NCAA Finals
3/18/2023 11:54:00 AM | Wrestling
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | FINAL BRACKETS
TULSA, Okla. -- For the third straight year, Bernie Truax is No. 4 in the nation.
The Cal Poly redshirt junior split two matches, both 5-2 decisions, in the consolation semifinals and medal round at the 2023 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships on Saturday at BOK Center.
Truax scored a takedown with five seconds remaining to clinch a 5-2 win over Ethan Laird of Rider, then an hour later gave up a takedown with three seconds left in a 5-2 setback against Rocky Elam of Missouri.
Truax was seeded second at 197 pounds while Elam was third and Laird fourth.
"We are incredibly proud of Bernie's effort this weekend," said Mustang seventh-year head coach Jon Sioredas. "What an unbelievable accomplishment. Three-time All-American and still has a year left.
"He has a unique ability to perform at the highest level on the biggest stage," Sioredas added. "His overtime takedown against the returning national champion from Penn State was a moment we will relish. I cannot wait to get back to work with him to continue to learn and grow."
Truax finishes the nationals with a 5-2 record, 18-3 for the season and Cal Poly's second three-time Division I All-American, equalling the feat of Boris Novachkov from 2010-12. Truax was fourth at 174 pounds in 2021 and fourth at 184 last year.
Against Laird, Truax scored a first-period takedown and an escape and takedown in the final period. Versus Elam, Truax managed an escape in both the first and third periods while Elam notched a takedown in the first period, an escape in the second period and the late takedown at the edge of the mat in the final period.
A graduate of Rancho Buena Vista High School in Oceanside, Calif. Truax has one year of eligibility remaining and plans to use it. He currently sports an 82-28 career mark as a Mustang.
Penn State easily claimed the team championship, scoring 137.5 points, followed by Iowa (82.5), Cornell (76.5), Ohio State (70.5) and Missouri (64.5). Cal Poly finished 27th with 17.5 points.
Results for Cal Poly wrestlers:
125 -- Antonio Lorenzo was dec. by Liam Cronin (Nebraska) 9-4, was dec. by Tanner Jordan (South Dakota State) 4-0.
133 -- Ethan Rotondo was dec. by Vito Arujau (Cornell) 12-6, dec. McGwire Midkiff (North Dakota State) 7-2, was pinned by by Domenic Zaccone (Campbell) 6:40.
149 -- Dom Demas tech. fall Isaiah Delgado (Utah Valley) 18-3 (6:48), was dec. by Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) 6-1, dec. Quinn Kinner (Rider) 8-2, dec. Colin Realbuto (Northern Iowa) 10-7, was dec. by Michael Blockus (Minnesota) 3-1 SV-1.
197 -- Bernie Truax maj. dec. Austin Cooley (West Virginia) 8-0, dec. Luke Surber (Oklahoma State) 8-2, was dec. by Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State) 6-4 SV-1, dec. Michael Beard (Lehigh) 4-2 SV-1, dec. Max Dean (Penn State) 8-6 SV-1, dec. Ethan Laird (Rider) 5-2, was dec. by Rocky Elam (Missouri) 5-2 (fourth place).
285 -- Trevor Tinker was pinned by Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) 1:54, was maj. dec. by Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma) 14-6.
Photo courtesy of Randy Martin
TULSA, Okla. -- For the third straight year, Bernie Truax is No. 4 in the nation.
The Cal Poly redshirt junior split two matches, both 5-2 decisions, in the consolation semifinals and medal round at the 2023 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships on Saturday at BOK Center.
Truax scored a takedown with five seconds remaining to clinch a 5-2 win over Ethan Laird of Rider, then an hour later gave up a takedown with three seconds left in a 5-2 setback against Rocky Elam of Missouri.
Truax was seeded second at 197 pounds while Elam was third and Laird fourth.
"We are incredibly proud of Bernie's effort this weekend," said Mustang seventh-year head coach Jon Sioredas. "What an unbelievable accomplishment. Three-time All-American and still has a year left.
"He has a unique ability to perform at the highest level on the biggest stage," Sioredas added. "His overtime takedown against the returning national champion from Penn State was a moment we will relish. I cannot wait to get back to work with him to continue to learn and grow."
Truax finishes the nationals with a 5-2 record, 18-3 for the season and Cal Poly's second three-time Division I All-American, equalling the feat of Boris Novachkov from 2010-12. Truax was fourth at 174 pounds in 2021 and fourth at 184 last year.
Against Laird, Truax scored a first-period takedown and an escape and takedown in the final period. Versus Elam, Truax managed an escape in both the first and third periods while Elam notched a takedown in the first period, an escape in the second period and the late takedown at the edge of the mat in the final period.
A graduate of Rancho Buena Vista High School in Oceanside, Calif. Truax has one year of eligibility remaining and plans to use it. He currently sports an 82-28 career mark as a Mustang.
Penn State easily claimed the team championship, scoring 137.5 points, followed by Iowa (82.5), Cornell (76.5), Ohio State (70.5) and Missouri (64.5). Cal Poly finished 27th with 17.5 points.
Results for Cal Poly wrestlers:
125 -- Antonio Lorenzo was dec. by Liam Cronin (Nebraska) 9-4, was dec. by Tanner Jordan (South Dakota State) 4-0.
133 -- Ethan Rotondo was dec. by Vito Arujau (Cornell) 12-6, dec. McGwire Midkiff (North Dakota State) 7-2, was pinned by by Domenic Zaccone (Campbell) 6:40.
149 -- Dom Demas tech. fall Isaiah Delgado (Utah Valley) 18-3 (6:48), was dec. by Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) 6-1, dec. Quinn Kinner (Rider) 8-2, dec. Colin Realbuto (Northern Iowa) 10-7, was dec. by Michael Blockus (Minnesota) 3-1 SV-1.
197 -- Bernie Truax maj. dec. Austin Cooley (West Virginia) 8-0, dec. Luke Surber (Oklahoma State) 8-2, was dec. by Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State) 6-4 SV-1, dec. Michael Beard (Lehigh) 4-2 SV-1, dec. Max Dean (Penn State) 8-6 SV-1, dec. Ethan Laird (Rider) 5-2, was dec. by Rocky Elam (Missouri) 5-2 (fourth place).
285 -- Trevor Tinker was pinned by Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) 1:54, was maj. dec. by Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma) 14-6.
Photo courtesy of Randy Martin
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