Pennsylvania With 4 NCAA Finalists – Guaranteed 13 All-Americans
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Photo By Jeff Beshey of The Guillotine (3/20/15) – Zeke Moisey (WVU) pins Thomas Gillman (Iowa)
College Wrestling, meet Zeke Moisey.
Zeke Moisey, welcome to the NCAA Finals.
This time a year ago Zeke Moisey was finishing his senior year of high school at Bethlehem Catholic. Moisey helped the Golden Hawks capture their fourth straight PIAA Class AA State Dual Team Championship and he finally got over the hump and earned his first career PIAA State Championship after finishing second in two straight years.
Moisey, however, learned at the 2014 Dapper Dan that he had much to improve on. Competing at 126 lbs. for Team Pennsylvania Moisey was tore up by Indiana’s Steve Micic falling (13-4). For his effort Micic was named Team USA’s Outstanding Wrestler. A year later, Micic is redshirting at Northwestern and Zeke Moisey is a true freshman in the NCAA Finals at 125 lbs.
Anyone who watched Zeke wrestler from PJW’s on through high school knows he is a gifted wrestler. Now America knows it. Moisey did it the hard way coming from an unseeded position all the way into the finals where he is the only true freshman and unseeded wrestler to make it into the 2015 finals.
Head Coach Sammie Henson and assistant Danny Felix prepared Moisey the best way they could. Reminding him that he is a true freshman with northing to lose – go have some fun. That is exactly what he did in the semifinals as he shocked the Scott Trade Center with a pin over #3 Thomas Gillman of Iowa in 0:52 seconds.
In the finals Moisey faces redshirt freshman Nathan Tomasello who knows something about wrestlers from Bethlehem Catholic. As a senior at CVCO in Ohio Tomasello faced Zeke’s former teammate and 2014 NCAA All-American Darien Cruz in the Dapper Dan Classic. At the 2010 Super 32 finals at 103 lbs. Cruz defeated Tomasello but three years later at the 2013 Dapper Dan Classic Tomasello outlasted Darian Cruz (3-2).
Tomasello has been on a roll and looks poised for a National Championship but just ask the four seeded wrestlers Moisey took out en route to the finals if he stands a chance. The answer is most definitely.
Overall Pennsylvania will earn 13 NCAA Division I All-Americans in 2015 which is down from 17 total All-Americans from 2014. Last season PA had 3 Finalists this season there will be 4.
Three of the 13 All-Americans are unseeded with Zeke Moisey, Dan Neff, and Kenny Courts. All three wrestlers are former PIAA State Champions.
Redshirt senior Tyler Wilps of Chartiers Valley surprised fans as he advanced into the NCAA Finals at 174 lbs. The redshirt senior for Pitt was a 2x PIAA State Medalist and is now a 2x All-American. After dropping first round matches both A.J. Schopp and Mason Beckaman have wrestled all the way back and now three of four consolation semifinalists are Pennsylvania wrestlers. Schopp will meet redshirt sophomore and 4x PIAA State Champion Jimmy Gulibon.
#2 seed Mitchell Port has been on a collision course with 3x NCAA Champion Logan Stieber (Ohio State) all season. Port will earn his third career All-American finish and appears in his second NCAA Finals after a runner-up finish in 2013.
In a clash of PIAA State Champions Nathaniel Brown (Lewisburg Area) defeated Kenny Courts (Central Dauphin) in the semifinals as both earn All-American honors for the first time in their careers.
Updated Brackets
125 lbs.
(11) Jordan Conaway (Penn State) – New Oxford
Champ. Round 1
#11 Jordan Conaway (Penn St.) won by decision over Joaquin Marquez (Citadel) (Dec 12-7)
Champ. Round 2
#6 Thomas Gilman (Iowa) won in sudden victory over #11 Jordan Conaway (Penn St.) (SV-1 3-1)
Cons. Round 2
#11 Jordan Conaway (Penn St.) won by decision over Scott Parker (Lehigh) (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round 3
#11 Jordan Conaway (Penn St.) won by decision over Ethan Lizak (Minnesota) (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 4
#11 Jordan Conaway (Penn St.) won by decision over David Terao (American) (Dec 8-5)
Cons. Round 5
#2 Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) won by major decision over #11 Jordan Conaway (Penn St.) (MD 10-1)
Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) – Bethlehem Catholic
Champ. Round 1
Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) won by major decision over #15 Chasen Tolbert (Utah Valley) (MD 14-6)
Champ. Round 2
Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) won by decision over #2 Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) (Dec 5-2)
Quarterfinal
Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) won by decision over #7 Eddie Klimara (Oklahoma St.) (Dec 5-2)
Semifinal
Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) won by fall over #3 Thomas Gilman (Iowa) (Fall 0:52)
Championship Final
#4 Nathan Tomasello (Ohio St.) vs. Zeke Moisey (West Virginia)
133 lbs.
(9) A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) – Tyrone Area
Champ. Round 1
Caleb Richardson (Penn) won by decision over #9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 1
#9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) won by decision over Geoffrey Alexander (Maryland) (Dec 2-1)
Cons. Round 2
#9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) won by fall over Jade Rauser (Utah Valley) (Fall 3:17)
Cons. Round 3
#9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) won by fall over Gary Wayne Harding (Oklahoma St.) (Fall 1:24)
Cons. Round 4
#9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) won by fall over #12 George DiCamillo (Virginia) (Fall 3:33)
Cons. Round 5
#9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) won by decision over #14 Rossi Bruno (Michigan) (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Semifinal
#9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) vs. #7 James Gulibon (Penn St.)
(7) Jimmy Gulibon (Penn State) – Derry Area
Champ. Round 1
#7 James Gulibon (Penn St.) won by major decision over Scott Delvecchio (Rutgers) (MD 11-3)
Champ. Round 2
#7 James Gulibon (Penn St.) won by decision over Jade Rauser (Utah Valley) (Dec 8-4)
Quarterfinal
#7 James Gulibon (Penn St.) won by decision over #2 Bradley Taylor (Wisconsin) (Dec 9-4)
Semifinal
#3 Cory Clark (Iowa) won by decision over #7 James Gulibon (Penn St.) (Dec 7-5)
Cons. Semifinal
#9 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) vs. #7 James Gulibon (Penn St.)
(10) Mason Beckman (Lehigh) – Reynolds
Champ. Round 1
Jade Rauser (Utah Valley) won by decision over #10 Mason Beckman (Lehigh) (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 1
#10 Mason Beckman (Lehigh) won by decision over Scott Delvecchio (Rutgers) (Dec 9-4)
Cons. Round 2
#10 Mason Beckman (Lehigh) won in sudden victory over Caleb Richardson (Penn) (SV 3-1)
Cons. Round 3
#10 Mason Beckman (Lehigh) won by major decision over #16 Mackenzie McGuire (Kent St.) (MD 12-3)
Cons. Round 4
#10 Mason Beckman (Lehigh) won by decision over #6 Earl Hall (Iowa St.) (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Round 5
#10 Mason Beckman (Lehigh) won by fall over #2 Bradley Taylor (Wisconsin) (Fall 6:59)
Cons. Semifinal
#10 Mason Beckman (Lehigh) vs. #1 Nick Dardanes (Minnesota)
141 lbs.
(2) Mitchell Port (Edinboro) – Bellefonte Area
Champ. Round 1
#2 Mitchell Port (Edinboro) won by major decision over Mitchell Bengtson (North Dakota St.) (MD 17-4)
Champ. Round 2
#2 Mitchell Port (Edinboro) won by injury default over #15 Jamel Hudson (Hofstra) (Inj. 0:56)
Quarterfinal
#2 Mitchell Port (Edinboro) won by decision over #7 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers) (Dec 9-4)
Semifinal
#2 Mitchell Port (Edinboro) won by major decision over #11 Chris Mecate (Old Dominion) (MD 14-2)
Championship Final
#1 Logan Stieber (Ohio St.) vs. #2 Mitchell Port (Edinboro)
149 lbs.
Dan Neff (Lock Haven) – Solanco
Champ. Round 1
#1 Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern) won by decision over Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) (Dec 8-2)
Cons. Round 1
Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) won by decision over Ryan Mosley (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 7-1)
Cons. Round 2
Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) won by major decision over Brandon Nelson (Purdue) (MD 10-2)
Cons. Round 3
Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) won by decision over Colin Heffernan (Central Mich.) (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Round 4
Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) won in tie breaker over #11 Tywan Claxton (Ohio) (TB-1 6-5)
Cons. Round 5
#4 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa) won by decision over Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) (Dec 4-3)
Seventh Place Match
#8 Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion) vs. Daniel Neff (Lock Haven)
157 lbs.
(12) Mitch Minotti (Lehigh) – Easton Area
Champ. Round 1
#12 Mitchell Minotti (Lehigh) won by decision over Andrew Atkinson (Virginia (Dec 8-4)
Champ. Round 2
#12 Mitchell Minotti (Lehigh) won by decision over Louis Mascola (Maryland) (Dec 7-2)
Quarterfinal
#4 James Green (Nebraska) won by major decision over #12 Mitchell Minotti (Lehigh) (MD 12-4)
Cons. Round 4
#12 Mitchell Minotti (Lehigh) won in tie breaker over Anthony Collica (Oklahoma St.) (TB 6-3)
Cons. Round 5
Nick Brascetta (Virginia Tech) won by major decision over #12 Mitchell Minotti (Lehigh) (MD 8-0)
Seventh Place Match
(11) Brian Murphy (Michigan) vs. #12 Mitchell Minotti (Lehigh)
174 lbs.
(8) Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh) – Chartiers Valley
Champ. Round 1
#8 Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh) won by decision over Matt Reed (Oklahoma) (Dec 7-4)
Champ. Round 2
#8 Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh) won by decision over #9 Cody Walters (Ohio) (Dec 8-3)
Quarterfinal
#8 Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh) won by decision over #1 Robert Kokesh (Nebraska) (Dec 3-2)
Semifinal
#8 Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh) won in sudden victory over Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma St.) (SV 3-1)
Championship Final
#8 Tyler Wilps (Pittsburgh) vs. #2 Matthew Brown (Penn St.)
(3) Mike Evans (Iowa) – Cumberland Valley/Blair Academy
Champ. Round 1
#3 Michael Evans (Iowa) won by decision over Nathan Jackson (Indiana) (Dec 4-1)
Champ. Round 2
Michael Evans (Iowa) won by decision over #14 Andy McCulley (Wyoming) (Dec 4-0)
Quarterfinal
#3 Michael Evans (Iowa) won in tie breaker over #4 Logan Storley (Minnesota) (TB 2-1)
Semifinal
Matthew Brown (Penn St.) won by decision over #3 Michael Evans (Iowa) (Dec 1-0)
Cons. Semifinals
#1 Robert Kokesh (Nebraska) vs. #3 Michael Evans (Iowa)
184 lbs.
Kenny Courts (Ohio State) – Central Dauphin
Champ. Round 1
Kenny Courts (Ohio St.) won in sudden victory over #6 Hayden Zillmer (North Dakota St.) (SV 6-4)
Champ. Round 2
Kenny Courts (Ohio St.) won by decision over Scott Patrick (Davidson) (Dec 12-8)
Quarterfinal
Kenny Courts (Ohio St.) won in sudden victory over #14 Matthew McCutcheon (Penn St.) (SV 7-5)
Semifinal
#7 Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) won by decision over Kenny Courts (Ohio St.) (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Semifinal
#3 Blake Stauffer (Arizona St.) vs. Kenny Courts (Ohio St.)
(7) Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) – Lewisburg Area
Champ. Round 1
#7 Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) won by decision over Andrew Romanchik (Ohio) (Dec 2-0)
Champ. Round 2
#7 Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) won by decision over Willie Miklus (Missouri) (Dec 5-4)
Quarterfinal
#7 Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) won by decision over #2 Max Thomusseit (Pittsburgh) (Dec 7-4)
Semifinal
#7 Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) won by decision over Kenny Courts (Ohio St.) (Dec 4-0)
Championship Final
#1 Gabriel Dean (Cornell) vs. #7 Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh)
285 lbs.
(2) Mike McMullan (Northwestern) – Wyoming Seminary
Champ. Round 1
#2 Michael McMullan (Northwestern) won by decision over Tanner Harms (Wyoming) (Dec 12-5)
Champ. Round 2
#2 Michael McMullan (Northwestern) won by major decision over #15 Ross Larson (Oklahoma) (MD 11-2)
Quarterfinal
#2 Michael McMullan (Northwestern) won by decision over #7 Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa) (Dec 6-3)
Semifinal
#6 Adam Coon (Michigan) won in sudden victory over #2 Michael McMullan (Northwestern) (SV 3-1)
Cons. Semifinal
#8 James Lawson (Penn St.) vs. #2 Michael McMullan (Northwestern)
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