COLLEGE WRESTLING: ATHENS GRAD BRADLEY FINISHES 7TH AT NCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (2024-03-16)
Valley Sports ReportLA CROSSE, Wisc. — Athens grad
Gavin Bradley, a sophomore on the Castleton University wrestling team, went 1-1 on Day 2 of the of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships to finish seventh in the 125-pound weight class here at the La Crosse Center.
Bradley, the seventh seed who went 2-1 on Friday to clinch All-American status, dropped a 9-1 major decision to third-seeded Zac Blasioli of Millikin in the consolation round-of-4.
Bradley led 1-0 after receiving a penalty point Blasioli for stalling in the first period.
Blasioli escaped early in the second period, scored a takedown seven seconds later, and rode out the final 92 seconds to take a 4-1 lead into the final two minutes.
Blasioli added another takedown midway through the final stanza, a penalty point against Bradley for stalling, and a riding-time point to provide the final margin.
Bradley’s loss came to top-seeded Joziah Fry of Johnson & Wales, who is in the finals tonight after recording technical falls in all three of his matches this weekend.
Blasioli went on to lose a pair of close matches, and finished sixth.
In the seventh-place match, Bradley topped Roanoke College’s Mac Carufello, 7-4.
Bradley scored a pair of of first-period takedowns, and led 6-2 after the first three minutes.
Carufello registered an escape in the second period, but the duo spent the final 1:38 on their feet, sending Bradley into the third period with a 6-3 lead.
Bradley scored an escape 18 seconds into the third period, and was banged a point for stalling a minute later to provide the final margin.
Bradley, who was 2-2 at Nationals last year, wraps up his season with a 38-6 record, with 13 falls, six technical falls, and seven major decisions. For his career, Bradley is 75-17.
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IN PHOTO: Gavin Bradley.
