Wrestling stumbles during session one of NCAA Championship

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Concordia University Wisconsin won just one of its four matches during the opening session of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Friday afternoon. Marcus Lubner was the lone Falcon to earn a victory.

All three wrestlers have been moved to the wrestleback portion of the bracket and can't finish higher than third place. They still have a chance to become an All-American (top eight in each bracket).

Lubner (senior, Fredonia, Wis.) recorded a 13-5 major decision victory over Brandon Preston (Trine University) during a piggy-tail match to start the day. He then lost by major decision, 9-1, to fourth-seeded and the nation's best 133 pounder Evan Obert (Luther College).

Junior Sean Ambrocio (San Antonio, Texas) dropped his only match by decision, 4-2, to top-seeded and second-ranked Paul Bewak (Johns Hopkins University) at 125 pounds. Junior Jake Reuteler (New Berlin, Wis.) lost by fall in 6:00 to top-seeded, and the best 197-pounder in the country, Alex Coolidge (Cornell College).

Lubner gave up a two-point takedown against Preston before scoring eight-consecutive points over the next two periods, including a three-point near fall. He then added five more points in the third period, including a point for riding time, to win his first-ever match at the NCAA Championship level. Lubner had a difficult time against Obert in his second match of the day, scoring one point on an escape during the second period.

Ambrocio took a quick 2-0 lead via a takedown before giving up an escape in the first period. The 125-pounder then fell behind 3-1 after a reversal and eventually lost 4-2, which included a point for riding time.

Reuteler faced an extremely difficult task to begin the NCAA Championship. He was down 2-0 after the opening period before scoring a point on an escape in the second period, but then allowed a two-point reversal to find himself down 3-1 entering the third period. Coolidge worked Reuteler to his back before pinning him at the six-minute mark.

CUW returns to the mat for the second session of the NCAA Division III Championship, which begins at 6 p.m. inside the U.S. Cellular Center. Live results and video are available at CUWFalcons.com.