Connecticut Wrestling Online

NCAA Division I championships

Jack finishes third at 141 for Wolfpack

Connecticut Wrestling Online

ST. LOUIS, March 18 – Already a two-time All-American after winning a consolation round bout on Friday night, North Carolina State’s Kevin Jack (Danbury) finished third at 141 pounds Saturday with a pin over the man who beat him on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Jack (35-2) won two matches to finish third and pinned Wyoming’s Bryce Meredith in 6:20 to secure the win. For the second straight year, Meredith, a former Wolfpack teammate, beat Jack in the quarterfinals. On Friday, Jack lost, 6-5. A year ago, Jack lost in the quarterfinals by one point on riding time.

With his third place finish, No. 2 Jack is the first collegiate wrestler Connecticut to earn All-American honors twice and it’s the best finish by a Connecticut wrestler in the NCAA Division I tournament since Stamford’s John Engel won the 118 pound championship for Lehigh University in 1931.

“I thought it was an outstanding performance by him to come back after being disappointed in the quarterfinal,” North Carolina State head coach Pat Popolizio said. “He showed his character, his heart and his will to come back.

“He was in the same situation a year ago,” Popolizio said referring to a quarterfinal loss to Meredith. Jack lost his next match and fell one win shy of earning All-American honors. “The difference is he has a whole different attitude (this year). This kind of stuff defines who he is.”

Jack came from behind to beat No. 10 seed Meredith, who led 5-2 in the third period thanks to a pair of takedowns. But in the third period, the two were scrambling and Jack leaned back and pinned Meredith to the mat for a victory with less than 45 seconds left in the bout (6:20).

"Losing in the quarterfinals isn't the easy thing to do coming back," Jack said. "But I had to keep pushing through one match at a time."

Jack won his consolation semifinal with a 3-1 win over Rutgers’ Anthony Ashneault. Jack took the lead with a takedown with eight seconds left in the first period and escaped in the second period to built a three-point advantage. It was Jack’s third win of the season over Ashneault.

Jack finishes his season 35-2 overall. His 92 career wins already places him seventh in school history. He became the ninth wrestler in school history to earn All-American honors twice in wrestling.

Despite loss, Jack earns All-American honors for 2nd time

Connecticut Wrestling Online

ST. LOUIS, March 17 – For the second straight year, Wyoming’s Bryce Meredith foiled the plans of North Carolina State’s Kevin Jack (Danbury) at the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament. Meredith, a former Wolfpack wrestler, upset No. 2 Jack, 6-5 in the quarterfinals at 141 pounds on Friday.

A year ago, Meredith also beat Jack in the quarterfinals on riding time, 5-4.

However, Jack rebounded nicely on Friday in the fourth round of the consolation bracket, beating Penn State’s Jimmy Gulibon, 6-4, to earn All-American honors for the second time in three seasons. He is the first Connecticut wrestler to earn All-American honors in multiple years at the Division I level.

At 285 pounds, Somers’ Doug Vollaro of Lehigh University won three straight consolation round bouts but fell one win shy of All-American status, dropping a 4-1 decision to No. 8. Michael Kroells of Minnesota on Friday night.

Jack (32-2) had won 29 straight matches going into the quarterfinals. Meredith grabbed a 2-0 lead with the first takedown but Jack escaped within 10 seconds to cut the lead to one. A second period reversal gave Jack a 3-2 lead before Meredith escaped to tie the bout at 3-3.

In the third period, Meredith took a 4-3 lead with an escape with 1:25 remaining and took a 6-3 lead with a takedown with 35 seconds remaining. Jack got a reversal with eight seconds left but there wasn’t enough time left to score additional points.

Against Gulibon, both wrestlers had first period takedowns. An escape by Jack with 1:46 remaining in the second period tied the match at 3-3. In the third period, Jack got a takedown with 1:35 lead to take a 5-3 lead. He got an additional point for over one minute of riding time in a 6-4 victory.

Jack will face No. 14 Thomas Thorn of Minnesota in the consolation semifinal on Saturday morning.

Vollaro (24-10) beat two ranked wrestlers before being eliminated by Kroells. Vollaro beat No. 6 Austin Schaefer of Oklahoma State, 5-1 in the second round of the consolation bracket. Vollaro had a 2-1 lead after two periods and extended the lead with a third period escape. A takedown with 12 seconds remaining secured a 5-1 victory.

Against No. 14 Thomas Haines of Lock Haven, Vollaro had two takedowns in the first period and added an escape and a third takedown in the second period of a 7-3 victory.

Kroells took a 1-0 lead with an early second period escape. He rode Vollaro for over a minute in the third period to earn another point. Vollaro did escape with 1:06 left in the bout and tried to get a takedown but could find few openings. Kroells took advantage of a desperate Vollaro in the third period for a late takedown to secure a 4-1 victory.

Vollaro finishes his collegiate career with a record of 72-46.

Danbury's Kevin Jack advances to NCAA quarterfinals

Connecticut Wrestling Online

ST. LOUIS, March 16 – Danbury’s Kevin Jack has looked sharp in his first two NCAA Division I wrestling tournament matches. The North Carolina State junior won two matches and hasn’t given up a point, outscoring his two opponents, 14-0.

Jack now advances to the quarterfinals at 141 pounds where he will meet Wyoming’s Bryce Meredith, who beat Jack a year ago, 5-4 in riding time in the quarterfinals. Meredith, ranked No. 10 in the nation, is 31-6 and is a former teammate on the Wolfpack.

Somers' native Doug Vollaro (285) made his NCAA Tournament debut and won two of three matches Thursday. He will wrestle Friday in the consolation round.

Jack, who is ranked No. 2 at 141, rolled in a 10-0 win over Ronald Perry of Lock Haven in his opening round victory. Jack had a pair of takedowns and two escapes but Perry gave up four points for being penalized for stalling in the bout.

In his second round victory, Jack (31-1) had a takedown and escape in a 4-0 win over No. 15 Tyler Smith of Bucknell, who was also penalized a point for stalling. Jack had several good takedown opportunities but Smith was able to hold Jack at bay and create several stalemates.

“I was a little rusty after getting back out there,” Jack said. “I would have liked to score a few more points on the mat but at this point of the year, a win is a win. I need to keep pushing and keep winning.”

Now, Jack gets another opportunity to wrestle Meredith. A year ago, the loss cost him a chance at a national championship. After earning All-American honors as a freshman (fifth), Jack finished outside of the top eight a year ago.

“I think last year was an extremely valuable experience, something where hopefully now he is reevaluating and saying you can't take things for granted because of the success you experienced the year before,” North Carolina State coach Pat Popolizio said. “He carries a chip on his shoulder now. He is in control of his destiny right now, and I think you will see the best wrestling of him coming up. He is very relaxed, very confident, and technically he is one of the best guys I have ever been around.”

Jack has won 29 straight matches, 20 by eight points or more.

Vollaro, participating in his first ever NCAA Tournament, won his preliminary round bout with a 3-1 win over Zack Parker of Ohio. Vollaro (22-9) got a takedown with 11 seconds remaining to secure the win.

In the first round, No. 5 Nick Nevills of Penn State got a takedown with 38 seconds left to beat Vollaro, 4-2. But Vollaro rebounded with a 3-1 win over Cory Gilliard-Daniel of North Carolina thanks to a takedown with nine seconds remaining.

The quarterfinals are Friday morning and are available on ESPN3. The semifinals are Friday night and will be on EPSN3 and on ESPN.