Purdue’s Matt Ramos pins 3-time wrestling champ Spencer Lee in gorgeous upset
TULSA, Okla. — Purdue’s Matt Ramos pulled one of the crucial gorgeous upsets in NCAA Division I wrestling historical past, ending Iowa’s Spencer Lee’s chase for 4 nationwide titles with a pin within the closing seconds of their semifinal match on Friday night time.
Ramos, the No. 4 seed at 125 kilos, acquired the autumn with one second remaining within the third interval to finish the nation’s longest win streak at 58 matches.
Ramos had been vocal about his perception that he may beat Lee.
“I work really hard and I trust in what I believe in, and being able to speak it out into existence — I’m not trying to be cocky or anything, but if I can’t get it out into the world, then I don’t believe it will happen,” he mentioned.
That will depart Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis as the one wrestler nonetheless in competition for a fourth title on Saturday. He defeated Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness 8-3 in his semifinal match at 149 kilos. If Diakomihalis defeats Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso within the remaining, he’ll change into the fifth wrestler to win 4 Division I nationwide championships.
Diakomihalis was properly conscious that Lee had misplaced earlier than his semifinal.
“In the moment it was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know what to think,'” Diakomihalis mentioned. “I mean, he’s one of those guys who’s been very dominant — probably more dominant than I’ve been.”
Diakomihalis mentioned he understood the stress Lee confronted.
“You got to feel for him a little bit, right?” he mentioned. “I’m kind of in a similar position. The whole arena is waiting for you to lose. Maybe they’re not cheering against you, but secretly in the back of their head, it gets a little louder when the other guy is going to score.”
Penn State is closing in on its tenth nationwide title in 12 years. The Nittany Lions have 116.5 factors. Iowa is in second with 77.5 factors adopted by Cornell (64) and Ohio State (62).
But Ramos was the story of the night time. He led Lee 4-1 on the finish of the primary interval, however Lee scored a four-point close to fall within the second interval to take a 5-4 lead and arrange the drama within the third.
Ramos will face Princeton’s Pat Glory, who defeated Nebraska’s Liam Cronin 8-2 within the different semifinal, for the championship on Saturday. Glory, the No. 2 seed, is undefeated.
“It’s a dream for me,” Ramos mentioned. “The job is not done yet.”
The three Penn State wrestlers in search of their third nationwide titles — Roman Bravo-Young at 133, Carter Starocci at 174 and Aaron Brooks at 184 — all superior to the finals.
Bravo-Young acquired a two-point takedown in sudden victory time towards Arizona State’s Michael McGee. He now has the nation’s longest win streak at 56 matches.
“That was a fun match there,” Bravo-Young mentioned. “Found a way to get it done.”
Bravo-Young will face Cornell’s Vito Arujau, who defeated Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix 11-3 within the different semifinal. Fix had misplaced within the finals 3 times, however he was unbeaten and seeded second.
Starocci defeated Cornell’s Chris Foca within the semifinals and superior to face Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola within the remaining. Starocci defeated Labriola 6-1 within the Big Ten remaining in a battle of unbeatens.
Brooks, seeded third, defeated No. 2 seed Trent Hilday of North Carolina State 6-3 in a semifinal. He will face the highest seed, Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen, within the remaining.
Penn State acquired a fourth finalist when freshman Levi Haines, the No. 2 seed, defeated Nebraska’s Peyton Robb within the semifinals at 157. He’ll face North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor within the remaining. The high seed remained unbeaten after defeating Lehigh’s Josh Humphreys.
At 165, No. 1 seed David Carr defeated Princeton’s Quincy Monday 6-5 in a semifinal. Monday’s father is 1988 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kenny Monday.
Other No. 1 seeds who superior to the finals have been Michigan’s Mason Parris at 285, Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi at 197 and Iowa’s Real Woods at 141.