Elliot Smith Wins Two of Three Matches On First Day of NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- March 7, 2008 -- By winning two of three matches on the first day of competition of Friday, Elliot Smith of Springfield College has guaranteed that he will claim All-American status at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Smith, a senior captain who finished second in his 184-pound weight class two weeks ago in the New England Wrestling Association Championships at Southern Maine, was named a wild-card entrant to the NCAAs, and so far he is taking advantage.
Unseeded in the nationals, Smith began his competition by defeating #8-seeded Jay Figgins of Loras, 7-6. His reward was to face the nation's #1-seeded and still unbeaten Romeo Djournessi of Wartburg in the second round. Djournessi remained unbeaten (now 27-0) by pinning Smith at 6:50, just 10 seconds before the end of their match.
Smith therefore fell to the consolation bracket, and wrestled one more time on Friday. Elliot then defeated Nic Barclay of Luther, 11-2, to guarantee a Top Eight finish in the championship. A Top Eight finish guarantees All-America status.
Saturday, Smith will open by wrestling Bryan Lenhardt of Johnson & Wales. A loss in that bout would mean Smith could finish no better than 7th.
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Head Coach Daryl Arroyo
Former Springfield College All-American Daryl Arroyo will be entering his 20th season as the head wrestling coach at his alma mater in 2009-10. Under his tutelage, the Springfield College wrestling program has posted a 278-151-6 overall dual-meet record, good for an outstanding .646 winning percentage.
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