Tad Merritt Earns NSIC Wrestler of Week NoticeSt. Paul, Minn. - For the third time this season, a St. Cloud State University grappler has captured Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Wrestler of the Week honors. Tad Merritt (Canby) earned the award for the first time in his career it was announced today, as the red-shirt freshman went 2-0 on the weekend with a pin over the top ranked 165-pound wrestler in NCAA Division II.
Merritt pinned #1 Aaron Denson of Nebraska-Omaha on Jan. 22, in the Huskies' loss to the #1 ranked Mavericks. Merritt battled back from an early four-point deficit in the match to tie it, and went on to pin Denson at the 5:31 mark of the match.
Merritt capped off his weekend with another victory by fall against UW-Eau Claire. Merritt was bumped up to 174 lbs. on Saturday and did not miss a beat, as he recorded pin number two over Keith Dawson at the 1:14 mark.
Merritt is now 24-3 on the season with 14 falls. Both the win and fall total are tops on the 11th ranked Husky squad.
Previous Huskies to win the award were John Sundgren (Blaine) on December 9 and Derek Skala (Owatonna) on November 18.
SCSU will continue its 2008-09 schedule on Jan. 30 with a home match against Northern State at 7 p.m., and a match on Feb. 1 at home against the University of Mary on 2 p.m.
Mumbulo
and Acosta Honored by NSICRalph Acosta and Tyler Mumbulo were honored by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference today. Acosta was named one of the NSIC Co-Wrestlers of the Year and Mumbulo was tabbed as the NSIC Rookie of the Year as voted on by the league coaches. The pair was also named to the All-Conference Team.
Acosta (Orlando, Fla./University High School) won the NCAA Division II North Regional Championship at 133 pounds on Feb. 26. He defeated Nebraska-Omaha's Dan Hilario 9-2 in the championship finals. Acosta is 20-4 as a senior this season, with all four losses coming against NCAA D-I opponents. Among his wins is a 9-1 major decision over Central Missouri State All-American Mike Hansen. Acosta has also beaten Omar Gaitan, a Division I National qualifier from UC-Davis, by fall in 5:52, and owns a 12-4 decision over Northestern's Dan Quintela. Acosta was an Iowa Conference champion and a Division III All-American at Upper Iowa. He is currently ranked sixth in Division II at 133 pounds.
Mumbulo (Bainbridge, N.Y./Bainbridge Guilford High School) finished second at the North Regional Championships at 125 pounds, the highest ranking of any freshman. Mumbulo is 23-9 this season and compiled a perfect 3-0 mark during dual meets against NSIC opponents. Six of his nine losses came at the hands of D-I opponents. Mumbulo won the Midwest Classic earlier this season. Included in his run to the Midwest Classic title, he defeated Adams State All-American Rob McCabe 10-5. He also defeated Ty Klofta of Ohio Northern 8-6. Mumbulo is currently ranked sixth in the country at 125 pounds.
Acosta and Mumbulo are two of four Peacocks competing at the Division II National Tournament Friday and Saturday in Findlay, Ohio. Joining the two will be senior C.J. MacNaught (174 pounds) and junior Brian Black (heavyweight).
Upper Iowa University, located in Fayette, is the only NCAA Division II institution in the state of Iowa.
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