Indiana University Athletics
2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships Field Announced
3/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 14, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The 2006 NCAA Championships brackets are set, and Indiana looks forward to another solid performance at this year's national tournament. Senior Joe Dubuque leads the Hoosiers with a No. 3 seed at 125 pounds, followed by sophomore No. 6-seed Brandon Becker at 157 pounds.
Dubuque will begin defense of his 125-pound title with a first-round matchup against Michael Silengo (Penn). This is the second meetings this season between the two, the first coming at the Virginia Duals where the Bloomfield, N.J., native needed extra periods to defeat Silengo, 12-10, in the first sudden victory. In Dubuque's half of the draw, a possible second round matchup against Collin Cudd (Wisconsin) is in the making, with Dubuque owning a 2-0 record against Cudd this season. The senior will probably have to go through No. 2 seeded Sam Hazewinkel of Oklahoma to reach his second straight championship bout. The two will likely meet in the semifinal bout.
Becker, a 2005 All-American (5th), is primed for another run at the top five with a first-round bout against Ryan Hluschak (Drexel). Should Becker advance, he will meet his first seeded opponent in No. 11 Derek Zinck of Lehigh. In Becker's half of the bracket are 2006 Big Ten runner-up No. 3-seeded Alex Tirapelle of Illinois, a possible quarterfinal matchup, and 2006 Big Ten champion No. 2-seeded C.P. Schlatter of Minnesota.
Redshirt-freshman Andrae Hernandez (133) is making his NCAA debut and will open the competition against either No. 2-seeded Nathan Morgan (Oklahoma State) or Michael Mormile (Cornell), who will both open with the pigtail match to decide Hernandez's opponent. Also in Hernandez's half of the draw are 2006 Big Ten Champion No. 3-seeded Tom Clum (Wisconsin) and No. 7-seeded Jake Strayer (Penn State).
Sophomore Max Dean opens his second NCAA appearance with a match against Johnny Galloway of Northern Illinois. This is the first meeting between the two grapplers. Should Dean advance, he will encounter his first seeded foe in No. 4 Nick Baima (Northern Iowa) in the second round. Dean's road does not look any easier as No. 1-seeded Ryan Churella (Michigan) and No. 9-seeded Jake Strayer (Illinois) also hold slots in his half of the draw.
Rounding out the Hoosier contingent is sophomore heavyweight Dave Herman. In his first trip to the championships, Herman grapples Jon May (Nebraska) in the first round, setting up a possible second-round run-in with No. 3-seeded and 2006 Big Ten runner-up Greg Wagner (Michigan). Wagner owns a 2-0 record over Herman this season. Herman's half of the bracket also includes two-time defending national champion No. 2-seeded Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State), No. 10-seeded Dustin Fox (Northwestern) and Matthew Weight (Illinois).
The Hoosiers begin their quest for another solid finish at NCAAs, national championships and All-American honors on Thursday, March 16, with the first round of the 2006 NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City.
