Dominance on the Mat: A Recap of the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships

The 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 17-19, showcased a thrilling display of collegiate wrestling talent. The event was punctuated by individual brilliance and team triumphs, leaving a lasting mark on the sport.

Team Standings: Penn State's Triumphant Return

After a long wait, the Penn State Nittany Lions emerged as the team champions with a score of 107.5 points. This victory marked their first title since 1953 and the first time an East Coast school had claimed the crown since then. Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, also the 2011 Big Ten Coach of the Year, celebrated his first collegiate national team title as a coach or wrestler.

Here's a look at the top 10 teams:

Penn State - 107.5
Cornell - 93.5
Iowa - 86.5
Oklahoma State - 70.5
American - 65.0
Arizona State - 62.5
Minnesota - 61.0
Lehigh - 58.5
Boise State - 57.5
Wisconsin - 54.5

Outstanding Wrestler: Anthony Robles' Inspiring Performance

Anthony Robles of Arizona State University, competing at 125 lbs, was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Robles's journey and dominant performance captivated audiences and earned him widespread recognition.

Individual Champions: A Weight-by-Weight Breakdown

The championships produced a series of memorable individual performances. Here's a summary of the champions in each weight class:

125 lbs: Anthony Robles (Arizona State)
133 lbs: Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State)
141 lbs: Kellen Russell (Michigan)
149 lbs: Kyle Dake (Cornell)
157 lbs: Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State)
165 lbs: Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)
174 lbs: Jonathan Reader (Iowa State)
184 lbs: Quentin Wright (Penn State)
197 lbs: Dustin Kilgore (Kent State)
285 lbs: Zachery Rey (Lehigh)

Championship Match Highlights

Several championship matches stood out for their intensity and drama.

125 lbs: Robles vs. McDonough

Anthony Robles (Arizona State), the top-seed, faced defending champion Matt McDonough (Iowa). Robles secured an early takedown and near-falls, leading to a 7-0 advantage. He maintained his lead, ultimately winning with a 7-1 decision. Following the tournament, Robles was selected as the Outstanding Wrestler, making him the first Sun Devil to capture the honor since Larkin did so in 2003. For Robles, it marked the fourth tournament he competed in this season and the fourth O.W.

149 lbs: Dake vs. Molinaro

Junior Frank Molinaro (Penn State) faced Cornell's Kyle Dake in the title tilt at 149. The Cornell grappler notched an early takedown in the first, three back points in the second and a reversal and riding time point to notch an 8-1 win. The loss means Molinaro ends the season as the National Runner-Up.

157 lbs: Jenkins vs. Taylor

Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State) wrestled David Taylor (Penn State) in the championship bout at 157. Taylor took down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. The Lion freshman then got in on a single leg that Jenkins countered once more, forcing a scramble that Jenkins used to catch Taylor in a cradle. Jenkins pinned Taylor at the 4:14 mark, ending Taylor's unbeaten season. The loss means Taylor is the National Runner-Up at 157. Jenkins' win made him just the fourth wrestler in NCAA history to reach the final of a weight class for two different schools, this time with Jenkins on top after he placed second in 2008 at 149 pounds for PSU.

184 lbs: Wright vs. Hamlin

Sophomore Quentin Wright (Penn State) battled Lehigh's Robert Hamlin in the national final at 184, coming away with a convincing 5-2 win. Wright chose down to start the second period and escaped quickly to a 1-0 lead. From there the floodgates opened for the Penn State sophomore. He quickly took Hamlin down for a 3-0 lead and then, after a Hamlin escape, took the Mountain Hawk down one more time. Wright rode the 5-2 lead through the third period and claimed the NCAA National title at 184.

Additional Highlights and Stories

Arizona State's Dual Champions: Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins gave ASU two finalists for the first time since 1993 when Markus Mollica (158), Ray Miller (167) and current head coach Shawn Charles (126) all reached the finals. This year's duo also gave ASU multiple national champions for only the second time, equaling the wins posted by Mollica and Miller in 1993.
Mark Cody Award: Mark Cody Gets Coach Of The Year Award.
Penn State's All-Americans: Penn State's five All-Americans up the all-time total at Penn State to 171 and is the most All-Americans for Penn State in one year since the team had five in 1998. The record is eight set in 1987.
Ed Ruth's Gorriaran Award: Freshman All-American Ed Ruth (Penn State), the third place finisher at 174, won the tournament's Gorriaran Award, given to the wrestler who has the most pins in the least amount of time.
Levi Cooper's Journey: Levi Cooper earned All-America honors just two years (and three schools) after going 11-15 as a freshman for Portland State.

Detailed Match Results

Quarterfinal Results

125:
- Anthony Robles (Arizona State) DEC Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma) 9-3
- Ben Kjar (Utah Valley University) DEC Zachary Sanders (Minnesota) 5-3
- Brandon Precin (Northwestern) DEC Nicholas Bedelyon (Kent State) 9-5
- Matt McDonough (Iowa) DEC Ryan Mango (Stanford) 11-0
133:
- Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) DEC Mike Grey (Cornell) 10-2
- Tyler Graff (Wisconsin) DEC Lou Ruggirello (Hofstra) 2-1
- Andrew Long (Penn State) WBF Scotti Sentes (Central Michigan) 2:46
- Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State) DEC Bernard Futrell (Illinois) 10-2
141:
- Kellen Russell (Michigan) WBRT Zack Bailey (Oklahoma) 3-3 RT;TB2 UTB
- Montell Marion (Iowa) DEC James Kennedy (Illinois) 8-7
- Borislav Novachkov (Cal Poly) DEC Andrew Alton (Penn State) 2-0
- Michael Thorn (Minnesota) WBF Todd Schavrien (Missouri) 2:03
149:
- Ganbayar Sanjaa (American) DEC Eric Grajales (Michigan) 10-3
- Kyle Dake (Cornell) DEC Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State) 3-0
- Jason Chamberlain (Boise State) DEC Kevin LeValley (Bucknell) 4-3;TB1
- Frank Molinaro (Penn State) DEC Mario Mason (Rutgers) 4-2
157:
- Jason Welch (Northwestern) DEC Adam Hall (Boise State) 3-1
- Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State) DEC Paul Young (Indiana) 4-3
- David Taylor (Penn State) DEC Derek St. John (Iowa) 6-3
- Steve Fittery (American) WBF Bryce Saddoris (Navy) 4:11
165:
- Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) WBTF Scott Winston (Rutgers) 23-8; 5:22
- Colt Sponseller (Ohio State) DEC Josh Asper (Maryland) 3-1
- Tyler Caldwell (Oklahoma) DEC Paul Gillespie (Hofstra) 2-1
- Andrew Howe (Wisconsin) DEC Shane Onufer (Wyoming) 4-1
174:
- Jonathan Reader (Iowa State) DEC Mike Letts (Maryland) 8-2
- Christopher Henrich (Virginia) DEC Colby Covington (Oregon State) 7-5
- Mack Lewnes (Cornell) DEC Ben Bennett (Central Michigan) 7-3
- Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) WBF Edward Ruth (Penn State) F DEF
184:
- Quentin Wright (Penn State) DEC Christopher Honeycutt (Edinboro) 7-3
- Grant Gambrall (Iowa) DEC Travis Rutt (Wisconsin) 4-2;TB2 UTB
- Steve Bosak (Cornell) WBTF Diego Bencomo (Duke) 16-0; 6:28
- Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) DEC Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) 4-2
197:
- Cam Simaz (Cornell) WBF Matt Powless (Indiana) 2:20
- Dustin Kilgore (Kent State) DEC Luke Lofthouse (Iowa) 10-3
- Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin) DEC Micah Burak (Pennsylvania) 1-0
- Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State) DEC Zac Thomusseit (Pittsburgh) 8-2
285:
- Zachery Rey (Lehigh) WBF Cameron Wade (Penn State) F DEF
- Dominque Bradley (Missouri) DEC Levi Cooper (Arizona State) 5-3
- Ryan Flores (American) DEC Tucker Lane (Nebraska) 5-2
- Jarod Trice (Central Michigan) DEC Nathan Fernandez (Oklahoma) 3-2

Semifinal Results

125:
- Anthony Robles (Arizona State) DEC Ben Kjar (Utah Valley University) 2-4
- Matt McDonough (Iowa) DEC Brandon Precin (Northwestern) 1-3
133:
- Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) DEC Tyler Graff (Wisconsin) 5-2
- Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State) DEC Andrew Long (Penn State) 4-6
141:
- Kellen Russell (Michigan) RT, TB 2 Montell Marion (Iowa) RT, TB 2
- Borislav Novachkov (Cal Poly) DEC Michael Thorn (Minnesota) 9-3
149:
- Frank Molinaro (Penn State) DEC Jason Chamberlain (Boise State) 4-1
- Kyle Dake (Cornell) DEC Ganbayar Sanjaa (American) 0-4
157:
- Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State) DEC Jason Welch (Northwestern) 5-8
- David Taylor (Penn State) DEC Steve Fittery (American) 7-1
165:
- Tyler Caldwell (Oklahoma) DEC Andrew Howe (Wisconsin) 2-2
- Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) MD Colt Sponseller (Ohio State) 6-14
174:
- Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) DEC Mack Lewnes (Cornell) 5-2
- Jonathan Reader (Iowa State) DEC Christopher Henrich (Virginia) 3-4
184:
- Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) SV Steve Bosak (Cornell) 4-2
- Quentin Wright (Penn State) FALL Grant Gambrall (Iowa) Fall (2:52)
197:
- Dustin Kilgore (Kent State) DEC Cam Simaz (Cornell) 10-9
- Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State) DEC Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin) 4-3
285:
- Ryan Flores (American) DEC Jarod Trice (Central Michigan) 4-0
- Zachery Rey (Lehigh) DEC Dominque Bradley (Missouri) 1-2

Medal Match Results

125:
- 1st/2nd: Anthony Robles (Arizona State) DEC Matt McDonough (Iowa) 7-1
- 3rd/4th: Brandon Precin (Northwestern) DEC Ben Kjar (Utah Valley University) 5-0
- 5th/6th: Zachary Sanders (Minnesota) DEC Ryan Mango (Stanford) 6-2
- 7th/8th: Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma) DEC James Nicholson (Old Dominion) 3-2
133:
- 1st/2nd: Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) DEC Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State) 8-4
- 3rd/4th: Andrew Long (Penn State) DEC Scotti Sentes (Central Michigan) 7-5
- 5th/6th: Tyler Graff (Wisconsin) DEC Mike Grey (Cornell) 7-2
- 7th/8th: Lou Ruggirello (Hofstra) DEC Bernard Futrell (Illinois) 9-6
141:
- 1st/2nd: Kellen Russell (Michigan) DEC Borislav Novachkov (Cal Poly) 3-2
- 3rd/4th: Michael Thorn (Minnesota) DEC Montell Marion (Iowa) 4-3
- 5th/6th: James Kennedy (Illinois) DEC Todd Schavrien (Missouri) 11-1
- 7th/8th: Zack Bailey (Oklahoma) DEC Zack Kemmerer (Pennsylvania) 5-2
149:
- 1st/2nd: Kyle Dake (Cornell) DEC Frank Molinaro (Penn State) 8-1
- 3rd/4th: Jason Chamberlain (Boise State) DEC Ganbayar Sanjaa (American) 3-0
- 5th/6th: Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State) DEC Andrew Nadhir (Northwestern) 6-2
- 7th/8th: Kevin LeValley (Bucknell) DEC Derek Valenti (Virginia) 5-4
157:
- 1st/2nd: Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State) WBF David Taylor (Penn State) 4:14
- 3rd/4th: Steve Fittery (American) DEC Derek St. John (Iowa) 6-2
165:
- 1st/2nd: Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) MD Tyler Caldwell (Oklahoma) 6-1
174:
- 1st/2nd: Jon Reader (Iowa State) DEC Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) 3-2
184:
- 1st/2nd: Quentin Wright (Penn State) DEC Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) 5-2
197:
- 1st/2nd: Dustin Kilgore (Kent State) WBF Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State) 6:22
285:
- 1st/2nd: Zach Rey (Lehigh) DEC Ryan Flores (American) 3-2

tags: #2011 #NCAA #wrestling #championships #results