March 4, 2005
PSU Wrestler knocked out of NCAA Championships
NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Plymouth State University's two-time New England wrestling champion has been eliminated from the NCAA Division III National Championships, hosted by St. Olaf College.
Senior Nate Kittredge (Vergennes, Vt.), a
184-pounder making his first NCAA appearance, was eliminated after
two tough losses on Friday. The four-time All-New England wrester
completes the season with a 31-8 record, and a career mark of
105-23.
Kittredge found himself facing the tournament's #2 seed in the first round, junior Duane Bastress (East Berlin, Pa.) of York College (Pa.). Bastress defeated Kittredge, 10-3, improving his record to 35-2 and sending the PSU wrestler into the backdraw.
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The Panther wrestler met junior Ben Dictus (Kimberly, Wis.) of
Lawrence University (Wis.) in his next match, and was eliminated
with a 4-3 double-overtime decision. Dictus nearly won the bout in
regulation, taking Kittredge down with 20 seconds remaining in the
third period, but Kittredge recorded a reversal with 12 seconds
left to tie the match at 3-3 and force extra wrestling. After a
scoreless overtime period, Dictus escaped Kittredge's grasp and
then rode Kittredge out for 30 seconds for the one-point win.
Kittredge had qualified for the NCAA's two years ago but missed the event with an injury. The Panthers are led by third-year head coach Donnie Perrin and second-year assistant Jason Holder. Perrin is stepping down at the end of the year and Holder is taking over as head coach.
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