Associated Press4 minute read
Purdue’s Matt Ramos enraged Iowa’s Spencer Lee
Purdue’s Matt Ramos shocked three-time defending champion Spencer Lee in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship.
TULSA, Oklahoma — Purdue University’s Matt Ramos caused one of the most surprising upsets in NCAA Division I wrestling history, ending Iowa’s Spencer Lee’s four national title chase Friday night. Pinned in the final seconds of the semi-final match.
The 125-pound, fourth-seeded Ramos broke his nation’s longest winning streak of 58 games when he fell with one second left in the third period.
Ramos was vocal about his belief that he could beat Lee.
“I work really hard, I trust what I believe in, and I can say it and make it happen. If you can’t spread it, I don’t think it will happen,” he said.
That makes Cornell University’s Iani Diakomiharis the only wrestler in contention for his fourth title on Saturday. He defeated Penn State’s Shane Van Ness in the semi-finals at 149 pounds he went 8-3. If Diacomi Harris defeats Ohio’s Sammy Sasso in the final, he will become his fifth wrestler to win his four Division I National Championships.
Diacomi Harris was well aware that Lee had lost before the semi-finals.
“At that moment, I was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know what to think,'” Diacomi Harris said. is also dominant
Diacomi Harris said he understands the pressure Lee faced.
“You have to feel for him a little bit, right?” he said. “I’m in a similar position. The whole arena is waiting for you to lose. They may not be rooting for you, but secretly behind their heads, It gets a little bigger when the other guys go. Score.”
Penn State is looking to win its 10th national title in 12 years. The Nittany Lions scored 116.5 points. Iowa is his second with 77.5 points, followed by Cornell (64) and Ohio (62).
But Ramos was the story of the night. At the end of the first period, he was leading Lee Seung-yeop 4-1, but in the second period he led 5-4 by 4 points, creating drama in the third period.
Ramos will face Princeton’s Pat Glory, who defeated Nebraska’s Liam Cronyn 8-2, in Saturday’s championship. 2nd seed Glory is undefeated.
“It’s a dream for me,” Ramos said. “The work is not finished yet.”
Three Penn State wrestlers are chasing their third national title: Roman Bravo Young, 133, Carter Starossi, 174, and Aaron Brooks, 184, all making it to the finals.
Bravo Young scored a two-point takedown in sudden winning time against Arizona State’s Michael McGee. He currently has the longest winning streak in the country at 56 games.
“That was a fun match,” said Bravo Young. “I found a way to get it done.”
Bravo Young will face Cornell University’s Vito Aljaw, who defeated Oklahoma State’s Dutton Fix 11-3 in another semifinal. The Fix was undefeated in the finals, where he lost three times, but he was seeded second.
Starossi defeated Cornell’s Chris Foca in the semifinals before taking on Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola in the final. Starocci went undefeated in the Big Ten final where he defeated Labriola with his 6-1 win.
No. 3 seed Brooks defeated No. 2 seed Trent Hilday of North Carolina 6-3 in the semifinals. He will face No. 1 seed Parker Kekkeisen of Northern Iowa in the final.
Penn State earned its fourth finalist when second-seeded freshman Levi Haynes defeated Peyton Robb of Nebraska by 157 in the semifinals. He will face North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor in the final. The top seed remained undefeated after defeating Lehi’s Josh Humphries.
At 165, No. 1 seed David Carr beat Princeton’s Quincy 6-5 in the semifinals on Monday. Monday’s father is 1988 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kenny Monday.
Other No. 1 seeds in the final were Michigan’s Mason Paris at No. 285, Pitt’s Nino Bonacorsi at No. 197 and Iowa’s Real Woods at No. 141.
