MARCH 3, 2007

MORGAN WINS D-III CHAMPIONSHIP, REILLY ALL-AMERICAN WITH 4TH PLACE FINISH, KING'S 6TH IN TEAM STANDINGS

View video clip of the final 0:30 of the Dave Morgan National Championship Match

Morgan Championship Photo Courtesy of Memories Photography:   www.memoriesphotovideo.com
 

DUBUQUE, IA -- King's College wrestling standout David Morgan of West Scranton will became the first national champion in Monarch history as he won the 133-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III National Tournament at Loras College Dubuque, IA.

Meanwhile, King's other national qualifier, Jason Reilly of Crestwood, earned all-American honors by placing fourth at 197-pounds. 

As a team, King's placed sixth among the field of 63 squads, its highest finish ever.

Morgan, seeded first at 133-pounds, posted a narrow 4-3 decision over second-seeded Jafari Vanier of team champion Augsburg College in the championship final.

The match proved to be a chess match between the 5-foot-2 Morgan and the 5-foot-9 Vanier as both wrestlers ended the first period deadlocked at 0-0 after probing one another for a physical advantage.

In the second period, Morgan would post a quick escape to secure a 1-0 lead. Neither wrestler could mount an offense and were penalized a penalty point each for stalling, giving Morgan a 2-1 lead at the start of the final period.

Morgan would allow Vanier to escape, tying the match at 2-2.  But the Monarch senior would make good on a single-leg takedown to take a 4-2 lead but immediately set Vanier free for an escape with 0:28 remaining to cling to a 4-3 advantage.  Vanier would attempt a single-leg takedown of Morgan with 0:06 left but the Monarch star fought off the attempt as the buzzer sounded to become King's first national champion.

Morgan, who was sixth at 133 a year ago, ended his dream season at 35-2 while Vanier, who was the national runner-up at 133-pounds last season, slipped to 20-2. It was also sweet revenge for Morgan, who had lost to Vanier 3-1 in overtime in the first-round of the 2006 Division III National Tournament.

"Vanier likes to slow things down and I like a faster pace, but at the end I knew I had to pick it up and got the takedown," Morgan said. "This is the best feeling in the world, like hitting your first home run, it is amazing. It is the top accomplishment of my career. I always said I wanted to win the biggest tournament I was in, whether it was high school states or college nationals and now I have finally accomplished that goal. It all clicked this weekend and it is the best feeling ever."

Morgan now stands as the first national champion in the successful 38-year tenure of head coach Ned McGinley. The Monarchs had three previous wrestlers finish second in the national tournament, including Larry Danko (177) in 1990, Mitch Marcks (125) in 2003, and Jim Morgan (141), older brother of David, also in 2003.

"David had control of all his matches in the tournament," McGinley stated. "His emotions were calm and he was very focused both days of the tournament. Against Vanier, he was patient and it was just a question of working the takedown at the right time.  Having had three guys finish second at nationals (at King's), we have been here before, but all of a sudden when you finally get that first champion the bells and horns all start to go off and it is a great feeling.  David has such a tremendous work ethic and we are proud to have him as our first national champion."

Reilly locked up all-American honors by winning his first two consolation matches. After falling to top-seeded, eventual national champion  Tyler Miller of Augsburg in the championship bracket, Reilly responded by pinning Diego Crespo of Johnson and Wales in 3:44 Friday evening, then followed with a pin in 1:46 over Wally Connor of Augsburg Saturday morning.

Reilly then pinned fifth-seeded Keith Garrard (34-9) of Wabash in the consolation semi-finals.  He would conclude his collegiate career with a fourth-place all-American finish when he dropped a 10-4 decision to fourth-seeded Alec Bonander (34-6) of Luther College. Reilly ended his senior year with a 34-10 record and stands in fifth-place all-time in career victories at King's with a 109-22 overall mark.

"Jason wrestled a great tournament as well," McGinley added. "He had a tough first-round draw but he battled back and showed his character with three straight pins. He had a great tournament and we are proud of him and all he has accomplished at King's.

Additionally, three King's wrestlers, including Reilly, senior heavyweight Jim Bishop, and sophomore Zach Wilkinson were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American Team at the event.

Tournament results, including brackets and team scoring, are available at the following link:

http://depts.loras.edu/sports/2007ncaawrestling/championshipinfo.html

Team Scoring - Entering Championship Finals   (63 total teams)
1)    135.5    Augsburg
2)     99.5     Wartburg
3)     92.5     UW LaCrosse
4)     86.0     Luther
5)     46.5     College Of New Jersey
6)     36.0     Kings College
7)     33.5     Buena Vista
8)     31.0     SUNY-Cortland
        31.0     Hunter
10)    30.5     North Central
  

 

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Questions or comments to:  Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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