Dec. 5, 2009

Cliff Keen Invite Results

href="http://intermatwrestle.com/Files/pdf/09-10/tournaments/cliffkeenlasvegasinvitational.pdf">here.

Primm, Nev.--The No. 18 Wisconsin wrestling team wrapped up two days of competition at the Cliff Keen Invite with two individual titles and a third place finish. The team finished with a score of 73.5 to come in ninth place overall. Senior Kyle Ruschell and sophomore Andrew Howe both defeated Ohio State wrestlers to claim the championship in their respective weight classes.

Ruschell's first match of the day two was a rematch from earlier this year as he took on No. 5 seed Jason Chamberlain of Boise State in a semifinals match at 149 lbs. Ruschell won the bout by a 5-1 decision, advancing him to the championship match. In the finals, he faced No. 2 seed Lance Palmer of Ohio State, a rematch of last year's NCAA third place bout. Palmer had defeated Ruschell three times last season, but Ruschell proved to be victorious with a 5-4 decision in the NCAA third place matchup. Ruschell got the better of Palmer again on Saturday, winning 3-1 to capture the championship.

Howe began Saturday's semifinal round with a 3-2 win over No. 5 seed Paul Young of Indiana. The 165 lbs. final featured another Wisconsin/Ohio State matchup, with Howe pitted up against No. 3 seed, Colt Sponseller. Howe, who defeated Sponseller 3-2 in a dual meet last season, defeated Sponseller 6-3 on Saturday to claim first place.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Graff placed third at 133 lbs. In his first matchup Saturday, he met Boris Novachkov of Cal Poly and lost by a 5-2 decision. Graff then wrestled No. 6 seed David Marble of Bucknell in the consolation bracket, winning the match by a 10-3 decision. Graff faced Steve Mytych of Drexel in the third place matchup, defeating his opponent 6-3 to claim the third-place title.

The Badgers return to dual action Friday when they travel to Cedar Falls to face Northern Iowa.

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Justin Mozer

Athletic Communications