BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior All-American Ryan Maus closed out his 2013 in style with three wins and a pinfall victory to take third place in the 149-pound bracket at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.
Maus is the first Bulldog and fourth overall since Blake Peterson to place as high as third in the national meet.
Maus becomes the first All-American for the Bulldogs since Blake Peterson earned the honor in 2008.
A total of 12 individuals have earned 20 All-America honors on the mats for Truman Wrestling, while only four, Blake Peterson (3rd in 2008), Merrick Meyer (1st in 2004; 2nd in 2003) and Curd Alexander (1st in 1968) to place as high as third.
Maus was unranked in the 149-pound weight class prior to the meet and took out on Saturday, the number two, four and seven wrestlers in the nation.
He started the day with a 6-4 victory over Indianapolis’ (Ind.) Cameryn Brady in the consolation quarterfinals.
Brady was fourth in the nation.
Facing Central Oklahoma’s Jordan Basks for the fourth time this year, Maus exacted some revenge on the second ranked wrestler with an 8-6 decision to move into the consolation finals.
Basks had defeated Maus 3-1 in overtime, 4-1 in the conference tournament and 6-4 in the regional tournament prior to their meeting at the NCAA’s.
Maus then closed the tournament with a pin fall victory at the 4:22 mark over Newberry (S.C.) College’s Deral Brown. Brown was ranked seventh.
Maus became the 12th Bulldog wrestler and 20th overall to earn All-America honors with a pair of victories on Friday.
Colton Schmitz lost his All-America bid by a 5-4 decision and finished the tournament 1-2.
Maus won his opening match in decisive fashion with a 14-4 major victory over Kutztown’s (Pa.) Mitch Voelker.
He would be sent to the consolation side of the 149 bracket following a 6-1 loss to Nebraska-Kearney’s Raufeon Stots, the defending national champion and top ranked grappler at 149.
Maus rebounded to defeat Jonathan Rivera of Notre Dame (Ohio) College 4-2 to guarantee his spot in the top eight and the All-America honor.
Schmitz, competing in his first national meet, was victorious over fifth-ranked Daniel Kelly of Adams (Colo.) State by a 5-2 score.
He would be defeated by Upper Iowa University’s Bryce Lumzy 8-4 in the quarterfinal round they squared off against Nebraska-Kearney’s Chase White.
The eighth ranked Loper edged out Schmitz 5-4 denying the Bulldog the All-America status.
Schmitz finishes the tournament with a 1-2 record.
Courtesy: Truman State University
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