Wrestling brings home two All-Americans

Heidelberg College went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, hoping to place all five of its national qualifiers on the podium by the end of the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Tournament. But after battling through the two days of competition, only two were left standing. Seniors Ryan Fogliano (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) and Ryan Bowers (Lima, Ohio / Elida) placed seventh and sixth respectively for the Berg at 197 and heavyweight, earning All-American status.
 
For Fogliano, a two-time Ohio Athletic Conference runner-up who finally captured the title and a national bid in February, the tournament held mixed emotions. He and Bowers became just the ninth and tenth individuals to place at nationals in the program’s history. But a loss in the consolation quarterfinals that could have guaranteed him at least a sixth-place finish to a wrestler he had defeated twice previously was heartbreaking, regardless of the 197-pound grappler having already grabbed a definite spot on the All-American list. Fogliano fell to Alec Bonander from Luther College 6-3, but came back in the match for seventh and eighth to defeat Andy Neumann from Concordia Moorhead 10-2. Neumann had beat Fogliano 7-4 in the first round of competition on Friday. Fogliano finished the tournament 2-2, 16-3 on the year.
 
Bowers, making his second appearance at the tournament, improved greatly upon his trip a year ago. In 2007, the Student Prince just missed earning All-American honors by one bout. This year he made it all the way to the semifinal round and was guaranteed a place before losing his first match of the tournament to Dan Laurent from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, who pinned Bowers in 6:25. Bowers lost his next two matches and placed sixth. He finished the two-day event at 2-3, 32-8 on the year.
 
The three other wrestlers that made the trip to Cedar Rapids. Jerrad Hoxie (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Northern) at 125, Nick Sanchez (Lima, Ohio / Bath) at 141, and Zach Mizer (Canton, Ohio / Perry) at 149, all went 1-2 without placing.
 
Hoxie, the lone freshman at the show for Heidelberg, lost his first match, won his second 14-0 against Ethan Cohen from Williams, and then was defeated again by David Penny from Ohio Northern University 7-4. Hoxie had beaten Penny in the final round of the OAC Tournament 7-3 to earn his spot at nationals, while the Polar Bear was given the lone at-large bid as voted upon by the conference coaches. Hoxie finished his inaugural campaign in the red, orange, and black with a record of 31-15.
 
Sanchez, a three-time qualifier, won his first match against James Beshada from the Merchant Marine Academy 7-4, but lost his next two, ending his final shot for the coveted All-American status. Sanchez ends his career at Heidelberg with a 27-6 record and 104-37 over his four years as a Student Prince. He stands third on the all-time career win list, just behind ’06 grad Mark Zimmerman and head coach Jason Miller, who holds the top spot with his record of 136-38.
 
Lastly, Mizer, much like Hoxie, lost his first match-up, won his second against Matthew Shank from Gettysburg 2-1, and then lost again and was eliminated. Mizer completes his 2008 campaign with a 29-12 record.
 
Heidelberg stood 15th out of 60 teams headed into the championship round. The Berg finished its regular season 11-2 overall, while Bowers’ 32 wins ties him for seventh on the program’s single-season win list, Hoxie stand 11th with his 31, Mizer makes the list at No. 16 with 29, and Sanchez squeaked his way in o the 21st spot with his 27 wins. It is the third time Sanchez appears on the list.
 
Posted on March 8, 2008