2015 Finals Recap

Podium Photos for Download | Final Brackets

125 – Mike Fuenffinger (Augsburg) major decision Lucas Malmberg (Messiah) 15-2

It was a rematch of the 2014 finals that everyone expected. Coming in as the top two seeds, neither wrestler had lost in Division III this season. Fuenffinger opened up the scoring with an ankle pick off an underhook. He scored several times with that attack in last year’s finals and got a couple in 2015 as well. He proceeded to get a tight waist tilt for two and opened up an early lead. Fuenffinger has tremendous pressure on top that made it hard for Malmberg to get to his feet. Malmberg was able to get some escapes, but Fuenffinger was just too much, scoring on several counter shots and even turning a double into some back points late in the match to add a 15-2 win to the major decision he had in last year’s final.

133 – Matthew Grossman (Wilkes) decision Chad Bartschenfeld (Augsburg) 4-3

Freshman Matthew Grossman took on unseeded Chad Bartschenfeld in a surprise final. Each had knocked off a top two seed to get here. Grossman went to high school just 30 miles from the Giant Center and had a big crowd cheering him on. Bartschenfeld struck first with a single that started low but ended up with a body lock for the takedown. Grossman escaped immediately to end the scoring in the first. Bartschenfeld was in on a number of left handed single leg shots, but was unable to finish after the first takedown. Near the end of the second period, Grossman countered a shot with an underhook ankle pick and rode the Auggie out to finish the period and take a 4-2 lead. Grossman rode tough in the third, but Bartschenfeld escaped just soon enough to avoid giving up riding time, but he could not score late, giving Grossman and Wilkes head coach Jon Laudenslager their first NCAA Championships.

141 – CJ Palmer (Hunter) decision Drew Van Anrooy (Luther) 4-2 SV2

Palmer and Van Anrooy met early last season while Palmer was at Clackamas Community College and Van Anrooy was at Oregon State. Van Anrooy took that match, but Palmer prevailed here. The first period was uneventful, save for Palmer taking several blood timeouts. Things picked up in the second with Palmer on the bottom. Van Anrooy delivered a series of hard mat returns, with one or two delivered maybe a bit after the whistle. Palmer nearly took injury time but soldiered on and got a very late escape to take the lead. Palmer showed his mat return skills in the third and rode off the riding time before Van Anrooy could escape and send it to a scoreless sudden victory. Van Anrooy rode Palmer out in his half but picked up his third caution when Palmer was on top. In the second sudden victory period, Palmer hit a slide by to a single leg shot that resulted in a big scramble. Palmer was awarded the takedown, Luther challenged, but the call was upheld.

149 – Kenny Martin (Wartburg) decision Vinny Fava (Delaware Valley) 8-3

Martin started off with a quick reattack shot that dropped Fava to a hip, but the Aggie popped right up to his feet. Two was awarded and challenged, but the call held up. As a result of the challenge, Fava had to get his first escape twice, which he did with no trouble. Martin did a great job turning Fava’s shots into his points, countering several shots for takedowns, including a second score in the first to end the period up 4-1. After a single escape in the second period, Martin scored his third takedown in a similar manner to the second. Fava escaped this time, but the clock wound down, and Martin got a riding time point for the final margin, giving Wartburg their sole 2015 champion.

157 – Nick Carr (Washington & Jefferson) decision Reece Lefever (Wabash) 6-2

Carr was a finalist at 165 last year and came into the finals undefeated on the season. Lefever was a three time All-American and the #2 seed. Lefever countered a big double from Carr to stay neutral in the first, but he could only hold him off for so long in this match. Lefever nearly slipped behind Carr while defending a hi-c, but Carr recovered his angle and finished with a lift for the first takedown. His second score came on a similar shot but a cleaner finish near the edge. Lefever expertly stopped a third takedown with a split on the boundary line. Carr was visibly tired heading into the third, but he parried Lefever’s attempts and even made a few of his own to finish out a win in his second trip to the finals.

165 – Farai Sewera (Coe) decision Tyler Schneider (La Crosse) 9-4

Sewera started the tournament wearing a mask, but was not wearing it at all on Saturday. Schneider reached the final with a sudden victory win over the top seed in the semifinals. Sewera got the scoring started with an underhook single to the right side. Schneider had a lot of trouble penetrating Sewera’s defense in a match contested almost entirely on the feet. Sewera got two other takedowns countering hi-c attempts from Schneider. The last in particular was shot across Sewera’s body, giving him a good angle for a counterattack when Schneider did not get the leg. A final desperation attempt from Schneider set up Sewera’s final double leg to give the final margin of 9-4.

174 – Conner Lefever (Wabash) decision Zach Zotollo (The College of New Jersey) 5-4

It was a matchup of the #1 and #3 seeds as the second Lefever finalist took the mat against the three time All-American Zotollo. Lefever started the scoring with a single leg that he finished on the edge. Lefever was able to get consistent penetration with that shot throughout the match. Zotollo did a good job stringing his attacks together and was able to chase the ankle of a turned-around Lefever and ride out the period to take a lead into the third period. After some back and forth action, Lefever scored again with the single to go up by one with short time left. The referee started a five second count a couple of times but never got all the way there. The match ended with Zotollo throwing Lefever toward his back with a crotch lift, and the final whistle sounded with Lefever upside down holding a leg. TCNJ challenged for a stall call that would send it to overtime, but the no-call was upheld.

184 – Riley Lefever (Wabash) decision Devin Peterson (Wartburg) 5-3

Lefever was a freshman NCAA Champion last year, while Peterson was once the top recruit at his weight class in the country. The first two periods were mainly Peterson in on a few shots and Lefever showing great hips to stop some tough double legs. As the second half of the final period approached, it was looking like we were headed to overtime, but Peterson struck first with a takedown to get the lead and put Lefever’s repeat hopes in jeopardy. After a quick escape, it was Lefever’s turn to commit to an attack and secure his second title in as many years.

197 – Joe Giaramita (Cortland) decision Shane Siefert (Whitewater) 6-4 SV

Siefert was expected to be here after a runner-up finish last year and his #2 seed. Giaramita was the #4 seed who pinned the top seed off a reversal in the semifinals. Siefert had a lot of trouble dealing with Giaramita’s left handed shots throughout the match. A wild scramble was all for naught early in the first, and the period ended scoreless. Siefert hit a tight waist tilt for two at the beginning of the second period to take a 2-1 lead into the final period. Giaramita hit another lefty hi-c off the whistle and stopped Siefert’s chin whip attempt to knot things up. The match almost ended in regulation when Siefert drove through a front headlock cross ankle pick, but the initial takedown call was both waved off and confirmed by a review as no points. Overtime saw one more left handed shot from Giaramita followed by a stifled roll through attempt to make the Cortland wrestler a national champion.

285 – Donny Longendyke (Augsburg) decision Terrance Jean-Jacques (Rhode Island) 1-0

These wrestlers met for the first time in the 2011 Dapper Dan Classic with Jean-Jacques representing Pennsylvania and Longendyke representing the USA. Longendyke won that matchup and would do so again here in Hershey. Jean-Jacques was the aggressor, getting in on some good doubles. Longendyke was able to stuff every shot in this match. Neither wrestler was able to solve the defense of the other on the feet, so it was decided on the mat. Longendyke escaped early, but Jean-Jaccques chose neutral, leaving him in need of a takedown in the third period to win or force overtime. He was unable to do either and finished the match extended on a single as Augsburg got its second champ to go along with an unexpected team championship.