March 19, 2004

St. Louis, Missouri - Five Stanford wrestlers are competing at this year's NCAA Championship Tournament. The Cardinal are led by Matt Gentry, ranked second in the nation at 157 pounds, who won both of his matches on the day and reached the quarterfinals. Although Gentry is the only Stanford wrestler still in contention for the title, three others are poised to move up the consolation bracket.

Gentry, Pac-10 champion and second seed in the tournament, won both his matches on the day. First he pinned Dave Miller of Rider University at 4:18. He then defeated Clarion's Chris Horning in an 8-4 decision. On Friday, Gentry will face Philip Simpson of Army in the third round of the championship bracket. Stanford's other Pac-10 champion, Imad Kharbush (174) did not fare as well, but is still alive in the consolation bracket. He lost his first match in a 7-2 decision to Matt Herrington of Penn and will face Leonel Sanchez of Cal State Fullerton on Friday morning. Kharbush defeated Sanchez 6-1 earlier this season in dual meet action, but lost to him in the final of the California Collegiate Invite in a 7-6 decision.

At 141 pounds, Brad Metzler won his first match of the day with a 5-0 decision over Derek Sola of Millersville. Metzler lost the second of the day's matches, falling 6-3 to Nate Gallick of Iowa State. Now in the consolation bracket, Metzler faces Kevin Artis of UNC-Greensboro. Also wrestling in the consolation bracket is Paul Gross (133). After losing his first round match 11-9 to Nebraska's Matt Keller, Gross redeemed himself by winning his first match in the wrestleback. Gross pinned Trent Goodale of Iowa at the 3:52 mark to stay alive in the tournament. Josh Keefe of Chattanooga is his first opponent on Friday.

True freshman Tanner Gardner lost both his matches on the day and is out of the brackets. He lost his first match to Mike Mormille of Cornell in a 4-2 decision and then fell to Matt Valenti (a number three seed) of Penn in a 10-7 decision.

The tournament continues Friday morning with quarterfinal action. Go to http://www.ncaasports.com/wrestling/mens for complete coverage of the day's action and check gostanford.com for daily updates.

125 pounds
Tanner Gardner (0-2); lost to Mike Mormille (Cornell), 4-2; lost to Matt Valenti (Penn), 10-7.

133 pounds
Paul Gross (1-1); lost to Matt Keller (Nebraska), 11-9; def. Trent Goodale (Iowa) by fall in 3:52.

141 pounds
Brad Metzler (1-1); def. Dereka Sola (Millersville), 5-0; lost to Nate Gallick (Iowa State), 6-3.

157 pounds
Matt Gentry (2-0); def. Dave Miller (Rider) by fall in 4:18; def. Chris Horning (Clarion), 8-4.

174 pounds
Imad Kharbush (0-1); lost to Matt Herrington (Penn), 7-2.