Bakuckas Finishes Fifth at University National Freestyle Championships
Jun 07 | Wrestling
AKRON, Ohio - Members of the Rutgers wrestling team concluded competition Sunday, June 5 at the 2016 University National Freestyle Championships in Akron, Ohio. Rising redshirt senior Phillip Bakuckas (Hammonton, N.J.) earned All-America status with a fifth-place finish at 80 KG. Bakuckas went 6-2 and advanced to the semifinals of his bracket before falling to Iowa's Alex Meyer and battling back for fifth.
RESULTS
It is the third consecutive year Rutgers had an All-American in the event. Former Scarlet Knight Anthony Perrotti finished eighth last year and sixth in 2014 at 74 KG. Two-time NCAA All-American Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) was the 65 KG University National Freestyle Champion in 2014.
After Bakuckas, Nicholas Gravina (Allendale, N.J.) and Anthony Pafumi (Westfield, N.J.) each went 4-2 wrestling at 86 and 80 KG, respectively. Sean McCabe (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), wrestling at 61 KG, posted a 3-2 mark, while Ken Theobold (Toms River, N.J.), John Van Brill (Mullica Hill, N.J.), and Josh Patrick (Rector, Pa.) all went 2-2. Patrick wrestled at 61 KG, Theobold competed at 70 KG, and Van Brill wrestled at 74 KG.
William Povalac (Edison, N.J.) and Ralph Normandia (Somerset, N.J.) also posted 3-2 marks. Povalac scored three tech falls at 70 KG, while Normandia won three decisions on the day. Peter Lipari (Byram, N.J.) and Nicholas Ottaviano (Marlboro, N.J.) went 0-2 in the tournament.
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Players Mentioned
