Billy Tyler
Assistant Sports Editor
The men’s wrestling team concluded its season at the NCAA Championships this past weekend in Des Moines, Iowa. The only Bison competing at the event was Joe Stolfi ’15. Corey Lear ’13 acquired an at-large berth to the meet, but had to withdraw due to injury.
Stolfi, representing the Bison in the heavyweight division, went 3-2 in the tournament and was one win shy from becoming only the sixth wrestler in program history to earn All-American honors. After opening the meet with a loss to No. 6 Bobby Telford of Iowa, Stolfi won his next three matches. He first defeated Bloomsburg’s Justin Grant by decision, and went on to avenge a regular season loss to Adam Chalfant of Indiana by pinning his opponent in 6:38. This win was followed by a 6-2 decision victory over Benjamin Apland of Michigan.
The victories put Stolfi in a matchup against Central Michigan’s Jarod Trice for All-American honors. These two had met during the regular season, with Trice winning by decision 15-8. Unfortunately, Stolfi was unable to get the win over the three-time All-American Trice.
Despite this loss, Stolfi finished the season with a 26-16 record, winning 16 of his last 19 matches prior to the NCAA Championships, and not losing back-to-back matches since Jan. 6.