Bulldogs Wrap Up Action at NCAA Wrestling Championships

UPDATED BRACKETS

St. Louis, Mo. – The Citadel's Odie Delaney was stopped just one victory shy of All-American status as he and Turtogtokh Luvsandorj wrapped up the Bulldogs' 2012 season at the NCAA Wrestling Championships Friday evening.

Delaney began the day by facing the No.1 seed in the heavyweight division, Ryan Flores of American University, in Session III Friday morning in the quarterfinal round. Flores showed why he is the top-ranked wrestler by scoring a takedown of Delaney with 1:34 left in the first period and adding three nearfall points for a 5-0 lead. Flores continued to apply pressure on Delaney and finished the match with a pin at the 2:27 mark of the match. The fall marked the first time Delaney was pinned this season.

Relegated to the consolation bracket in Session IV, Delaney needed just one more victory to gain All-American status by reaching the placement matches. In his way was the No. 7 seed, Jeremy Johnson of Ohio. Delaney scored an early takedown eight seconds into the match and gained 43 seconds of riding time before Johnson escaped to end the first period.

Johnson started the second period on the bottom and escaped to even the score at 2-2 and added a takedown for a 4-2 lead. Delaney was called for his second stalling late in the second to give Johnson a penalty point and a 5-2 advantage heading to the third. Johnson scored a takedown 12 seconds into the final period and handed Delaney his second defeat of the day via fall 13 seconds later at the 5:25 mark.

Luvsandorj began Session III with a 7-3 decision over Lance Bryson of West Virginia. After a scoreless first period, Luvsandorj deferred and Bryson choose bottom, escaping just seconds into the second period. Luvsandorj scored a takedown with 1:29 left in the period and Bryson escaped, but a late takedown with two seconds remaining gave Luvsandorj a 4-2 lead. The Bulldog started the third period on the bottom and escaped, then scored a takedown 10 seconds to seal the 7-3 victory.

In his next match, Luvsandorj faced Jimmy Sheptock of Maryland. After a scoreless first period, the two wrestlers traded escapes in the second and third to enter sudden victory tied 1-1. Fighting for their tournament lives, the two battled hard for the first 90 seconds before Sheptock shot in and scored the winning takedown with 23 seconds left to score a 3-1 SV decision over Luvsandorj.

For more information on Bulldog Wrestling, visit the official website of The Citadel Athletics at www.CitadelSports.com.

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