March 21, 2009

•ODU Weight by Weight Results
•Final Agate
•Final Brackets
•Complete Finals Summary
•Team by Team Results
•Final Standings

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The dramatic season- and career-ending run for ODU senior Ryan Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) was halted tonight by defending national champion, J Jaggers (Ohio State), in the 2009 NCAA National Championship Finals. Williams lost to the Buckeye grappler, 10-4, in the finals and ended his career as the 2009 NCAA runner-up at 141 lbs. The ODU senior becomes just the second Division I finalist in school history and the first under head coach Steve Martin. Old Dominion finished in a tie for 20th with 27.5 points

Jaggers attacked Williams right from the start, scoring two takedowns and two back points in the first period to go up 6-2. He would get back one to start the second with an escape, but Jaggers escaped and added a takedown in the third for the final, 10-4.

"Ryan competed extremely hard against the defending national champion," said head coach Steve Martin. "He just wrestles a very unique style and he's tough to beat if you haven't seen him a few times. It is what it is, but we're very proud of Ryan."

Williams has plenty to be proud of following his senior campaign. He has solidified his place among ODU's best in wrestling history and he not only is the second ever Division I finalist for the program, he's just the third semi-finalist. He's also the all-time leader in wins at Old Dominion with 137 and is the second All-American in as many years for ODU. He's the tenth Division I All-American in school history and the 23rd all-time including Division II.

"In ten years, we'll be able to look back and know Ryan got the ball rolling," said Martin. "He's the first national finalist under our coaching staff. Then, in twenty to thirty years, anyone will look back and see Ryan Williams' name and know that he was the first recruit for a program that was becoming a national powerhouse."

ODU has improved significantly each year since Martin and his staff took over. This year, they posted the highest team finish in school history, with a 20th place effort and 27.5 team points. Williams was huge in leading the team to a second place finish in the CAA, a regular season title and a 17-6 overall mark.

"What we are most proud of with Ryan is how hard he competes. He has been a leader on and off the mat for the program; he is a great role model for the younger guys."

Final Results: 20th Place (27.5 points) - 1 All-American

125: James Nicholson (1-2)
#6 James Nicholson (ODU) def. Brad Pataky (Penn State), 11-6
#11 Zachary Sanders (Minnesota) def. #6 James Nicholson (ODU), 5-4
Obenson Blanc (Oklahoma State) def. #6 James Nicholson (ODU), 3-2

133: Kyle Hutter (2-2)
#5 Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise St) pinned Kyle Hutter (ODU), 2:20 fall
Kyle Hutter (ODU) def. Kelly Kubec (Oregon State), 7-3
Kyle Hutter (ODU) def. Christian Smith (Liberty), 9-5
#3 James Kennedy (Illinois) def. Kyle Hutter (ODU), 10-1 maj dec

141: Ryan Williams (4-1) - 2nd Place -- NCAA ALL-AMERICAN
#8 Ryan Williams (ODU) def. Frank Molinaro (Penn State), 7-1
#8 Ryan Williams (ODU) def. Joe Caramanica (NC State), 10-5
#8 Ryan Williams (ODU) def. Ryan Prater (Illinois), 8-6
#8 Ryan Williams (ODU) def. Alex Krom (Maryland), 4-1
#3 J Jaggers (Ohio State) def. #8 Ryan Williams (ODU), 10-4

165: Chris Brown (1-2)
#10 Chris Brown (ODU) def. Justin Zeerip (Michigan), 4-0
Andy Rendos (Bucknell) def. #10 Chris Brown (ODU), 2-0
Mike Galante (Lehigh) def. #10 Chris Brown (ODU), 5-3

174: Eric Decker (1-2)
#3 Brandon Browne (Nebraska) def. Eric Decker (ODU), 12-4 maj dec
Eric Decker (ODU) def. Nate Rock (Buffalo), 4-1
#9 Newly McSpadden (Oklahoma State) def. Eric Decker (ODU), 4-1

197: Jesse Strawn (3-2)
Jesse Strawn (ODU) def. Dennis Drury (UNC), 11-4
#1 Craig Brester (Nebraska) def. Jesse Strawn (ODU), 14-5 maj dec
Jesse Strawn (ODU) def. #11 Andrew Anderson (UNI), 6-1
Jesse Strawn (ODU) pinned #8 Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State), 6:01 fall
#7 Brandon Halsey (CSU-Bakersfield) def. Jesse Strawn (ODU), 14-3 maj dec