North Carolina State University Athletics
Three from @PackWrestle Reach Podium at University Nationals
6/5/2017 12:35:00 PM | Wrestling
RALEIGH, N.C. – Three members of the 2017-18 NC State wrestling team earned podium finishes this past weekend at the University Nationals in Akron, Ohio, in the University Freestyle division. With their top-eight finishes, Pete Renda, Malik McDonald, and Michael Boykin all earned All-American honors.
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Coming off of his redshirt season, Pete Renda was the runner-up at 86 kg. Renda cruised into the quarterfinals with three straight wins, by a combined 32-1. In the quarters, Renda defeated two-time NCAA qualifier Ricky Robertson of Wisconsin 10-0, then in the semifinals he defeated Ryan Preisch of Lehigh, also a two-time NCAA qualifier, 10-4. In the finals, Renda narrowly fell to two-time All-American and 2016 national champion Myles Martin of Ohio State, 4-2.
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Teammates Malik McDonald and Michael Boykin battled in the fifth place bout at 125 kg.
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McDonald, a 2017 NCAA Qualifier at 197 pounds, moved up a weight class this past weekend and competed at 125 kg. McDonald started with three straight wins, by a combined 22-5 score, before dropping into the consolation bracket. After another pair of wins, McDonald fell just a win shy of advancing to the third place bout. In his final match, McDonald downed his teammate Boykin 3-0 to claim fifth place.
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Boykin racked up four straight wins, by a combined 39-11, before losing his first match of the event.
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In addition to those placements, the Wolfpack also had five that reached the Consolation Round of 8: Will Clark (61 kg), Jamal Morris (65 kg), Kevin Jack (70 kg), Lee Davis (74 kg), and Brian Hamann (74 kg).
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Coming off of his redshirt season, Pete Renda was the runner-up at 86 kg. Renda cruised into the quarterfinals with three straight wins, by a combined 32-1. In the quarters, Renda defeated two-time NCAA qualifier Ricky Robertson of Wisconsin 10-0, then in the semifinals he defeated Ryan Preisch of Lehigh, also a two-time NCAA qualifier, 10-4. In the finals, Renda narrowly fell to two-time All-American and 2016 national champion Myles Martin of Ohio State, 4-2.
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Teammates Malik McDonald and Michael Boykin battled in the fifth place bout at 125 kg.
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McDonald, a 2017 NCAA Qualifier at 197 pounds, moved up a weight class this past weekend and competed at 125 kg. McDonald started with three straight wins, by a combined 22-5 score, before dropping into the consolation bracket. After another pair of wins, McDonald fell just a win shy of advancing to the third place bout. In his final match, McDonald downed his teammate Boykin 3-0 to claim fifth place.
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Boykin racked up four straight wins, by a combined 39-11, before losing his first match of the event.
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In addition to those placements, the Wolfpack also had five that reached the Consolation Round of 8: Will Clark (61 kg), Jamal Morris (65 kg), Kevin Jack (70 kg), Lee Davis (74 kg), and Brian Hamann (74 kg).
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