Central Michigan University Athletics
NCAA Wrestling Championships Day One Notebook
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 16, 2006
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OKLAHOMA CITY - News and notes from the opening session of the 2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships:
Follow the Action
The NCAA will provide live scoring updates of every match this weekend. Chippewa fans can go here to access the live updates. Brackets will also be updated after each session and posted here.
Unlikely Opponent
Luke Smith's second-round opponent will by Bryce Leonhardt of Wyoming. Leonhardt, now 15-8 on the season, upset sixth-seeded Coleman Scott (Oklahoma State), 3-2, in the opening round. A heavy underdog and competing in front a crowd made up predominantly of Oklahoma State fans, Leonhardt leapt into his coach's arms to celebrate the victory.
Leonhardt is making his first appearance at the national tournament as a senior. He earned a wild-card ticket to Oklahoma City by placing second at the West Regional.
So We Meet Again
Jason Borrelli will face Penn State's Jake Strayer in the second round on Thursday night. Strayer, seeded seventh in the tournament, dealt Borrelli a 6-1 defeat in the third-place match at the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 18.
The Big Crowd is Here
An unofficial attendance figure was unavailable, but a vast majority of the nearly 18,000 seats in the Ford Center were filled for Thursday's morning session. Most of the crowd was clad in orange in support of nearby Oklahoma State, which is seeking its fourth straight national title. The atmosphere in the arena impressed at least one member of the CMU contingent.
"This place is awesome," said sophomore 184-pounder Christian Sinnott. "I've never wrestled anywhere like this before."
In the Spotlight
Sophomore 197-pounder Wynn Michalak is featured prominently in the official NCAA Championships program. A photo of Michalak in action earlier this season runs on page 90, the first page of a two-page preview of the 2006 tournament. Minnesota heavyweight Cole Konrad is pictured on the second page of the story.
