InterMat: Inside info from the N.W.C.A

Quick hits

Defending National Champion: Johny Hendricks, Oklahoma State
Printable Bracket | Interactive Bracket (Premium Service)

Two former NCAA champions won’t be seeded atop the bracket, instead, the unbeaten Ryan Churella will man the top spot. At 25-0, Churella’s 17-0 against NCAA qualifiers but hasn’t faced the second, third or fourth seeds during the season.

Second-seeded Johny Hendricks, the defending champion, comes in at #2 with his lone loss this season coming by fall against Oregon’s Joey Bracamonte in the finals at the Reno Tournament of Champions.

American University’s Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov comes in as the #3 seed after not placing last year at 157 pounds. Wrestling at 165, Abdurakhmanov is one of two unbeatens in the weight (Churella) and was the OW at the EIWA championships. At 21-0, he’s not seen the volume of matches he did last season when he took D-1 by storm the first half of the season, but Abdurakhmanov has only seen three NCAA qualifiers this season, but one of them was notable – Minnesota’s Matt Nagel, whom Abdurakhmanov beat 13-3.

Northern Iowa’s Nick Baima secured the #4 seed with his late-season victory over Missouri’s Matt Pell. The Missouri wrestler comes in behind Baima at #5.

Coming in at #6 is Nagel, followed by 2004 NCAA champion Troy Letters of Lehigh. The draw creates an intriguing matchup in the quarterfinals with Letters possibly meeting Hendricks. It was apparent to everyone that Letters isn’t the same wrestler he was at the beginning of the season – his injury has taken a toll and Letters, if healthy, is so fun to watch. Iowa State’s Travis Paulson comes in at #8, while Illinois’ Mike Poeta comes in at #9.

Arizona State’s Pat Pitsch, the Pac 10 champion, earns the 10 th seed, while Cornell’s Steve Anceravage, the wrestler who knocked Letters from the championship round in the EIWA’s, draws the 11 th seed. Unheralded Marc Harwood picks up the #12.

With Churella up top, he’ll have to contend with Paulson or Poeta and Pell and Baima. Down low, eyes will be on Letters and Hendricks and Abdurakhmanov. Nagel’s also down low and could see his American U. adversary in the quarters.

The Bad Draw ...

Lots of names in the mix can send a seeded wrestler to the consolations with little warning. 165 has several of them.

Joey Bracamonte, Oregon: Ranked in the Top 10 for most of the season, Bracamonte’s the only wrestler to beat Johny Hendricks this season, but in his last nine matches, he lost three times – twice to Ray Blake of Stanford and in the opening match at the Pac 10’s to Cal Poly’s Rob Maxwell. With Bracamonte unseeded, that’s not a favorable draw.

Ray Blake, Stanford: Has beaten Bracamonte twice, but has some questionable losses on his resume. Definitely not someone to overlook as he’s won 11 of his last 12 bouts heading into nationals.

Jonathan Anderson, Army: Had a solid EIWA championships with his third-place finish. Solid victories this season and could cause some problems.

Seeds:
1. Churella, Ryan - Michigan - Sr
2. Hendricks, Jonny - Oklahoma State - Sr
3. Abdurakhmanov, Muzaffar - American - Sr
4. Baima, Nick - Northern Iowa - Sr
5. Pell, Mathew - Missouri - Sr
6. Nagel, Matt - Minnesota - Sr
7. Letters, Troy - Lehigh - Sr
8. Paulson, Travis - Iowa State - Jr
9. Poeta, Michael - Illinois - Fr
10. Pitsch, Patrick - Arizona State - Jr
11. Anceravage, Stephen - Cornell - So
12. Harwood, Marc - Nebraska - So

2005 Medal Match Results
Finals: Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) dec. Mark Perry (Iowa) 5-2
3rd: Troy Letters (Lehigh) dec. Ryan Churella (Michigan) 7-5.
5th: Jon Sioredas (UT-Chattanooga) FALL Matt Nagel (Minnesota) 6:07.
7th: Tyron Woodley (Missouri) DEF Matt Palmer (Columbia)