March 17, 2005
St. Louis, Mo. - The 75th annual NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships kicked off today at 11 a.m. (CT) in the Savvis Center of St. Louis. Three of Missouri's qualifiers, senior Tyron Woodley (165) and sophomores Ben Askren (174) and Matt Pell (184) won their bouts and will advance in the championship bracket, while seniors Cody Greene (149) and Brad Cieleski (157) suffered back-to-back losses and will wrestle in the consolation bracket tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m. (CT).
First-time NCAA qualifier Greene (149) opened the day for Missouri and challenged 10th-seeded Mark DiSalvo (Central Michigan) on mat No. 8. Suffering his first loss of the day, Greene fell 7-4 to DiSalvo. In an exchange of shots, takedowns and escapes, the two closed the first period tied at three and DiSalvo pulled ahead in the second period with an escape and takedown to Greene's single escape. With no action in the final period, DiSalvo won, dropping Greene to the wrestlebacks.
Up next for Missouri, Cieleski battled with Chris Horning of Clarion at 157-pounds. Scoreless through the first three minutes of action, Horning chose down to start the second and pulled ahead with an escape. Wracking up over a minute of riding time, Horning won the bout 2-0, forcing Cieleski to the wrestlebacks in his fourth NCAA Championship appearance.
Senior 2003 All-American Woodley (165) set the Tigers off on a three-match win streak after pinning Donny Reynolds (Illinois) in 4:46. Woodley scored first with a takedown but Reynolds was able to escape in the second and pull ahead with a takedown. Scoring on a defensive move, Woodley pushed back and pinned Reynolds for his sixth fall of the season.
"I knew it was short time in the second," Woodley said. "I was going for the pin. It's something we practice every week in the room and this is the first time I've been able to use a defensive pin all season.
Woodley and Reynolds met earlier in the 2004-05 campaign at the Missouri Open, Nov. 21. Woodley won a 12-5 decision to finish first at 165-pounds.
Missouri fans cheered on sophomore Pell at 184-pounds as he paired with ninth-seeded Shane Webster (Oregon) and won an 8-5 decision. Through two takedowns, two escapes and a final reversal in the third period, Pell outscored Webster who could only collect points through three escapes and a second period takedown. Entering the tournament unseeded, Pell was the first Tiger to knock off a seeded wrestler.
After waiting in the wings for a mat to clear, 2004 NCAA runner-up Askren (174) wrapped up the final Missouri match in the morning session with an 18-2 technical fall in 6:25 over Mark Himes (Duquense). Askren found two three-point nearfalls in the first and third period and scored four takedowns and a third period escape.
First Round Results 149: Mark DiSalvo (Central Michigan) decision Cody Greene (MU): 7-4 157: Chris Horning (Clarion) decision Brad Cieleski (MU): 2-0 165: Tyron Woodley (MU) fall Donny Reynolds (Illinois): 4:44 174: Ben Askren (MU) technical fall Mark Himes (Duquense): 18-2 (6:25) 184: Matt Pell (MU) decision Shane Webster (Oregon): 8-5