Seven CMU wrestlers remain for chance at All-America status


No CMU wrestlers will have a chance at a national title after Day 1 at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Omaha, Neb.

After picking up first-round wins to advance in the championship bracket, seniors Matt Steintrager, Conor Beebe, Tony D’Alie, Steve Brown, Tyler Grayson and redshirt freshman Ben Bennett all lost in the Round of 16.

Sophomore 133-pounder Scotti Sentes, junior 184-pounder Mike Miller and senior 197-pounder Eric Simaz were eliminated from the tournament. Sentes defeated UC Davis’ Brandon Low 8-3 in his Consolation Round 1 match after getting pinned in his pigtail match to start the day for the Chippewas.

CMU went on a seven-match winning streak following Sentes’ opening round loss to tie for third place overall as a team with 15 points.

Beebe, D’Alie and Grayson all pulled upsets against seeded wrestlers to advance to the second round.

Junior 184-pounder Mike Miller advanced to the first round by beating No. 10 Mike Puccillo (Ohio State) in the pigtail match, but lost to Chattanooga’s Jason McCroskey 5-2 to fall to the consolation bracket. He was eliminated after a 3-1 loss to Nebraska’s Josh in his last match.

Senior 197-pounder Eric Simaz and No. 7 heavyweight Jarod Trice also fell to the consolation bracket with losses. Simaz wrestled American’s Daniel Mitchell while Trice faced Oklahoma’s Nathan Fernandez in Consolation Round 2.

Simaz was eliminated by America's Daniel Mitchell, 10-2. Trice beat Oklahoma's Nathan Fernandez 5-4 to move on in the consolation bracket.

Day 2 of the tournament begins tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

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