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| Former Octorara wrestler Mike Letts (right), scores a takedown against Iowa's Ethan Lofthouse in the NCAA wrestling championships at the Wells Fargo Center. |
Former Octorara wrestler Mike Letts advanced to the 'Elite 8' this week in his quest for All -American status and an NCAA championship in the 174 lb weight class.
Here's the Daily Local article describing Letts' Thursday victory over Iowa's Ethan Lofthouse.
PHILADELPHIA -- There's a lot of buzz for NCAA sports in Philly at the moment, but for a change it's not just about the hardcourts.
For the first time since 2002, the NCAA wrestling championships are being contested east of the Mississippi, and the 105,000-plus tickets for the three-day affair at the Wells Fargo Center have long been sold out.
And fans of Pennsylvania wrestling have had plenty to cheer about after the first two sessions. The Penn State Nittany Lions brought nine wrestlers -- led by a trio of highly regarded freshmen -- and eight of them have advanced to the quarterfinals, with the ninth still alive in the wrestlebacks.
Brad Pataky (125), dropped a first-round bout, but bounced back to win his consolation round match. Andrew Long (133) needed sudden victory to get past Minnesota's David Thorn in the round of 16, but got the takedown in the extra session to keep his title hopes alive. Freshman-sensation Andrew Alton moves along with a pin and a major decision at 141, while Frank Molinaro reaches the 149-pound quarters with a decision and a major.
Another freshman earning rave reviews on the year, David Taylor, has shown no reason that the high praise should keep coming, as he moves on with a tech fall and a major. Ed Ruth, the number-two seed, stuggled a bit in his second match, sqeaking by with a 5-3 decision in quarters over unseeded Scott Glasser at Minnesota.
Quentin Wright, who already has an All-American finish under his belt, won a pair of bouts, including an 8-4 decision over eighth-seeded Kevin Steinhaus of Minnesota in the quarterfinals, and heavyweight Cameron Wade kept his title hopes alive with a pair of decisions.
Octorara grad Mike Letts, who handed Ruth his only loss of the season earlier this year at the PSU Open, began his push for All-American status with a pair of victories. Letts, now wrestling for the University of Maryland, is the number eight seed, and opened with a 4-2 win over Penn's Scott Giffen to set up a rematch with Iowa's Ethan Lofthouse. Lofthouse took an over time win over Letts at the Midlands tournament earlier this year.
"That was about the worst day of wrestling I had in my life," said Letts. "Three straight losses. Getting a little revenge was definitely on my mind."
Letts opened the scoring with a takedown, hitting a high C, then converting to a double for a score on the edge. But Lofthouse worked himself back into a tie with a pair of escapes, and the bout went into the third period tied 2-2.
Letts broke free for an escape to grab the lead, 3-2, then put the match away, cinching up a body lock and taking Lofthouse down to his back for two-and-two, then tacked on a riding-time point to make it an 8-3 final.
For the first time since 2002, the NCAA wrestling championships are being contested east of the Mississippi, and the 105,000-plus tickets for the three-day affair at the Wells Fargo Center have long been sold out.
And fans of Pennsylvania wrestling have had plenty to cheer about after the first two sessions. The Penn State Nittany Lions brought nine wrestlers -- led by a trio of highly regarded freshmen -- and eight of them have advanced to the quarterfinals, with the ninth still alive in the wrestlebacks.
Brad Pataky (125), dropped a first-round bout, but bounced back to win his consolation round match. Andrew Long (133) needed sudden victory to get past Minnesota's David Thorn in the round of 16, but got the takedown in the extra session to keep his title hopes alive. Freshman-sensation Andrew Alton moves along with a pin and a major decision at 141, while Frank Molinaro reaches the 149-pound quarters with a decision and a major.
Another freshman earning rave reviews on the year, David Taylor, has shown no reason that the high praise should keep coming, as he moves on with a tech fall and a major. Ed Ruth, the number-two seed, stuggled a bit in his second match, sqeaking by with a 5-3 decision in quarters over unseeded Scott Glasser at Minnesota.
Quentin Wright, who already has an All-American finish under his belt, won a pair of bouts, including an 8-4 decision over eighth-seeded Kevin Steinhaus of Minnesota in the quarterfinals, and heavyweight Cameron Wade kept his title hopes alive with a pair of decisions.
Octorara grad Mike Letts, who handed Ruth his only loss of the season earlier this year at the PSU Open, began his push for All-American status with a pair of victories. Letts, now wrestling for the University of Maryland, is the number eight seed, and opened with a 4-2 win over Penn's Scott Giffen to set up a rematch with Iowa's Ethan Lofthouse. Lofthouse took an over time win over Letts at the Midlands tournament earlier this year.
"That was about the worst day of wrestling I had in my life," said Letts. "Three straight losses. Getting a little revenge was definitely on my mind."
Letts opened the scoring with a takedown, hitting a high C, then converting to a double for a score on the edge. But Lofthouse worked himself back into a tie with a pair of escapes, and the bout went into the third period tied 2-2.
Letts broke free for an escape to grab the lead, 3-2, then put the match away, cinching up a body lock and taking Lofthouse down to his back for two-and-two, then tacked on a riding-time point to make it an 8-3 final.
"I was just trying to create something," said Letts. "I knew a takedown was going to win it, so I was just looking for a takedown. Then I blocked his hips to keep him from spinning, and it was right there. Once I locked it up, I knew he was going down and I knew it was over. My only worry was I'd get the takedown and then get hit for locked hands. Fortunately he went to his back."
Up next for Letts is top-ranked Jon Reader from Iowa State.
One other local qualified for the tourney, Great Valley graduate Jay Hahn, now at Bucknell. The unseeded Hahn won his first bout, taking an 11-7 decision over Nikolas Brown from Chattanooga, but ran into returning All-American Dustin Kilgore of Kent State. The fourth seeded Kilgore sent Hahn to the consolation bracket with a 13-4 major decision.
Wrestling resumes Friday morning with quartrfinals beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Up next for Letts is top-ranked Jon Reader from Iowa State.
One other local qualified for the tourney, Great Valley graduate Jay Hahn, now at Bucknell. The unseeded Hahn won his first bout, taking an 11-7 decision over Nikolas Brown from Chattanooga, but ran into returning All-American Dustin Kilgore of Kent State. The fourth seeded Kilgore sent Hahn to the consolation bracket with a 13-4 major decision.
Wrestling resumes Friday morning with quartrfinals beginning at 10:30 a.m.
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