Ambrocio earns All-America status at NCAA Championship

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Sean Ambrocio checked off one of his career goals on Friday evening, becoming an All-American. Concordia University Wisconsin's 125-pounder kept his season alive with two victories in the second session at the NCAA Division III Championship.

The San Antonio, Texas native recorded a convincing decision win before keeping his family and friends in attendance on edge by earning a sudden victory decision to become one of eight remaining wrestlers in the 125-pound bracket.

He defeated Tommy Poynter (Wabash College) by decision, 9-4, to start the second session. Ambrocio struck first with a two-point takedown before his opponent countered with an escape point in the opening period. The Falcon then tallied five straight points, four by takedowns, to own a 5-1 advantage. Both wrestlers went back-and-forth before the final horn sounded.

Ambrocio's next bout against Jimmy Kaishian (Ithaca College) was a nail-bitter. Neither grappler scored a point in the first period, but Ambrocio registered the first point on an escape in the second period. Kaishian answered with an escape point of his own in the third to force overtime. It didn't take long before Ambrocio picked up two sudden victory points with a takedown to please the crowd, as he screamed with excitement.

He is scheduled to face Robert Bidlingmaier (Olivet College) during the third session, which begins at 10 a.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center. Ambrocio can finish as high as third place because of his opening-day loss which moved him into the consolation bracket.

It was also a successful day for senior Marcus Lubner (Fredonia, Wis.). He dominated his first bout of the second session, earning a 14-2 major decision victory over Andrew Taylor (Baldwin Wallace University) which included 5:00 of riding time.

The win moved him one shy of earning All-American status, but his career ended short with a close 7-5 decision loss to Jimmy Nehls (UW-Whitewater). Lubner gave up a two-point takedown before scoring five points of his own on a reversal and near fall to take a 5-2 lead. Nehls answered with a one-point escape to end the opening period.

Lubner was unfortunately hit with a stalling call that gave Nehls a point in the second period. Nehls then scored a two-point takedown in the final period and added a point for riding time. Lubner ends his season at 18-6 overall.

Junior Jake Reuteler (New Berlin, Wis.) didn't end his season as he had hoped, losing in his first bout by a 16-0 technical fall decision against Matthew Hechsel (Augsburg College). He finished the season 22-15 overall.