BLANCHARD POSTS WIN AT NCAA II WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 10, 2001

NSU freshman heavyweight Baron Blanchard (Kindred, N.D.) posted a win in the first round of wrestlebacks at the NCAA II National Championships in Greeley, Colo., Saturday.

Each of the three Wolves earning bids to compete in the national tournament drew very tough first-round draws. Sophomore 184-pounder Joey Krause (Aberdeen) drew the nation's sixth-ranked wrestler in his weight class, Southern Colorado's Cory Hintz. The ranking was accurate, as Hintz would place 6th in the tournament. NSU senior 197-pounder Dale Daugherty (Huron) drew the fourth-ranked wrestler in his class, Shippensburg's Kevin Boccela. Both Krause and Daugherty were ousted from the tournament in the first round of wrestlebacks.

Blanchard's first-round opponent was even more challenging, as he drew the nation's top-ranked heavyweight in South Dakota State's Jon Madsen. Madsen advanced to the championship round Saturday night. After losing to Madsen in the first round, Blanchard bounced back by pinning Findlay's Ray Bond at 3:20 in the first wrestleback round. But it was as far as his comeback trail would go, as his successful first season with the Wolves ended with a loss to St. Cloud State's Dustin Darveaux, who would move on to place seventh in the heavyweight division.

For complete brackets and results of the NCAA II 2001 Wrestling Championships, visit host University of Northern Colorado's website at www.uncbears.com.

NSU Results from Nationals;

NCAA  Division II National Championships

Hosted by University of Northern Colorado (Greeley Colorado)

NSU Results

184- Joey Krause, NSU, lost by maj.dec. to Cory Hintz, S. Colorado, 14-4;
        Krause lost by dec. to Jim Custred, Pitt-Johnstown, 9-4

197- Dale Daugherty, NSU, lost by dec.to Kevin Boccella, Shippensburg PA, 14-7;
        Daugherty lost by dec. to Brian Kraemer, N. Dakota St, 10-6

HWT- Baron Blanchard, NSU, lost by fall to Jon Madsen, S. Dakota St, 1:11;
        Blanchard won by fall over Ray Bond, Findlay OH, 3:20;
        Blanchard lost by fall to Dustin Darveaux, St. Cloud St, 5:36