For the past two years, the first round match of the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament has been an issue for University of Wyoming junior and Auburn High School graduate Shane Onufer.
“I haven’t won my first match at the tournament the past two years,” said the 165-pound Onufer. “It’s kind of a big thing to win that first match. It keeps you on the winning side of the bracket and sets you up for upcoming matches.”
Onufer started fast, delivering a first-round pin at last week’s NCAA showdown at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Onufer, the No. 7 seed, overcame the opening-match jinx, defeating Turtogtokh Luvsandori of the Citadel with a fall at the 5-minute, 33-second mark to pave the way for a fifth-place finish at the tourney.
“I was pretty pleased with my opening-round win. I’m very excited about how I performed at the tournament,” said Onufer, who earned NCAA All-American status with his finish.
The win against Luvsandori set the tone for Onufer, who went 5-2 overall over the three-day meet.
“There were a few matches for me that were big matches,” said Onufer, who finished 31-4 on the season.
After defeating Rider University’s Jim Resnick with a 6-0 decision in the second round, Onufer suffered his first loss of the tourney to the No. 2 seed from Wisconsin, Andrew Howe, who went on to take third.
Relegated to the “wrestle-back” bracket, Onufer responded with a 9-6 decision against Iowa’s Aaron Janssen.
“That was the match that would have either put me out of the tournament or make me an All-American,” Onufer said. “Winning that was big. I was pretty excited after that. I came back in the third period to win it. After that, it was just trying to place as high as I could.”
After defeating Hofstra’s Paul Gillespie with a narrow 7-6 decision, Onufer suffered his second loss of the tourney – a 3-2 decision – to Ohio State’s Colt Sporseller.
The loss set up a rematch against Maryland’s Josh Asper – who had eliminated Onufer at the 2010 tourney – for fifth place. But this time, Onufer got his revenge, defeating Asper with a 5-4 decision.
“Winning that was kind of a big accomplishment for me,” he said.
Now that the season is over, Onufer said he’s concentrating on his studies and earning his degree in communications.
Once next season rolls around, however, it’s all about working toward the NCAA Division I title.
“I’m just trying to get better throughout the summer,” Onufer said. “I want to climb higher on that podium. The real goal is to get on the very top of the podium, beat whoever is there and get a national title. So I guess that’s what I’ll probably be shooting for.”
Elsewhere
Also competing in the NCAA Division I tournament last week were Auburn-area wrestlers Michael Mangrum, Jake Swartz and Kurt Swartz. Mangrum, an Oregon State 141-pound sophomore, went 3-2 and just missed out on an All-American nod. Mangrum, an Auburn Riverside graduate, finished the season with a 21-9 record. … Jake Swartz, a 174-pound redshirt freshman from Boise State, went 2-2 at the tournament. Older brother Kurt, a senior for Boise State, was 0-2 in the 165-pound division.
