Three West Virginia wrestlers will make their way to Omaha, Neb., for the NCAA Wrestling Championships, which begin today.
Freshman Shane Young (125 pounds), senior Donnie Jones (165 pounds) and junior heavyweight Brandon Williamson all qualify for the event after their performance at the Eastern Wrestling League Championships two weeks ago.
The first session of the championships begins today at noon. The second round and the quarterfinals will be held Thursday and Friday.
The semifinals are scheduled for Friday before the championship round Sunday.
"All three of our guys are wrestling at a very high level right now," said WVU head coach Craig Turnbull. "We have a chance to have all three of them on the podium at the end of tournament."
Thirty-three wrestlers will start the double-elimination tournament.
First place will be determined when the last two remaining undefeated wrestlers square off in the championship match Saturday. The winner of the loser’s bracket will be awarded third place.
This is the 26th straight year WVU has sent a wrestler to the tournament.
"We’ve had our ups-and-downs this season, but that part of the season is behind us," Turnbull said. "We have to move on and see what we can do individually now. It’s been a rough season, but three of our guys have a chance to turn it all around."
Coming off a second-place finish in the EWL, Young was placed in the second match of the tournament against Cal State-Bakersfield’s Frank Lomas, who finished the season 22-15.
With a win, Young could face No. 1 Angel Escobedo of Indiana, whom Young fell to 12-4 earlier this season.
"I have overcome my expectations for the season," Young said. "I am excited to be here, but if I don’t place I will be disappointed.
"I know what I have to do to finish on the podium, and if I wrestle how I know I can I think I will end up there."
While Young will make his first trip to nationals, Jones will be making the journey for the third time in his career.
The senior will face No. 7 Ryan Morningstar of Iowa who finished with a 26-6 record.
If Jones wins, he wouldn’t have to face a top 5 opponent until the semifinal round.
"The bracket kind of fell in place for me to do well this year," Jones said. "Having been here three times, I’ll be able to use my experience to my advantage to help me move on in the tournament. I just have to stay focused and do what I do."
Junior college transfer Brandon Williamson will also be making his first trip to Omaha after finishing the second 18-7 and barely falling short of an EWL Championship.
Williamson has had success in big tournaments in the past, winning the 2008 Junior College National Tournament and finishing third in the same event last season.
He’ll face Central Michigan’s Jacob Trice who is ranked seventh among heavyweights.
"I got hot at the right part of the season, and I am excited to start this tournament," said Williamson, who has won nine of his last 10 matches. "I’ve never competed in a tournament this big, but I have some experience in big events.
"Competing in the National Junior College Tournament twice and our trip to Las Vegas this year has helped me with having no problem wrestling in front of big crowds."
Depending on the outcome of his match, will face the winner or loser of the match between Nathan Fernandez of Oklahoma and No. 10 Dominick Russo of Rutgers.
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