Kolodzik Falls In NCAA Semifinal, But Becomes Tigers' Sixth Multiple-Time All-American

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NCAA RECAPS: Session 3 l Session 2 l Session 1
HIGHLIGHT/INTERVIEW VIDEOS: Kolodzik On Quarterfinal l Kolodzik On Round 2
MORE LINKS: Weekend Preview l Video: Schleifer Makes Princeton History l Princeton Takes 3rd at EIWAs

Sophomore Matthew Kolodzik made even more history during his second postseason with the Princeton wrestling team, but he'll need to wait another year to author the chapter he wants to write the most. Lock Haven senior Ronnie Perry continued his own dream weekend by scoring a late takedown of Kolodzik in the NCAA semifinal to score a 5-3 win and advance to the NCAA championship Saturday night.

Kolodzik, who became Princeton's sixth multiple-time All-American Friday morning with a 4-3 comeback win over third-seeded Grant Leeth of Missouri, tried to rally once again in the semifinal. After a scoreless opening period, Kolodzik scored an escape to start the second period, but he was hit with a late stalling call to make it 1-1 entering the third. Perry escaped early in the third to lead 2-1, but for the second time Friday, Kolodzik had a takedown ready for late in the match. He hit a deep shot midway through the third to lead 3-2, and got in solid position on the ride. He wasn't quite able to get the full minute before Perry escaped to make it 3-3.

The final takedown belonged to Perry, who converted a shot right in front of his coaches with about 15 seconds remaining. Kolodzik tried a flurry of moves to cause a reversal, but the Lock Haven senior, who took out 2nd-seeded Brandon Sorenson of Iowa Thursday night, held on for the victory.

Kolodzik will return to the Quicken Loans Arena Saturday morning to compete for his spot on the medal podium, which can be anywhere from third through sixth. That finish will be Princeton's best since 2002, when Greg Parker '03 reached the NCAA final. Kolodzik's first match Saturday will be against the winner of an earlier match between Sorenson and eighth-seeded Boo Lewallen of Oklahoma State.

FROM FRIDAY MORNING
Trailing 3-2 and down more than 1:00 of riding time deep into his NCAA quarterfinal match, Princeton sophomore Matthew Kolodzik knew he didn't need a miracle to pull off his second straight upset in Cleveland.

No, he just needed a takedown. And he got it.

Seconds after swiping at the right ankle of third-seeded Grant Leeth, Kolodzik shot at the left leg, ducked and got behind for a lightning-quick takedown with less than 25 seconds remaining. The timing of the score was critical, as he was able to trip Leeth later and ride out the period to eliminate the ride time point and become Princeton's sixth NCAA semifinalist in program history, and its first since Greg Parker's memorable run to the 2002 NCAA final.

The 11^th seed became Princeton's lowest-seeded NCAA semifinalist ever, and he is now the sixth multiple-time All-American in program history (Bradley Glass '53, Emil Deliere '72, John Sefter '78, John Orr '85, and Greg Parker '03 are the others).

Unlike his first day, when he grabbed leads in both of his matches, Kolodzik had to come from behind in his quarterfinal. He gave up the only takedown of the first period and took more than 30 seconds to escape. He escaped again in the second, but by then the ride time had reached 1:27. Kolodzik got that down to 1:09 to open the third, but a Leeth escape gave him a 3-2 lead with the ride time advantage.

Kolodzik was unfazed, and his composure was rewarded with a berth in tonight's semifinal round, scheduled for 8 pm on ESPN. Amazingly, after knocking off two single-digit seeds to reach this point, he will be the higher seed in the semifinal. Kolodzik will face 15^th-seeded Ronald Perry of Lock Haven; Perry has been on a roll, including a 3-2 Round of 16 win over second-seeded Brandon Sorensen of Iowa.

Kolodzik and Perry have not faced each other this season.

Kolodzik is the last man standing for Princeton, as freshman teammate Patrick Brucki fell 2-0 to Jacob Smith of West Virginia in his first consolation match. Brucki was close on a couple early shots, but Smith fought them off and got to the second period scoreless. A quick escape gave him a 1-0 lead entering the third, and the Mountaineer senior was able to ride the Tiger rookie for 2:00 and a 2-0 win.

Brucki's terrific debut season concludes with a team-best 28 wins — though Kolodzik could match that total Friday night — and several impressive victories over ranked opponents.

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