March 15, 2008
Cedar Rapids, Iowa -
Mercyhurst's 165-pound senior, Hudson Harrison, avenged the East Region defeat to UNC-Pembroke's J.J. Davis and continued his quest for the national championship by pinning Davis in Saturday's NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships semifinals.
Just two weeks ago, Davis handed Harrison at 10-1 defeat in the semifinals of the regional. But on Saturday, Harrison, needing a win to advance to the national championship bout, earned the fall at 4:53. Facing him for the title is Minnesota-Mankato's Andy Pickar.
Harrison is already assured All-American honors for the first time in his career despite qualifying for nationals four times at three weight classes. However, he is looking to become the Lakers' first-ever national champion as he is the first Laker to reach the national title match since Zack Schafer in 2006 and is just the third all time. Ben McAvinew also reached the championship finals in 2005.
His teammate, red-shirt freshman Josh Shields, reached the semifinals at 174 pounds Friday. In the semis, though, he was edged by Nebraska-Omaha junior Ross Taplin.
Shields now drops into the consolation bracket where he will have an opportunity to complete for third place. To advance to the third-place bout, he will have to get by Ashland's Justin Ferguson.
The championship round from U.S. Cellular Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is slated to begin at 8 p.m., Eastern time.