Columbia
NCAA Championships
Matt Palmer Concludes His Career As All-American After Taking 8th at NCAA Wrestling
3/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Matt Palmer wrote the final chapter Saturday at the NCAA Wrestling Championships when he lost the bout for seventh or eighth to Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan, 7-3. Palmer thus finished eighth for the second time in three seasons ? once each at 165 and 174 pounds.
Since the top eight finishers in each weight class earn All-American honors, Palmer became the first Lion wrestler ever to be an All-American twice.
For his final match, he drew a formidable foe in Sinnott, the seventh seed. Exhibiting excellent strength and quickness, the CMU junior struck quickly with a first-period takedown. Palmer escaped to trail 2-1 after one period.
The scoring was the same in the second period, Sinnott posting a takedown with 1:11 gone, Palmer escaping and now trailing,. 4-2. Sinnott began the third period in control, and proceeded to stay that way with a powerful ride. Palmer finally escaped his grasp with 1:09 remaining.
He was just one point behind at 4-3, but was unable to generate any offense, and Sinnott's late takedown, plus the riding time point, gave the Central Michigan matman the match by a 7-3 score.
Palmer finished the season 17-5, and his career with a record of 87-26.
MATT PALMER at the 2007 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Palace at Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills, Mich.
174 Pounds
Defeated Doug Umbehauer, Rider, 7-4
Defeated Nick Hayes, Northwestern, 8-3
Lost by fall to Ben Askren, Missouri, 4:51 (Quarterfinals)
Defeated Josh Weitzel, Oklahoma, 4-3
Lost to Matt Stolpinski, Navy, 11-8
Lost to Brandon Sinnott, Central Michigan, 7-3 (7th/8th Place Bout)
