All-American Warner Sets New WJU Standard of Fourth

March 11, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After becoming the program's first All-American two years ago, Wheeling Jesuit's Dustin Warner set a new standard as he earned fourth place in the 133-weight class at the second day of the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships.  

Warner bettered his own finish of fifth two years ago in the 125-pound class, before he posted his fourth place on Saturday.  

The third-year Cardinal missed a single-leg takedown midway through the first period of his Semifinal match. Blake Bosch of MSU Moorhead came back and turned a takedown 30 seconds later into a fall.  

Warner shook off the Semifinal frustration with a dominating performance. Dustin had his way with LIU Post'

s Anthony Sparacio in a 7-1 decision.   In the third-place match, Dustin Kirk from King University (Tenn.) edged a 4-2 win over Warner.  

Warner recorded his third 20-plus win season at 22-4. He is now 80-24 in three seasons wearing the Cardinals singlet.  

WJU tied for 26th in the team standings with 14 points. Notre Dame College won the team national title with 103.5 points, 36.5 more than 2016 champion St. Cloud State.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the second time in three years, Wheeling Jesuit's Dustin Warner will be an NCAA Division II All-American. Warner posted a pair of Cardinals victories and led the WJU contingent at the NCAA DII National Championships.  

At 133, Warner recorded two decision wins and outscored his opponents, 9-3. Dustin moves on to Saturday's Semifinal round where he will battle Blake Bosch of MSU Moorhead. Warner will try to continue to better his 2015 All-American Fifth-place finish.  

"There were some mixed emotions today. Dustin accomplished another first in our program, becoming our first NCAA semifinalist," said WJU head coach Sean Doyle. "He continues to look great. He'll have the defending NCAA runner up tomorrow and he's ready to go."  

The Cardinals' Dominick Nania narrowly missed being assured of joining Warner as an All-American. Nania went 1-1 in his first two bouts, but he fell 5-0 in the consolation second round to Maryville (Mo.)' s James Krischke.  

"Dom ended an incredible career with us falling just short of his goal of becoming an All-American," noted Doyle. "Both of his opponents who beat him are placing. He's a two-time NCAA Qualifier and should be extremely proud of his career and what he's helped us build. He has helped take our program to a new level. We will miss him."

Terrance Fanning dropped a closer 12-7 opener, before his first National Championship appearance was cut short with a consolation first round defeat.  

"Terrance experienced the NCAA tournament for the first time and wrestled hard. I think he probably learned what is required to win matches at the national tournament and that will be of great value in his next two years," stressed the Cardinals coach. "He lost to two all Americans today and very much could have won both. Hopefully, this motivates him for when he returns."  

As a team, WJU sits in 24th place with 10.5 points. Notre Dame College leads the team standings with 56.0 points, 24.5 points ahead of McKendree (31.5).  

133
Warner opened his strong Friday effort with a 4-2 decision over Josh Walker of Upper Iowa. In the Quarterfinals, the WJU junior lifted and took down Airk Furseth of Wisconsin-Parkside at 1:09 in the first period. Warner rode him out the rest of the first period and repeated the same result in the second for a 4-0 lead. Furseth received a one-point stall penalty, but Warner posted the 5-1 win to move on and become WJU's first ever Semifinalist.  

Warner did not face MSU Moorhead's Bosch when the two teams faced each other in Desert Duals in Las Vegas on Dec. 19. Bosch did post a 6-3 decision win over Warner's teammate Nolan Whitely in the event.  

149
In their fourth meeting of the season, Nick Boggs of Lake Erie escaped Nania, 6-2, in the first round. Nania battled back with a fall in 3:33 over McKendree's Isaiah Kemper in the consolation first round.  

Nania was unable to secure his moves in the consolation second round as he fell, 5-0, to Maryville's Krischke.  

Nania ends his career as the Cardinals all-time wins (98), falls and tech falls leader, as well as, being a two-time NCAA Qualifier.  

197
After his closer 12-7 opening round loss to Morgan Smith of Simon Fraser, Fanning led in his second bout. The WJU 197-pounder put together a pair of opening takedowns for a 4-1 lead on Matt Blome of Minnesota State. The two exchanged reversals for a 6-4 score.  

Fanning rode Blome the entire two-minute second period. Blome, though, caught Fanning with 1:04 left in the third frame for the fall at 5:54.  

Fanning ends his second season at 19-10.  

2017 NCAA Division II Championships Results for Wheeling Jesuit

133 - Dustin Warner (22-4) placed 4th and scored 11.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit ) 22-4 won by decision over Josh Walker (Upper Iowa ) 16-8 (Dec 4-2)
    Quarterfinal - Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit ) 22-4 won by decision over Airk Furseth (Wis.-Parkside) 27-13 (Dec 5-1)
    Semifinal - Blake Bosch (MSU Moorhead) 29-2 won by fall over Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit ) 22-4 (Fall 1:58)
    Cons. Semi - Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit ) 22-4 won by decision over Anthony Sparacio (LIU Post) 22-10 (Dec 7-1)
    3rd Place Match - Dustin Kirk (King (TN)) 25-7 won by decision over Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit ) 22-4 (Dec 4-2)

149 - Dominick Nania (28-11) place is unknown and scored 2.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Nick Boggs (Lake Erie) 31-10 won by decision over Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit ) 28-11 (Dec 6-2)
    Cons. Round 1 - Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit ) 28-11 won by fall over Isaiah Kemper (McKendree) 23-15 (Fall 3:33)
    Cons. Round 2 - James Krischke (Maryville (MO)) 22-8 won by decision over Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit ) 28-11 (Dec 5-0)

197 - Terrance Fanning (19-10) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Morgan Smith (Simon Fraser) 34-7 won by decision over Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit ) 19-10 (Dec 12-7)
    Cons. Round 1 - Matt Blome (Minnesota St.) 28-11 won by fall over Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit ) 19-10 (Fall 5:56)

Team Scores

1. Notre Dame (OH) 103.5
2. St. Cloud St. 67.0
3. California Baptist 56.5
4. Neb.-Kearney 55.5
5. McKendree 47.5
6. Ashland 46.0
7. Maryville (MO) 42.0
8. Findlay 35.0
9. Tiffin 34.5
10. Mercyhurst 33.0
11. Augustana (SD) 31.0
12. Fort Hays St. 29.5
13. Gannon 28.5
14. Limestone 28.0
14. Minnesota St. 28.0

16. Kutztown 26.5
17. Pitt.-Johnstown 25.5
18. Central Okla. 23.5
18. Wis.-Parkside 23.5
20. UIndy 22.5
21. King (TN) 22.0
22. Colorado St.-Pueblo 21.0
23. MSU Moorhead 17.0
23. Upper Iowa 17.0
25. UNC Pembroke 15.0
26. Newberry 14.0
26. Wheeling Jesuit 14.0
28. Lake Erie 12.5
28. Simon Fraser 12.5
30. Colorado Mesa 12.0

31. Central Mo. 10.5
31. Seton Hill 10.5
33. Shippensburg 10.0
34. Newman 8.5
35. Ohio Valley 8.0
36. LIU Post 7.5
36. Northern St. 7.5
38. Adams St. 6.5
39. Western St. 4.5
40. Colorado Mines 4.0
41. Chadron State 1.0
42. East Stroudsburg 0.0
42. Lindenwood (MO) 0.0
42. Shorter 0.0

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