ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Clearfield Area High School wrestling teammates and PIAA Class AAA titlists Brad Pataky of Penn State and Matt Kyler of Army saw their hopes for medals at the 79th annual NCAA Division I Championships end in the consolation rounds of the Thursday morning session in the Scottrade Center.
Pataky, a redshirt sophomore 125-pounder for the Nittany Lions, advanced to the consolation fourth round with a 12-6 win over Big Ten Conference rival B.J. Futrell of Illinois before being ousted, 9-3, by Kent State\’s Nic Bedelyon, a former Indian Valley High School standout from Lewistown.
Kyler, a Black Knight junior who was seeded No. 8 at 149, had dropped a tough 3-2 decision to Cesar Grajales of Penn a round earlier to bow out at 1-2 for a 40-8 season record.
Pataky was 3-2 in his first NCAA appearance for an overall 31-11 finish.
Against Futrell (24-14), he exploded for eight points in the first period, scoring an early takedown and near fall and, after getting reversed, adding an escape and another takedown.
In the second period, Pataky chose bottom and escaped and single-legged Futrell for an 11-2 lead.
Futrell opted for a neutral start to the third period and closed the gap the gap by taking Pataky down and turning him briefly for two back points. The Nittany Lion escaped for the final point.
Good defense by Bedelyon (28-9) prevented Pataky from grabbing the upper hand in the first period of their match. The Golden Flash sophomore fought off two deep single-legs and another takedown shot by the Big Ten Conference fourth-placer.
After Pataky deferred, Bedelyon chose the bottom for the second period and locked up a cradle for a five-point move that pretty much decided the outcome.
Pataky was down for the third period and, after a stall warning against Bedelyon, escaped and worked a takedown to cut the margin to 5-3.
However, the Middle Atlantic Conference runner-up made it 8-3 with an escape and takedown, adding another point for riding time advantage.
Bedelyon, who won the 2008 MAC crown at 125 and was Freshman of the Year, was No. 16 by InterMat/National Wrestling Coaches Association/National Wrestling Media Association rankings. Pataky was No. 13.
Pataky\’s career record stands at 46-19 for Penn State. He saw some action as a freshman and then red-shirted the last two seasons, choosing to pursue Olympic freestyle wrestling in 2007-08.
For No. 9-ranked Kyler, a takedown at the first-period buzzer proved to be big move for Grajales (28-9), a four-time Florida state champion making his third appearance in the nationals.
Both wrestlers had very quick escapes in the next two periods, with the 14th-ranked Quaker senior giving up a late penalty point on a stall call.
The two didn\’t meet in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Tournament, where Kyler was runner-up and defending champion Grajales placed fifth.
Kyler, a three-time NCAA qualifier with one EIWA title, will take a 114-28 record into his senior season at West Point.
The 2007 All-American, who placed sixth at 141, ranks fourth all-time in wins and needs 21 next season to become No. 1.
Also, his 38 career falls, including 20 this season, are third highest in the Black Knight program\’s history.
