CEDAR RAPIDS, IA—
Eric Bartos and
Jake Niffenegger both advance to day two of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship and claim All-American titles.
Bartos started as the two seed at 133. The senior opened his tournament with a pinfall before dropping a 7-3 decision and falling to the consolation bracket.
He was quick to get back in the win column and stay alive taking a 10-0 major decision. That win guaranteed him a spot in the top-eight and the title of All-American.
Freshman Niffenegger joins the veteran in All-American club and wrestles tomorrow for a chance at third place at 141.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native won his prelim and took down the seventh seeded Hunter Burnett (Augustana) to advance to the quarterfinals. Niffenegger fell in that bout but bounced back with a 7-6 decision over Gannon's James Ryan.
Luke McGonigal ends his time as a Laker after bowing out of the national tournament in day one.
A first round decision moved him to the quarterfinals before falling to wrestle backs. He dropped a close 6-5 decision in his consolation bout.
He finishes his career as a Laker with a 70-20 record and two-time Super Region I champion.
Sophomore
Dillon Walker found himself in with a rematch against Lake Erie's James Penfold in the first round with the advantage going to Penfold this time. He dropped his consolation bout to the two seed by a 3-2 decision.
Bartos and Niffenegger take the mats again tomorrow at 11 a.m EST.
