March 19, 2009

Session I Brackets in PDF Format

St. Louis, Mo. - Freshman 165-pounder Nick Amuchastegui shocked a defending All-American, and both Stanford wrestlers won their session-one matches today to begin the 2009 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. Amuchastegui and 197-pound teammate Luke Feist will move on to tonight's second round, which begins at 6:30 p.m. (CT).

Amuchastegui, one of five at-large selections in the 165-pound bracket, wasted no time proving himself to the field. In the first NCAA Championship match of his career, the redshirt freshman shocked Missouri junior Nick Marable, a 2008 All-American (3rd place), the two-time defending Big 12 Champion, the preseason favorite to win the national title and the tournament's fifth overall seed. The loss knocked Marable (23-7) out of the championship bracket, and earns Amuchastegui (29-6) his first career NCAA Championship victory.

After giving up a takedown in the first period, Amuchastegui rode Marable out in the second and faced a 2-1 deficit heading into the final frame. The Stanford freshman escaped to tie the match at two, then scored the winning takedown with less than 30 seconds remaining. With the takedown, Amuchastegui also picked up enough riding time to snag another point and come away with a 5-2 decision.

It was the second time in Amuchastegui's career that he has bested a ranked opponent. In November, the Stanford rookie upended then-No. 11 Tyler Sherfey to win the title at the Cowboy Open.

The win was the 29th of the year for Amuchastegui, tying him with teammate Zack Giesen (2007) for third place in the school's record book for wins in a rookie season.

In tonight's second round, he will face the tournament's No. 12 seed, Jarrod King (ranked No. 13) of Edinboro, and battle for a trip to the championship quarterfinals.

Feist (23-13) began his third-straight championship appearance on a positive note as well, topping Palo Alto High School grad John Hall of Boston University in the first round, 6-1.

After a scoreless first period, Feist went to work on top and put Hall on his back twice. The pair of near falls gave Feist a 5-1 lead heading into the third period, and a Feist escape rounded out the scoring.

Feist moves on to face a familiar opponent in his second match tonight, Pac-10 rival Brent Chriswell of Boise State. Chriswell, who won the 197-pound conference title this year, defeated Feist 6-4 in a dual in early February. Chriswell is the tournament's overall No. 3 seed and is ranked sixth nationally.

Stanford Results
NCAA Championships
St. Louis, MO
March 19, 2009

165 pounds

Nick Amuchastegui (1-0): dec. No. 6 (No. 5 seed) Nick Marable (Missouri), 5-2.

197 pounds

Luke Feist (1-0): dec. John Hall (Boston University), 6-1.