ST. LOUIS – Utah Valley University 149-pounder Josh Wilson ended his first NCAA tournament run on day two after falling in overtime to Illinois’ Eric Terrazas in the third session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Friday. Wilson finished with a 2-2 overall record at the `Big Show’.
“Overall he wrestled well but he looked tired in that last match,” UVU head coach Greg Williams said. “He put himself in a great position on that last shot in overtime but I think fatigue played a part.”
“The whole tournament I think he went out there to win and didn’t look intimidated by anybody. Josh is one of those guys that I think will take back a lot a positives from this experience and will plan on being on the award stand next year.”
Wilson (20-12), who went 2-1 on Thursday, opened up in the wrestleback bracket Friday morning against Terrazas (26-12) and needed three more wins to assure him self an All-American finish.
The Wolverine junior was also looking for a little revenge against Terrazas after he dropped a 6-3 decision to him earlier this season.
Wilson looked determined in the early stages as he scored the first two points of the contest with a takedown just 45 seconds into the match. Terrazas, who was ranked 17th just one spot higher than Wilson in the final coaches’ poll, countered however in the frame with an escape to trail just 2-1 at the end of the first period.
Neither individual scored in the second period but Terrazas managed to ride Wilson out in the frame to gain over a minute of riding time. In the third, Wilson decided to start neutral and got close to a late takedown but time expired before he could secure it as the bout headed to overtime tied at 2-all.
In the first sudden victory overtime period, Wilson got very close to scoring another takedown but Terrazas managed to take control and get a takedown of his own to win the contest 4-2 and move on.
Wilson opened his inaugural NCAA Tournament run by winning his first two matches over Missouri’s Kyle Bradley, 7-3, and Rutgers’ Mario Mason, 4-2 (OT), on Thursday. He then dropped a 7-2 contest to No. 2 and undefeated Jamal Parks of Oklahoma State in the round of 16 before being eliminated by Terrazas on Friday.
The trip to the NCAA Championships by Wilson, marked the third straight season that UVU has been represented at Nationals after the Wolverines sent three wrestlers each of the past two seasons.
“It’s fun to be here and an honor to have made it but I’m disappointed because I didn’t reach my goal (of becoming an All-American),” Wilson said. “Anything other than becoming an All-American is a disappointment in my eyes. I had some opportunities in that last match (against Terrazas) but I just couldn’t finish my shots.”
“It gives me a lot of motivation for next year however. Being here makes me realize that I shouldn’t just shoot to All-American but to place high in this tournament.”
