Oregon State
NCAA Championships
Rakevich Nearly Nabs All-America
March 19, 2004 | Wrestling
March 19, 2004
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Oregon State heavyweight Jamie Rakevich came within one win of earning All-America honors at the NCAA Wrestling Championships on Friday, winning a pair of matches before being eliminated in the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the Savvis Center. OSU 184-pounder Dan Pitsch had been eliminated earlier in the day with a loss in the second round of wrestlebacks.
After the second day of the three-day meet, the Beavers were tied for 42nd place with 6.5 points. Oklahoma State had a wide lead in the team race with Iowa in second going into Saturday's final day of competition.
Rakevich started the day with a 15-3 major decision over Matt Wilcox of Clarion, then pinned Ramel Meekins of Rutgers in overtime in 7 minutes, 59 seconds. He then went against No. 10 seed Willie Gruenwald of Oklahoma State; trailing in a close match, Rakevich had to take a risk attempting a takedown late in the match and Gruenwald recorded the pin in 6:58.
It was Gruenwald who had been Rakevich's first opponent when the Beaver freshman was thrust into the starting lineup on Dec. 14 because Oregon State starter Ty Watterson had suffered a season-ending broken arm the night before against Oregon. Rakevich pinned Gruenwald that afternoon in Gill Coliseum, starting him on the way to an 18-11 record with six pins.
"He's done a great job and he's really come a long way since dec. 14 when we wrestled Oklahoma State," Oregon State head coach Joe Wells said. "He's continued to improve. It'll be a great battle there next year between Jamie and Ty, and that's good for everybody. We need that same problem in the other nine weight classes."
Rakevich's match with Meekins had been tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. The two got into a scramble near the end of the first extra period, with Rakevich ending up on top in position to press Meekins' shoulders to the mat.
"Jamie just got better and better as the matches went on," Wells said. "He figures out a way to win. He was dominating in first match today. You look at (sixth-seeded Greg Wagner) from Michigan, the guy Jamie lost a 3-2 match to (in the first round), and he's still in it for third place."
Pitsch lost a major decision to No. 8 seed Kurt Backes of Iowa State in the second round of wrestlebacks on Friday morning. Pitsch finished the season with a 20-12 record and two pins.
"You look at the kids who are All-Americans, and we've had several guys beat them during the year," Wells said. "We've just got to get a little more experience and get them a little more consistent."
OREGON STATE AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS - DAY TWO
(Current Amateur Wrestling News national rankings in parentheses)
TEAM SCORES - 1. Oklahoma State 97.5; 2. Iowa 70; 3. Nebraska 66.5; 4. Illinois 59.5; 5. Lehigh 58.5; 6. Iowa State 57; 7. (tie) Minnesota and Oklahoma 48; 9. (tie) Michigan and Ohio State 44.5; 42. (tie) Oregon State 6.5.
149, Tony Hook - Major dec. by No. 3 seed (3) Travis Shufelt, Nebraska, 13-4 in first round; inj. def. to Ben Young, Slippery Rock, 4:24 in wrestleback first round.
165, (14) Matt Ellis - Dec. by No. 3 seed (3) Matt King, Edinboro, 6-1 in first round; dec. by Craig Pequignot, Millersville, 8-6 in wrestleback first round.
174, (18) Jed Pennell - Dec. by (12) Ralph DeNisco, Wisconsin, 4-1 in preliminary round; dec. by (19) Ed Pawlak, Buffalo, 10-6 in wrestleback preliminary round.
184, Dan Pitsch - Dec. over (17) Nick Ciarcia, Brown, 8-6 in first round; tech. fall by No. 3 seed (3) Jake Rosholt, Oklahoma State, 4:23 (16-0) in second round; major dec. by No. 8 (11) seed Kurt Backes, Iowa State, 13-4 in wrestleback second round.
HWT, Jamie Rakevich - Dec. by No. 6 seed (6) Greg Wagner, Michigan, 3-2 in preliminary round; dec. over (16) Marc Allemang, Duquesne, 10-5 in wrestleback preliminary round; major dec. over Matt Wilcox, Clarion, 15-3 in wrestleback first round; pinned Ramel Meekins, Rutgers, 7:59 (OT) in wrestleback second round; pinned by No. 10 seed (10) Willie Gruenwald, Oklahoma State, 6:58 in wrestleback third round.
