CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- Williams junior Ryan Malo had his 38-match Division III win streak snapped tonight in the finals of the 197 lb. championship match at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, IA, by Wartburg’s Byron Tate, 8-5.
Tate, a sophomore, was seeded fifth in the event and he defeated the defending champion and Malo, both undefeated wrestlers to win the title.
In the first period Tate was able to take down
Malo twice, but Malo was able to escape twice and the score was 4-2
in Tate’s favor. To start the second period Malo deferred and
Tate chose to be on his feet. Another takedown by Tate and another
escape by Malo made the score 6-3 in Tate’s favor.
Malo chose to be on top to open the third period and Tate escaped
to make it 7-3 and Malo responded with a takedown to narrow the
margin to 7-5, but an escape by Tate boosted the margin to 8-5.
Malo had control of Tate in the final moments of the third period
and was riding him hard, but he was unable to turn him or pin him.
“Right now there is nothing I can say to Ryan that will make him see that he had an unbelievable season,” said Eph head coach Dan DiCenzo. “That’s just the way it is when you have an ultra-competitive person like Ryan – anything short of first place is unacceptable in his mind.”
“Tate wrestled very well and beating Massey [defending champion] and Ryan shows he deserved the title, but by the same token Ryan did everything right all year long and it would be a shame for him to judge his season on this one match,” said DiCenzo. “I cannot be more proud of how hard and how well Ryan worked this year. He accomplished many things that no other Williams wrestler ever has and yet he feels unsatisfied because he did not win. He will be back next year to go for the title after he again works incredibly hard over the next year.”
Malo authored a single season record for most
wins at Williams this winter with 46. He lost for only the fifth
time this season tonight with the first four losses coming at the
hands of Division I competitors.
Malo became the first Eph to finish second twice at the NCAA
Championships as he earned All-America honors for the second year
in a row with his second consecutive second place finish. This
winter Malo competed against a dozen quality Division I wrestlers
going 8-4 with 7 pins at two very tough Division I tournaments.
Along with his Williams single season record for most wins, Malo also recorded a Williams single season mark of 38 pins in 2009-10. His 38 pins led all three NCAA Divisions. Last winter Malo also led all NCAA wrestlers when he recorded 24 pins.
Ryan Malo’s career mark at Williams now stands at 85-7
with an incredible 62 pins.
Williams finished in a tie for 23rd at the championships with 16
points.
