Kolodzik, Schleifer Post Perfect Days, Continue Hunt For Princeton's First Midlands Title

Friday, December 29

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Princeton University

Midlands Championships (Day 1)

Photo by: Lisa Elfstrum

Kolodzik, Schleifer Post Perfect Days, Continue Hunt For Princeton's First Midlands Title

December 29, 2017 | Wrestling

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Matthew Kolodzik and Jonathan Schleifer are the only two wrestlers who have ever represented Princeton in a Midlands final. Both will enter Saturday's final day of the 2017 Championships one win away from a second final, and two wins away from bringing the Tigers' their first Midlands individual championship.

Kolodzik and Schleifer joined assistant coach Nate Jackson, who is wrestling unattached after an All-America career at Indiana, in the semifinal round after impressive opening efforts Friday in Day 1 of the 55th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, which are being held at the Sears Centre Arena. Both of Saturday's sessions will be broadcast on FloWrestling and BTN Plus (both $). Each mat is a different stream on BTN2Go, while Flo will be here. The Big Ten Network will not be broadcasting the final sessions as they have in years past.

Kolodzik, the third seed at 149, was in total control of his first three matches, but he was pushed hard in the quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Ryan Deakin of the host Northwestern Wildcats. Kolodzik, ranked seventh in the nation, took the ninth-ranked Deakin down for the only takedown of the first period, and he was able to maintain his slight advantage throughout for a 7-5 win.

Now 10-0 on the season, Kolodzik will face second-seeded Justin Oliver of Central Michigan when the semifinals begin at 1 pm ET (12 pm local); Oliver is currently the third-ranked wrestler in the nation, and he is also a returning Midlands finalist.

Schleifer became Princeton's first Midlands finalist in 2015, and he knocked off fourth-seeded May Bethea of Penn 10-4 to conclude a dominant first day (a fall, a major and a 10-4 decision). Like Kolodzik, Schleifer drew first blood with an early takedown, but it was a takedown and nearfall points in the second that would provide the insurance in his win.

Schleifer improved to 6-2 on the day, and he will have a chance to make a major splash in the semifinal when he takes on top-seeded Anthony Valencia in the semifinal.

Jackson, who is in his first year as a Princeton assistant while also continuing his wrestling career, earned the top seed at 184 and did not disappoint. His 7-4 win over Pittsburgh's Nino Bonaccorsi moved him into a semifinal showdown with fourth-seeded Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan.

Three Tigers were knocked out of the championship draw in the quarterfinals. Pat D'Arcy couldn't get the takedown he needed in a 2-1 loss to Nate Limmex of Purdu e, while classmate Mike D'Angelo fell 5-0 to third-seeded Luke Zilverberg of Sourth Dakota. D'Angelo, who was seeded 11^th, did avenge a Navy Classic loss during the second round, when he defeated Old Dominion's Larry Early 10-4.

Freshman Pat Brucki, the 11^th seed at 197, was 2-2 with third-seeded Cash Wilcke of Iowa late in the third period, but he was down 1:02 in riding time and needed to be aggressive. Ultimately, Wilcke was able to use that to secure his own takedown for a 5-2 victory. Each returns to the consolation draw Saturday, as Princeton looks to top its best ever finish of 8th in 2015; the Tigers ended Friday in seventh place with 45.5 points, 1.5 more than Purdue.