Kwiat advances to Consolation Semifinals, Miller drops semifinal match in Session III of NCAA Wrestling Championships

LACROSSE, Wis. — Sophomore Kyle Kwiat posted a 4-2 victory in the consolation quarterfinals of the 174-pound weight class in Session III of the 2011 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships Saturday morning at the La Crosse Center.

Senior No. 5-seeded Luke Miller dropped a 4-2 decision to top-seeded Josh Terrell in the semifinals of the 165-pound weight class.

Both wrestlers will compete again Saturday afternoon in the consolation semifinals and again in either the third or fifth place matches.

The also repeated as All-Americans by assuring themselves of top-8 finishes in the tournament.

Kwiat used a reversal, an escape and more than 2:00 of riding time to post his 4-2 win and guarantee himself of at least a sixth place finish.

Miller also had more than 2:00 of riding time advantage in his semifinal match, but registered just a stalling point and was taken down twice.

Junior Mick Letcher finished the tournament with a 1-2 record in the 157-pound weight class on Friday and was just one round shy of earning All-America honors as well.

Fifth-seeded Miller, who is now a three-time All-American and won the 2010 national title at 157 pounds, posted an impressive 13-0 major decision victory over Nick Samko of Ithaca (N.Y.) at 165 pounds in his first round match Friday afternoon.

His quarterfinal round victory was even more impressive, as he posted a 6-0 decision over defending NCAA Champion and the 2010 Most Valuable Wrestler Vincent Renault of Merchant Marine Friday night.

Miller is now 27-5 on the season.

Miller is just the second three-time All-American in ONU history, joining Joe Maiani (1996-98) with that distinction.

In four seasons as a Polar Bear, Miller has a 131-29 career record. He is just two wins shy of tying the ONU all-time record of 133 wins set by 1989 national champion Vinny Cameron from 1986-89.

Top-seeded All-American Kwiat, who finished fourth in his weight class in 2010 and was the 2010 NCAA Division III National Freshman of the Year, won with a major decision 10-2 over Ryan Domann of Stevens (N.J.) in the first round Friday afternoon.

Kwiat (31-5) then fell to No. 8 seeded Brad Banks of Wartburg (Iowa) 9-5 in the quarterfinals Friday night.

Kwiat then assured himself of a top-8 finish with a pin of Scott King of Coe (Iowa) in the consolation quarterfinals Friday night in 4:10. Kwiat dominated from the onset and led 13-2 when he registered the pin.

He is just the seventh Polar Bear to earn All-America honors twice in his career.

Letcher (29-9) posted a 5-3 victory over Ryan Warczynski of Dubuque (Iowa) 5-3 Friday night in the consolation second round at 157

In his first round match, he got a reversal, an escape and a stalling point and had an advantage in riding time, but fell 9-4 to No. 7 seeded Nick Loughlin of Cornell (Iowa).

He was then eliminated from the tournament in the consolation third round by Erik Hanson of Loras (Iowa) Friday night by fall in 2:41.

Letcher was making his first appearance at the NCAA Championships.

The Polar Bears are in 12th place in the team standings after the first day with 17.5 points.