Eagle wrestlers fall short in NCAA Nationals

The Chadron State College wrestlers hoped to have a better outcome in the NCAA National Championships in Omaha.

The season ended with all three wrestlers being eliminated from the competition on the first day.

“A couple of the athletes only had a full year of training and weren’t mentally ready,” CSC head coach Scott Ritzen said. “We hope to have a good off-season and are recruiting some new guys. The guys returning just need to work harder and be committed.”

Cody Vasconcellos won his first match at 174 pounds but was stopped short in his final two bouts, while Ryan Fillingame and Jimmy Savala each lost their first two tilts.

Vasconcellos dug deep to earn a 7-4 decision over Minnesota State Moorhead’s Jaret Hall during their first round match.

The junior from Turlock, Calif., trailed Hall 4-2 with 20 seconds remaining in the final period but he got a reversal and a near fall, along with a penalty point, for the victory.

Vasconcellos was, however, unable to keep up his early momentum and Luke Rynish of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside pinned him in 2:09.

In the next match, and with All-America honors up for grabs, Central Missouri’s Matt Bailes pinned Vasconcellos in 1:43.

Vasconcellos ends the season with a 14-5 record.

“At the National Championships everyone there were the best guys, everyone there was good. There was no easy match if you weren’t mentally prepared,” Ritzen said.

The rest of the Eagles’ wrestlers also didn’t have the outcome they had hoped for.

Fillingame, freshman of Hesperia, Calif., and the RMAC Freshman of the Year, dropped a 3-0 decision to Central Oklahoma’s Scott Berens in the first round at 133-pounds and Michael Magaha of Limestone eliminated him with a 12-3 major decision in the consolation round.

Savala, a junior from Clovis, Calif., bounced back at the RMAC/West Region after missing much of the season with a back injury. Savala, unfortunately lost both of his matches by one point at 141.

East Stroudsburg’s Adam Hluschak won 10-9 and Southwest Minnesota State’s Brandan Schunk earned a 7-6 decision because of riding time.

Savala led a majority of his first match, but Hluschak caught him with a takedown to earn back points with a minute and a half to go.

Savala nearly got a twisting takedown but time ran out.

Savala controlled a lot of his second match with Schunk, but riding time proved to be the difference.

Fillingame ends the season with a 26-10 record, while Savala is 11-6.

“It was one of those years where you just have to look back and move forward,” Ritzen said.

The Eagles resulted in the weight class of 133, Scott Berens, Central Oklahoma, dec. Fillingame, CSC, 3-0; Michael Magaha, Limestone, major dec. Fillingame, 12-3. Weight class of 141, Adam Hluschak, East Stroudsburg, dec. Jimmy Savala, CSC, 10-9; Brandan Schunk, Southwest Minnesota State, dec. Savala, 7-6.