University of Northern Iowa
NCAA Championships
Bonin Takes 4th, Loder 7th at NCAA Wrestling Nationals
3/23/2013 1:00:00 AM | Wrestling
UNI at the NCAA National Wrestling Championships
Site: Des Moines, Iowa
Venue: Wells Fargo Arena
Date: March 21-23
TV: ESPN networks
Internet: UNIPanthers.com
Live Stats: TrackWrestling.com
DES MOINES, Iowa – Doug Schwab put his first two All-Americans on the stand as the University of Northern Iowa head coach, and the team earned his highest finish since 2005.
The Panthers have their first two All-Americans since 2005 and tied for 15th place with 34 points.
David Bonin, the only unseeded wrestler in the 157-pound weight class, took fourth. This was the senior's third appearance at the NCAA tournament.
“He is a great example for our guys,” said Schwab. “He's a leader for our team. What he got was because of hard work.”
Bonin got a pin in his first of two matches on the final day of the tournament.
His first opponent was No. 10 RJ Pena of Oregon State. With just 13 seconds left in the first, Pena got the takedown to lead 2-0 going into second. Bonin started on top for the second period. Bonin got a stall warning late in the second but earned 1:45 in riding time. Bonin earned an escape to save his riding time. However, he wouldn't need the riding time, as he would get the pin in 5:39 to give him the opportunity at a third-place finish.
“I've been telling everyone, he's been in there since day one,” said Schwab. “He's had a phenomenal tournament so far, but he's not done.”
Bonin had to get past No. 6 Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State to get third. However, Dieringer proved why he was ranked and pinned Bonin in 1:39. Bonin has only been pinned twice this season and both have come from Dieringer.
“I wanted to be up on the podium, and I finally got there,” Bonin said. “I am happy. It didn't end the way I wanted it to, but I'm happy. Other than me and the coaching staff, who thought I would be there? I just figured, why not me?”
Ryan Loder, 184 pounds, widened the gap on an opponent he has seen four times this season and two times in the national tournament. His 8-0 win over No. 11 Mike Larson earned Loder a seventh-place finish.
After a scoreless first period, Loder earned a point when Larson was called for stalling midway through the second. Loder earned a reversal and three near fall points just as time expired in the second. His takedown early in the third extended his lead, and Loder erased Larson's riding time to win it 8-0.
“It's heartbreaking, getting seventh,” said Loder. “But it's good feeling to come out with a win. It's humbling knowing that I have to work to get that much better, but I have 365 days to do that and come back next year.”
Earning bonus points for the Panthers at the NCAA tournament:
- 133 – Levi Wolfensperger (2 pins)
- 141 – Joey Lazor (3 major decisions)
- 157 – David Bonin (1 pin)
- 184 – Ryan Loder (1 major decision)
Last year, the team finished 34th.
“It's coming,” Bonin said of the team's future. “Things are meshing, and we are getting stronger and stronger.”
Schwab said this proof that his team is on the right track.
“Now we have something to point to and have examples in the room,” he said. “They have teammates that have done it, so that is critical for us to make the jump for us next year.”
133 POUNDS
Levi Wolfensperger (39-18), seeded ninth, needed one more win to become an All-American. He was knocked out by a familiar foe from the Mid-American Conference, No. 6 Nathan McCormick of Missouri.
DAY 1:
- No. 9 Wolfensperger pins Anthony Elias (Davidson), 1:39
- No. 8 Cody Brewer (Oklahoma) maj. dec. No. 9 Wolfensperger, 11-2
DAY 2:
- No. 9 Wolfensperger dec. Mackenzie McGuire (Kent State), 7-2
- No. 9 Wolfensperger pins Nick Wilcox (Bloomsburg), 1:56
- No. 6 Nathan McCormick (Missouri) pins No. 9 Wolfensperger, 4:54
141 POUNDS
Joey Lazor (66-31) was the second Panther to be one match away from becoming an All-American. His loss to No. 5 Evan Henderson of North Carolina kept him off the stand.
DAY 1:
- Lazor maj. dec. Connor Hanafee (Army), 12-2
- Lazor maj. dec. Bryan Pearsall (Penn State), 12-4
- No. 2 Kendric Maple (Oklahoma) pins Lazor, 2:42
DAY 2:
- Lazor dec. Julian Feikert (Oklahoma State), 7-2
- Lazor maj. dec. No. 10 Charles Cobb (Penn), 15-2
- No. 5 Evan Henderson (North Carolina) pins Lazor, 1:42
157 POUNDS
David Bonin (101-47), a three-time national qualifier, earned his 100th career win to secure All-American status on the second day of the tournament. He didn't give up a single match point in his first three matches. His loss to No. 1 Jason Welch ended his run for a title.
DAY 1:
- Bonin dec. Bobby Barnhisel (Navy), 1-0
- Bonin dec. Kyle Bradley (Missouri), 4-0
DAY 2:
- Bonin vs. No. 12 Jedd Moore (Virginia), 3-0
- No. 1 Jason Welch (Northwestern) dec. Bonin, 7-1
DAY 3:
- Bonin pins No. 10 RJ Pena (Oregon State), 5:39
- Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State) pins Bonin, 1:39
184 POUNDS
Ryan Loder (99-23), seeded sixth as a three-time NCAA national qualifer, came up one win short of getting his 100th career win. He ended the tournament with one major decision.
DAY 1:
- No. 6 Loder dec. Cody Reed (Binghamton), 4-0
- No. 6 Loder dec. No. 11 Mike Larson (Missouri), 2-0
DAY 2:
- No. 3 Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) dec. No. 6 Loder, 2-1
- No. 6 Loder dec. No. 8 Josh Ihnen (Nebraska), 5-2
- No. 7 Jimmy Sheptock (Maryland) dec. No. 6 Loder, 3-2 TB1
- No. 6 Loder maj. dec. No. 11 Larson (Missouri), 8-0
THE SCHEDULE
The NCAA wrestling championships are set for March 21-23 in Des Moines, Iowa:
- 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23 - ESPN
Players Mentioned
