#WrestleNYC: Renda Places Third at NCAAs with Tech Fall Win
3/19/2016 2:23:00 PM | Wrestling
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Entering as the No. 13 seed at 184 pounds, NC State's Pete Renda put together a string of upsets and picked up his first All-American honors and finished third at this weekend's NCAA Championships. On his way to the third place, Renda defeated the #4, #5, #8 and #9 seeds with his final win in the 3rd/4th place bout being an 18-3 technical fall win over #8 Nolan Boyd of Oklahoma State.
Tonight, NC State's Nick Gwiazdowski will go for this third straight NCAA title at heavyweight in his final collegiate match. Coverage starts at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
In his third straight trip to the NCAAs, Renda had his most impressive showing - with his only look to top-seed and defending national champion Gabe Dean of Cornell.
Renda won his first match of the day to reach the 3rd/4th place bout in dramatic fashion. Renda scored his third upset of the weekend with a 5-4 win over #8 Matthew Miller of Navy. After a scoreless first, Renda started the second on top and turned Miller and got a four-point near fall to take the 4-0 lead going into the third. Miller started the final period on top, and also turned Renda and got his own four-point near fall to tie it 4-4. Renda then scored the escape point with just eight seconds left to advance with the 5-4 win.
The was no drama in Renda's second bout of the day, as he dominated #8 Boyd of Oklahoma State with an 18-3 tech fall. Renda put together four takedowns in the first period, and with a two-point near fall, went up 10-3 after the first. His second period started with a four-point near fall, followed by a second two-point near fall to go up 16-3. In the final period, Renda started on top, and after Boyd was hit with a stall, Renda rode him out the entire period to finish with 5:53 of ride time.
Tommy Gantt closed his NC State career with his first All-American season and an eighth place finish at the NCAAs. In today's 7th/8th place match, Gantt fell to #6 Joe Smith of Oklahoma State, 6-3. Smith recorded a pair of first period takedowns and with an escape to start the second, jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Gantt got an escape to start the third, and Smith was called for a second stall to close it to a 5-3 lead, but Smith added the ride time point for the final 6-3 margin.
Session 5 - Medal Round
184: #13 Pete Renda dec. #9 Matthew Miller (Navy) - 5-4
7th/8th Place Bout
157: #6 Joe Smith (Oklahoma St.) dec. #2 Tommy Gantt - 6-3
3rd/4th Place Bout
184: #13 Pete Renda tech fall #8 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) - 18-3
Gantt is the first NC State wrestle to earn All-American honors at 157 pounds, while Renda is the first from NC State to accomplish the feat at 184 pounds.
NC State's three All-Americans this season ties for the most in school history (1992). The Wolfpack has not had an All-American in three straight years since 1991-93, and the total of six All-Americans over the last three seasons is the most in a three-year span since 1991-93.
Heading into tonight's final session, NC State sits in 10th place with 49 points.
UP NEXT
Two-time defending national champion Nick Gwiazdowski closes out his collegiate career, making his third straight NCAA Finals appearance. #1 seed Gwiazdowksi will face #2 seed Kyle Snyder of Ohio State. The finals start at 8 p.m., and will be broadcast live on ESPN. Gwiazdowsk-Snyder will be the final match of the night.
Tonight, NC State's Nick Gwiazdowski will go for this third straight NCAA title at heavyweight in his final collegiate match. Coverage starts at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
In his third straight trip to the NCAAs, Renda had his most impressive showing - with his only look to top-seed and defending national champion Gabe Dean of Cornell.
Renda won his first match of the day to reach the 3rd/4th place bout in dramatic fashion. Renda scored his third upset of the weekend with a 5-4 win over #8 Matthew Miller of Navy. After a scoreless first, Renda started the second on top and turned Miller and got a four-point near fall to take the 4-0 lead going into the third. Miller started the final period on top, and also turned Renda and got his own four-point near fall to tie it 4-4. Renda then scored the escape point with just eight seconds left to advance with the 5-4 win.
The was no drama in Renda's second bout of the day, as he dominated #8 Boyd of Oklahoma State with an 18-3 tech fall. Renda put together four takedowns in the first period, and with a two-point near fall, went up 10-3 after the first. His second period started with a four-point near fall, followed by a second two-point near fall to go up 16-3. In the final period, Renda started on top, and after Boyd was hit with a stall, Renda rode him out the entire period to finish with 5:53 of ride time.
Tommy Gantt closed his NC State career with his first All-American season and an eighth place finish at the NCAAs. In today's 7th/8th place match, Gantt fell to #6 Joe Smith of Oklahoma State, 6-3. Smith recorded a pair of first period takedowns and with an escape to start the second, jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Gantt got an escape to start the third, and Smith was called for a second stall to close it to a 5-3 lead, but Smith added the ride time point for the final 6-3 margin.
Session 5 - Medal Round
184: #13 Pete Renda dec. #9 Matthew Miller (Navy) - 5-4
7th/8th Place Bout
157: #6 Joe Smith (Oklahoma St.) dec. #2 Tommy Gantt - 6-3
3rd/4th Place Bout
184: #13 Pete Renda tech fall #8 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State) - 18-3
Gantt is the first NC State wrestle to earn All-American honors at 157 pounds, while Renda is the first from NC State to accomplish the feat at 184 pounds.
NC State's three All-Americans this season ties for the most in school history (1992). The Wolfpack has not had an All-American in three straight years since 1991-93, and the total of six All-Americans over the last three seasons is the most in a three-year span since 1991-93.
Heading into tonight's final session, NC State sits in 10th place with 49 points.
UP NEXT
Two-time defending national champion Nick Gwiazdowski closes out his collegiate career, making his third straight NCAA Finals appearance. #1 seed Gwiazdowksi will face #2 seed Kyle Snyder of Ohio State. The finals start at 8 p.m., and will be broadcast live on ESPN. Gwiazdowsk-Snyder will be the final match of the night.
.@Peteza_Renda closes out NCAA Championship run with 18-3 tech fall for 3rd place at 184 pounds! #PackMentality pic.twitter.com/nyu1vBR3h2
— NC State Wrestling (@PackWrestle) March 19, 2016
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