Hluschak secures All-American status at NCAA Tournament
By: Brett Fischer
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 4/6/07 at 8:14 PM EST
Last update: 4/6/07 at 8:14 PM EST
Originally published: 4/6/07 at 8:14 PM EST
Last update: 4/6/07 at 8:14 PM EST
Thanks to his hard work and dedication throughout the season and CAA Tournament, Hluschak received a wildcard and was one of four Drexel wrestlers to compete in the national championships, along with Steve Mytych, Nick Kozar and Chris Cowen.
Hluschak was determined to do better in this year's Nationals, where he didn't win a match.
Hluschak started off strong, defeating Jonny Bonilla-Bowman 18-12. He followed that match with a shocking win over Iowa's Ryan Morningstar, 3-1, when he scored the only takedown of the match in overtime. Hluschak's two wins earned him the opportunity to face top seeded Trent Paulson of Iowa State.
The non-seeded wrestler from Drexel would not be intimidated by the No. 1 wrestler in the country.
"There were matches where I've been down 5-0 or 6-0 and I may not have fought back to win, but I fought my hardest and at least made it a competitive match," Hluschak said.
Very few people knew it at the time, but the match between Hluschak and Paulson featured two of the best wrestlers in the country. For wrestling coach Jack Childs, this was one of the most memorable moments of the entire tournament.
"When the score was 7-7, the announcer said that you have to watch mat six and this is the match of the tournament," Childs said. "There were over 14,000 people there and with the emotion and noise, I've never felt anything like that in my life."
Hluschak almost pinned Paulson, but ended up falling 12-7. While Hluschak lost the gutsy match to Trent Paulson of Iowa State, he proved to wrestlers, coaches and fans across the country that he deserved to be at the NCAA Tournament. But he wouldn't settle on that.
Hluschak continued his dominance and picked up yet another victory, this time over Lehigh's David Nakasone, 5-2, in the consolation bracket. In the ensuing match, Hluschak knocked off Michael Chandler of Missouri, 10-5 making him just one win away from clinching All-American status.
It took overtime, but Hluschak upset seconded seeded Brian Stith by getting a take down in the extra session, giving him All-American status.
Hluschak was determined to do better in this year's Nationals, where he didn't win a match.
Hluschak started off strong, defeating Jonny Bonilla-Bowman 18-12. He followed that match with a shocking win over Iowa's Ryan Morningstar, 3-1, when he scored the only takedown of the match in overtime. Hluschak's two wins earned him the opportunity to face top seeded Trent Paulson of Iowa State.
The non-seeded wrestler from Drexel would not be intimidated by the No. 1 wrestler in the country.
"There were matches where I've been down 5-0 or 6-0 and I may not have fought back to win, but I fought my hardest and at least made it a competitive match," Hluschak said.
Very few people knew it at the time, but the match between Hluschak and Paulson featured two of the best wrestlers in the country. For wrestling coach Jack Childs, this was one of the most memorable moments of the entire tournament.
"When the score was 7-7, the announcer said that you have to watch mat six and this is the match of the tournament," Childs said. "There were over 14,000 people there and with the emotion and noise, I've never felt anything like that in my life."
Hluschak almost pinned Paulson, but ended up falling 12-7. While Hluschak lost the gutsy match to Trent Paulson of Iowa State, he proved to wrestlers, coaches and fans across the country that he deserved to be at the NCAA Tournament. But he wouldn't settle on that.
Hluschak continued his dominance and picked up yet another victory, this time over Lehigh's David Nakasone, 5-2, in the consolation bracket. In the ensuing match, Hluschak knocked off Michael Chandler of Missouri, 10-5 making him just one win away from clinching All-American status.
It took overtime, but Hluschak upset seconded seeded Brian Stith by getting a take down in the extra session, giving him All-American status.
