Palmer and Tirico Defeated in NCAA Wrestling's Second Round
3/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. - After posting impressive victories to reach the round of 16 in the 2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Columbia's two representatives, junior Matt Palmer and first-year Sal Tirico, were defeated by third-seeded opponents.
Palmer (Germantown, Md.) defeated Donny Reynolds of Illinois, 4-1, in the opening round at 174 pounds. In the round of 16, however, he was pinned by 3rd-seeded Mark Perry of Iowa, in 4:56.
Palmer had met Reynolds twice before, both times in the prestigious Midlands Open at Northwestern. In December of 2004, he was forced to take an injury default to Reynolds, while in 2005 the Illinoisan carded a 4-1 win.
Tirico posted a 7-5 victory over Cody Becker of Millersville (Pa.) University, but lost his second round match to third-seeded Cory Cooperman of Lehigh, 9-1. Tirico (Lodi, N.J.) had met Cooperman earlier this month in the EIWA Championships, where the eventual EIWA champion beat the Lion, 11-2.
The Columbia men will continue in the consolation bracket on Friday.
Players Mentioned
