Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
CAA Championships
Oplinger and Frey Earn Berths in the CAA Championship Finals
3/6/2009 8:01:00 PM | Wrestling
Norfolk, Va. - Jon Oplinger and Kyle Frey have each won their first two matches at the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Wrestling Championships and will wrestle in the championship finals on Saturday at 197 and 285 pounds, respectively. Oplinger won a pair of matches by decision, including one in sudden victory, while Frey earned a one-point decision and a medical default to reach the final. Six other Dragons are still alive in the consolation bracket.
Oplinger, seeded third in the 197-pound bracket, opened his tournament run with a 12-8 victory over sixth-seeded Mike Miller of Rider. In the semifinal match, Oplinger avenged an earlier season loss to second-seeded John Hall of Boston with a 6-4 triumph in sudden victory. Oplinger will wrestle for the 197-pound title on Saturday against No. 1 seed Cayle Byers of George Mason.
Frey earned a hard-fought 2-1 decision over sixth-seeded Bill Beiermeister of Sacred Heart. Then Frey, the three seed, won by medical forfeit after Old Dominion's Roy Dragon was knocked unconscious in the semi-final match against Frey. Dragon was unable to continue as Frey knocked off the second-seeded heavyweight. He will face top-seeded Ed Bordas of Rider in the heavyweight championship match.
At 125 pounds, Michael Gomez picked up a technical fall victory over Boston's Ryan Dowd in the first round consolation. Gomez sufffered an opening round defeat at the hands of fourth-seeded Tyler Malmberg of Binghamton. Frank Cimato dropped his semifinal match to top-seeded Lou Ruggirello and will compete in the consolation bracket on Saturday. Matt Dugan won his first match in the consolation bracket with an 11-5 victory over Boston's Abby Rush. Alex Rinaldi stunned fourth-seeded Jimmy Kaden of George Mason and will advance in the consolation bracket of the 165-pound field. Dave Woodall also recovered after a first round defeat to earn a 3-2 decision over Anthony Esposito of Binghamton in the consolation round. Justin Wieller became the third Drexel wrestler to knock a Boston wrestler out of action for the tournament after a 5-2 win over Carmen Rondash in the consolation bracket at 184 pounds.
Players Mentioned
