W-A-T-C-H Championship Matches Here beginning at 8:00 PM EST
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Williams junior Ryan Malo’s 38th straight win of the season versus Division 3 competition has put him in the finals of the 197 lb. weight class at the NCAA Division 3 Championships for the second straight year.
Malo blanked Andy Moore of Wisconsin-La Crosse 6-0 to earn a spot in the championship bout. Malo scored two points in each round in claiming the semifinal match and extend his Division 3 winning streak.
Malo registered a takedown in the first period and was close to pinning Moore when the period expired. Moore chose the neutral position to start the second period and Malo was again able to take Moore down and secured two more points and again he was close to a pin, but was able ride Moore for most of the period.
Malo closed out the match with two more points in the third, while Moore was cautioned for stalling.
“Ryan was very focused and dominant in his match,” noted Eph head coach Dan DiCenzo. “He is looking very sharp. All year long he has taken it one match at a time and it has gotten him to where he is now – back in the finals.”
A year ago Malo lost in the finals to Jared Massey of Augsburg. This year Massey was undefeated until today’s semifinal bout. Massey, however, was upset by 5th-seeded Byron Tate of Wartburg 2-1 in OT. “Massey looked tired and Tate was excellent,” said DiCenzo. “Ryan was pointing to meeting up with Massey in the finals, but I have no doubt he will be ready to go against Tate. We’ve seen Tate before and he is very good. Tate finished 4th last year.”
Malo will carry a 46-4 record into tonight’s confrontation with Moore. The 46 wins by Malo is a Williams single season record.
