Southern Scuffle Day 1 Recap

GREENSBORO, N.C.—The Big Red wrestling team advanced seven wrestlers to the quarterfinals at the Southern Scuffle on Wednesday to sit in first place in the team race. Frank Perrelli (125), Kyle Dake (149), Craig Eiffert (157), Justin Kerber (165), Mack Lewnes (174), Steve Bosak (184) and Cam Simaz (197) all advanced in their respective weight classes. Michael Alexander is still alive in the consolation bracket at 174 pounds.

The Big Red has 54 team points and is followed by Penn State (50.5), Michigan (49.5), Oregon State (48.5), Kent State (43.5) and Minnesota (43.5).

Cornell notched 32 wins on the day which included 11 pins, three technical falls and four major decisions.

The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, is in second place after the first day of the 2010 Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C. Penn State is just behind pre-tournament favorite Cornell heading into the second day of the event, hosted by North Carolina-Greensboro, which concludes tomorrow.

Penn State sent 15 wrestlers into action at the Scuffle with two at 125, one at 133, two at 141, two at 149, two at 157, two at 165, and one each at 174, 184, 197 and heavyweight. The Nittany Lions had an outstanding day with all but three wrestlers staying alive through nearly 12 hours of wrestling.

Day one of the two-day Southern Scuffle is in the books and a trio of Utah Valley University wrestlers are still alive at the 34 team tournament hosted by UNC Greensboro.

Six of Navy’s 20 tournament entrants remain alive after day one of the two-day Southern Scuffle held at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center, including 157-pound Bryce Saddoris (Sr., Spring Creek, Nev.) and 184-pound Luke Rebertus (Jr., Gloucester, Va.), who both advanced in the championship side of the bracket.

After 738 matches in nearly 11 and a half hours, UNCG advanced two wrestlers into the quarterfinals for day two of the 2010 UNCG Southern Scuffle held at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center. As a team, the Spartan currently rank in 15th place with 27.5 points.

Four Virginia wrestlers remain in the winners’ bracket and the 25th-ranked Cavaliers are tied for ninth place in the team competition after the first day of action at the UNCG Southern Scuffle, hosted by UNC Greensboro at Greensboro Coliseum’s Special Events Center.

After the first day of the Southern Scuffle hosted by UNC-Greensboro, Penn has three wrestlers alive in the championship rounds, each with sights set on a title on Thursday.

Mark Rappo (125), Rollie Peterkin (133) and Zack Kemmerer (141) each earned berths in the quarterfinals for the Quakers, giving the Red and Blue a chance for three lightweight crowns at one of the most difficult tournaments in the nation.

Despite having two starters out of the lineup, Kent State sits in fifth place following day one of the Southern Scuffle and nearly 12 hours of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum. Five Golden Flashes advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinals, while seven others remain alive in the consolation bracket.

“All things considered, it was a very good first day,” Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. “But tomorrow’s the day where most of the second-stringers are eliminated and you really find out a lot about your team.”

Six Oregon State wrestlers are alive in the championship round of the Southern Scuffle and the Beavers are fourth out of 34 teams after day one of competition on Wednesday.

The Beavers saw 14 wrestlers compete on Wednesday, including three unattached entries, with each winning at least two bouts apiece. Jason Lara (125 pounds), Kelly Kubec (133), Garrett Drucker (133), Mike Mangrum (141), Chad Hanke (197) and Clayton Jack (heavyweight) all go into the final day of competition on Thursday with the chance at taking first.

Four NC State wrestlers survived the first day of action Wednesday at the UNCG Southern Scuffle and will be battling to place in the top eight of their respective weight classes when the tournament resumes on Thursday at the Greensboro Coliseum’s Special Events Center.