March 19, 2008

Upper Iowa closed out their run at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships Saturday afternoon during Session Three at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Peacocks are the host team for this year's Championship. Session Two began at 10:00 a.m. and completed all the matches except the ten National Championship matches. The Peacocks' two All-American's, Tyler Mumbulo and Travis Eggers, took to the mats in session three looking to make their mark in the 125 and 157 pound weight classes. The team finished in 14th place in this year's Championships.

Travis Eggers continued his Championship run Saturday as he competed in the 157-pound championship semifinal match against two-time defending national champion in Antonio Guerra from Findlay. Eggers gave up a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second period, giving Guerra a 3-0 lead heading into the third period. In the third, Guerra rode Eggers for a majority of the period. While Eggers did manage to gain an escape of his own, Guerra held on for a 4-1 victory and sent Eggers to the consolation bracket to face Neil Samples of Western State, the same wrestler Eggers defeated in his first round matchup during session one.

This consolation semifinal match stayed uneventful until Eggers recorded an escape halfway through the second period of action. However, the score was tied up again at 1-1 when Samples earned an escape of his own early in the third period. Eggers didn't back down though, as he mustered a takedown with a minute remaining in the third period to win 4-1, and earn a spot in the third-place match.

In the third-place match Eggers closed out his tournament run, losing in a heartbreaker to Joe Ellenberger from Nebraska-Kearney, 2-1 in overtime. After an uneventful first period where both wrestlers looked to take any advantage they could of the other, Ellenberger came out in the second period and took a lead at 1-0 after an early escape. Both wrestlers battled back-and-forth throughout the second, but no other points could be gained, keeping the score close going into the third period. In the third, Eggers gained an escape to tie the score back at 1-1, and stayed on the offensive throughout the remainder of the period. However, he failed to post any more points, and with riding time not a factor, the match was sent into overtime.

With third-place on the line, the match came down to a pair of 30 second overtime periods, where both wrestlers got a chance to post an escape. Ellenberger was awarded his escape early during the first 30-second overtime period, but Eggers couldn't get away from Ellenberger during the second overtime period, resulting in a 2-1 victory for the UNK wrestler.

Eggers, a redshirt sophomore, had an great tournament posting three wins against two losses and capturing fourth place at 157 pounds. He was also the highest finisher for Upper Iowa, who finished with two All-Americans. Eggers closed out his sophomore season with a record of 30-10.

With hopes of advancing to the final match, junior Tyler Mumbulo squared off against Nick Smith of MSU, Mankato. Smith scored an early takedown to set the score at 2-0. Mumbulo was able to notch an escape to cut the margin to 2-1. Smith was able to take Mumbulo down to the mat again to extend his lead to 4-1 and then added three near fall points, but Mumbulo was able to escape, but the Peacock trailed 7-2. Smith scored a late takedown in the second period to move ahead 9-2.

Mumbulo added a point for Smith stalling and being run off the mat. Mumbulo did his best to get back into the match as he was able to takedown Smith to put the score at 9-5 after two periods. Mumbulo notched an early escape to pull within three at 9-6. The UIU grappler almost had near fall points but Smith eluded that attempt. Smith then was penalized again for stalling and the score was cut to 9-7. Smith added another point for a technical violation on Mumbulo and led 10-7. As the official was awarding Mumbulo two points for Smith's third stall call, the Mankato wrestler took an off-balance Mumbulo down to the mat for the win 12-9.

Tyler Mumbulo faced Curtis Schurkamp of San Francisco State University in the consolation semifinals. Schurkamp scored a very early takedown to lead 2-0. Mumbulo was able to escape from that to set the score at 2-1. Mumbulo added another escape point to tie the match up at 2-2. Mumbulo scored some near fall points to put him in the lead 5-2, but Schurkamp notched a reversal to put the score at 5-4.

The momentum shifted as Schurkamp scored near fall points to put him in the lead 7-5. Schurkamp added a takedown early in the third period to extend his lead to 9-5. Mumbulo scored a late escape point to bring the final score to 9-6.

Mumbulo faced Devlon Webb of Chadron State College in the fifth place match. Webb scored a takedown early to jump out 2-0. Mumbulo escaped that takedown to set the score at 2-1. Webb stayed aggressive as he notched another takedown to pull out to 4-1 lead. Mumbulo escaped again to set the score at 4-2 after one period. Mumbulo scored an early escape to pull within one at 4-3. Webb added yet another takedown to put the score at 6-3. Mumbulo added a fourth escape point and pulled the score to 6-4 after two periods. Webb scored a third period takedown to put the score at 8-4. Webb added near fall points on that same move to extend his lead to 11-4. Mumbulo then scored a late escape to set the final score at 11-5. Mumbulo walked away from the Championships with a 6th place finish.