Issued: March 5, 2004

SIKORA SURVIVES FIRST DAY OF NATIONALS

DUBUQUE, Iowa - UW-Eau Claire wrestler Derek Sikora (So.-Neillsville) dropped a 9-7 decision to fourth-seeded Pat Wilsbacher in the championship second round but responded with three consecutive wins in the consolation bracket of the NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships here today at the Five Flags Center on the Loras College campus.

Sikora earned a bye in the first round of the 165-pound championship bracket and drew Wilsbacher, from Buena Vista University (IA), in the second round. Sikora battled the fourth-ranked Wilsbacher to a close match but eventually fell 9-7, sending the Blugold to the second round of the consolation bracket.

In his first consolation match, Sikora faced Brian Daly from Augustana (IL). Sikora dispatched of Daly with a 6-1 decision to move on to the consolation third round. In the third round he battled Aaron Gibbs of Thiel (PA) to a tough 2-0 win to stay alive in the bracket.

The fourth round of the consolation bracket pitted Sikora against Ryan Ficco of John Carroll University (OH). Ficco posted the only upset in the championship second round, knocking off seventh-seeded Frank Petrucci of Oswego State (NY) with a 5-3 decision. He nearly upended second-seeded Jarald Ridley of Manchester College (IN) in the championship third round but fell via a 6-5 decision.

The sophomore Blugold was determined to stave off elimination for a third straight time and he did with a convincing 8-1 decision over Ficco.

The win ensures Sikora at least two matches tomorrow. He will begin with a battle against unseeded Ryan Valek of Augsburg College (MN) in the consolation quarterfinals. Valek stayed alive in the tournament with a 6-2 decision over sixth-ranked Sean Flynn from the College of New Jersey.

The quarterfinals of the consolation bracket are scheduled for the session three start time tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

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