MARCH 8, 2008

MORGAN WINS SECOND STRAIGHT DIVISION III NATIONAL TITLE

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- King's College wrestling standout David Morgan (Scranton/West Scranton) won his second straight NCAA Division III National Tournament championship Saturday in Cedar Rapids. Iowa.

The second-seeded Morgan (28-1) earned his title with a 3-1 overtime victory over fourth-seeded Jacob Helvey (31-4) of Wartburg College of Iowa.  The two wrestled to a scoreless first period tie, then each would escape respectively in the second and third periods to end regulation tied at 1-1.

With 0:20 left in overtime, Morgan would shoot in for a takedown and Helvey blocked the attempt and a scramble ensued. Morgan would then quickly scoot behind Helvey for the winning score.

It was an emotional victory for Morgan, whose mother Mary Ellen passed away just over a year ago, only days after winning his first NCAA title last season.

"I want to dedicate this match to my mother," Morgan said following his championship victory. "She hated wrestling but she was my best friend and she always supported me. Mom was there out on the mat with me tonight and without her being there I am not sure I could have won.

"This is an awesome feeling to win again and it is a lot different than the first. Helvey was really physical and it was not the type of match I expected. I thought at one point he might have broken my nose. In overtime, I sort of took a desperation takedown at the end and he blocked it but got his hip up and I was able to get in behind him. This is such a great feeling, I am really at a loss for words."

Morgan reached the 133-pound final for the second straight year with a hard-fought 3-2 decision over sixth-seeded Nicholas Nothern (29-9) of Cornell College.

Morgan had faced Helvey twice before, posting victories over the Wartburg two-time all-American by a fall in 3:40 in the 2006 Desert Duals and a 5-2 decisions in the 2007 NCAA Division III national tournament semi-finals.

Helvey reached the finals by upsetting top-seeded Adam Johnson of North Central 4-2 in overtime in the other semi-final bout. Johnson had dealt Morgan his only loss of the year with a 4-3 decision during the Las Vegas Desert Duals in December.

Morgan, a junior, has now secured all-American honors for the third straight year, placing sixth in 2006 prior to winning his first national title a year ago. He joins Larry Danko and Mitch Marcks as the only three-time all-Americans in King's history. Danko was an all-American in 1988, 1989- and 1900, while Marcks earned the honor in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Results are available at:   http://www.coe.edu/ncaawrestling/


 

 

 

King's College
133 North River Street  Wilkes-Barre, PA  18711
1 (888) KINGS PA

Questions or comments to:  Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
Best if viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher.