Henrich Falls Just Short in NCAA Semifinals

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Chris Henrich (Jr., Lansdale, Pa.) dropped a heartbreaking 10-9 decision to second-seeded Jay Borschel of Iowa on Friday evening in the 174-pound semifinals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Omaha, Neb. Henrich, the third seed at 174, will wrestle seventh-seeded Ben Bennett of Central Michigan Saturday morning in the consolation bracket.

Through the four sessions, Virginia has racked up 28.5 points and stands 15th in the team standings.

Henrich (31-3) jumped out to an early lead, only to see the undefeated Borschel storm back to tie the match midway through the third period on a takedown, and Borschel rode Henrich for the remainder of the match to claim the riding time point and win, 10-9.

Henrich already has clinched All-America honors for the second straight season and has become the first two-time All-American in Virginia history. Henrich and Bennett met earlier this season, with Henrich scoring a 3-1 win on Nov. 28 at the Northeast Duals.

At 197 pounds, Brent Jones (R-Sr., Burke, Va.) fell one win short in his bid for All-America honors, as he dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 8 seed Sonny Yohn of Minnesota in the wrestlebacks. Jones (27-13) finishes his Virginia career as the school’s all-time leader in pins (45) and ranks fourth in career victories (106).

Team Standings (through Session IV)
1. Iowa, 120.5
2. Cornell, 75.0
3. Iowa State, 67.0
4. Wisconsin, 62.0
5. Oklahoma State, 60.5
15. Virginia, 28.5

Virginia Results
125 Pounds
First Round: No. 4 Anthony Robles (Arizona State) pinned Ross Gitomer, 2:59
Wrestleback Rd. 1: Gitomer dec. Eric Morrill (Edinboro), 3-1 (SV)
Wrestleback Rd. 2: Gitomer major dec. Jonathan Childress (Liberty), 11-1
Wrestleback Rd. 3: Gitomer dec. Joseph Langel (Rutgers), 3-2
Wrestleback Rd. 4: No. 2 Troy Nickerson (Cornell) dec. Gitomer, 4-0

141 Pounds
First Round: Derek Valenti dec. Ivan Lopouchanski (UNC Greensboro), 4-1
Round of 16: No. 2 Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State) dec. Valenti, 3-1
Wrestleback Rd. 3: No. 5 Zack Bailey (Oklahoma) major dec. Valenti, 15-2

149 Pounds
First Round: No. 11 Desmond Green (Buffalo) dec. Shawn Harris, 9-8
Wrestleback Rd. 2: Harris major dec. Brandon Butcher (George Mason), 8-0
Wrestleback Rd. 3: Nicholas Bertucci (Purdue) major dec. Harris, 11-3

157 Pounds
First Round: Danny Gonsor dec. Tyson Reiner (Northern Iowa), 9-4
Round of 16: No. 4 Cyler Sanderson (Penn State) dec. Danny Gonsor, 4-2
Wrestleback Rd. 3: Kurt Kinser (Indiana) dec. Harris, 6-0

174 Pounds
First Round: No. 3 Chris Henrich major dec. Dave Rella (Ohio State), 8-0
Round of 16: Henrich dec. Byron Sigmon (UNC Greensboro), 9-3
Quarterfinals: Henrich dec. No. 6 Mike Benefiel (Oklahoma State), 5-4
Semifinals: No. 2 Jay Borschel (Iowa) dec. Henrich, 10-9
Wrestleback Rd. 6: Henrich vs. No. 7 Ben Bennett (Central Michigan), Saturday

184 Pounds

First Round: No. 9 Phil Keddy (Iowa) major dec. Mike Salopek, 11-3
Wrestleback Rd. 1: No. 10 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) dec. Salopek, 2-0

197 Pounds
First Round: No. 5 Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin) pinned Brent Jones, 3:19
Wrestleback Rd. 2: Jones pinned Erik Schuth (Ohio), 1:03
Wrestleback Rd. 3: Jones major dec. Logan Brown (Purdue), 11-2
Wrestleback Rd. 4: Jones pinned Tyler Sorenson (South Dakota State), 0:30
Wrestleback Rd. 5: No. 8 Sonny Yohn (Minnesota) dec. Jones, 4-2

285 Pounds
First Round: Tucker Lane (Nebraska) dec. Jack Danilkowicz, 2-1
Wrestleback Rd. 2: Danilkowicz dec. Odie Delaney (The Citadel), 5-3 (SV)
Wrestleback Rd. 3: No. 10 Dominick Russo (Rutgers) pinned Danilkowicz, 6:18