Bedelyon Becomes Two-Time All-American
ST. LOUIS – Kent State senior Nic Bedelyon (Lewistown, Pa.) is now just the third wrestler in school history to become a two-time All-American, joining Dustin Kilgore and Don Horning. Bedelyon dropped his semifinal match to No. 1 McDonough (Iowa) Friday night, but not before the most impressive match of his career in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships inside the Scottrade Center. The rest of the Golden Flashes came up short in their quest for All-American status.
Behind some late heroics, Bedelyon won a marathon quarterfinal match 8-5 in tiebreaker two Friday morning over No. 4 Jesse Delgado (Illinois). Bedelyon overcame a 4-1 deficit and two inexplicable stoppages of the match in situations where he was about to score. He also took a significant riding time margin in Delgado's favor down in the third period to force overtime. With 15 seconds left in the first sudden victory, Bedelyon was awarded a takedown in the middle of the mat. The official then overturned his decision as both wrestlers started back on their feet.
Neither wrestler was awarded points in the first tiebreaker, but Bedelyon put Delgado on his back in bounds when a whistle blew with time still remaining. Neither wrestler scored a takedown in the second sudden victory. In tiebreaker two, Delgado held on to Bedelyon's ankles for most of the 30-second period, keeping the score tied 4-4. Delgado then escaped 12 seconds into his turn from the bottom position, but Bedelyon quickly hit a duck under, taking Delgado to his back for a four-point move and the lead.
Bedelyon Interview on Flowrestling
McDonough ended Bedelyon's run at a championship with a final score of 15-7. McDonough (38-1) was a 2010 national champion and the runner-up in 2011. Bedelyon scored both a reversal and a takedown against McDonough, a feat rarely achieved against the three-time NCAA finalist.
Guaranteed at least a sixth place, Bedelyon will battle No. 2 Zach Sanders (Minnesota) Saturday in the consolation semifinals at 11 a.m. Bedelyon (32-5) moved into sixth place among Kent State's career win leaders with 113.
Sophomore Tyler Small (Littlestown, Pa.), the No. 12 seed, took on MAC rival Scott Mattingly (Central Michigan) to start the day and came away with a 9-1 major decision. Small took a 2-0 lead in the first, scored a reversal in the second and had a pair takedowns in the third to secure the major late in the match.
Small's All-American hopes came up short against William Ashnault of Rutgers, who recorded the only point of the match with riding time. Small nearly escaped and nearly completed reversals on several occasions in the second, but Ashnault was always able to hold onto a leg.
Freshman Ian Miller (Oak Harbor, Ohio) dropped a 10-8 decision to Augustus Sako (Virginia) Friday morning. Miller jumped out to 4-1 lead in the first and led 8-7 in the third, before surrendering a reversal and riding time. Miller finished his season 29-5 with a team-high 12 pins.
Junior Casey Newburg (Union, Ohio) fell to No. 12 Jon Fausey of Virginia, 8-2 in the consolation bracket. Newburg was taken down twice at the edge of the mat.
