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Contact: Drew Sauer,Graduate Assistant to Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
 
Brackets

Team Scores

LA CROSSE, Wis. (March 10, 2012)—North Central College's Nathan Fitzenreider was denied in his attempt at the 125-pound title at the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championships, falling in the final round inside the La Crosse Center.
 
In day one of competition on Friday, top seeded Fitzenreider made easy work of Delaware Valley College's Charlie Frankel, recording the first period pin in 2:03.  In the second round the junior squared off against Zach Mueller of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, winning by major decision, 10-2.  In his quarter final match, Fitzenreider defeated Ben Pressler of Concordia College (Moorhead), 9-6, to advance to the semi final round on day two of the tournament.
 
In the semi finals, Fitzenreider jumped out to a quick 2-0 first period lead, scoring an early takedown against Nathaniel Giorgio of the United States Coast Guard Academy.  Taking a 2-1 lead into the second period, Fitzenreider surrendered a near fall early in the period, to go down by a score of, 2-3.  Late in period two, Fitzenreider claimed the lead right back scoring a reversal to take the decisive, 4-3, advantage, to advance to the championship finals.
 
In the finals, Fitzenreider squared off against second seeded Wartburg College's Kenny Anderson, whom he defeated earlier in the season by a, 10-2, margin.
 
Fitzenreider was taken down to that mat early in the first period falling behind, 0-2 but battled back to even the score, 2-2 going into the second period.  Halfway through the second frame, Fitzenreider found himself in trouble as Anderson nearly pinned the junior, scoring three points to take a decisive, 2-5, advantage.  Anderson scored another point due to riding time to close out Fitzenreider's season.
 
Fitzenreider closes out the season currently ranked seventh in program history with 122 career victories and fifth in career pins with 31, while being honored as an All-American for the second straight season.
 
Teammate Andrew Zobac also had an impressive showing at the championships placing fifth at 141 pounds while also earning All-America honors.
 
The senior opened up day one defeating Rhode Island College's Shawn Giblin by injury default, before falling to York College's Chris Albright, 2-3, in overtime sending Zobac to the consolation bracket.  In round two of the wrestle-backs, Zobac defeated Ces Antista of Williams College (11-4) and the University of Mount Union's Josh Malave (6-4), to advance to the second day of the tournament. 
 
In the semi finals of the consolation bracket, Zobac was defeated, 0-4, by St. Olaf College's Ryan Timmerman.  In the fifth place match, Zobac squared off with Chris Albright yet again, this time the senior recorded a pin in a time of 5:41 to end his Cardinal career.
 
Fitzenreider and Zobac combined for 32 total team points, placing the Cardinals ninth in the 62 team field.