Northwestern University Athletics
Erwinski Heads to NCAA Championships
3/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
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March 19, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern senior Jason Erwinski (Tinley Park, Ill./Mt. Carmel) is riding solo this weekend as the team's only qualifier for the 2003 NCAA Championships. After the 165-pounder placed seventh two weeks ago at the Big Ten Championships, he assured himself his first trip to nationals. Action is set to begin 11 a.m. Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.
The road to the 73rd annual championships began Nov. 9 at the Michigan State Open, where Erwinski went 4-2 en route to a sixth-place showing at 174 pounds. He went 4-2 two weeks later at the Missouri Open and picked up a pair of dual wins against Eastern Illinois and Wisconsin-Parkside, running his record to 10-4.
The fifth-year senior dropped two matches at the 40th Midlands before winning five of his next seven in dual competition.
At 15-8, Erwinski made the switch to 165 pounds, where he won his first three matches. His first Big Ten dual loss came against undefeated and top-ranked Matt Lackey of Illinois. Erwinski trailed by only one point in the third before the two-time defending champion recorded a late takedown to secure the win. Erwinski completed the conference dual season with a 5-3 mark.
Erwinski enters this weekend unseeded as part of a 32-man draw. The top eight receive All-America honors.
First up for Erwinski is West Virginia's Tim McMath. The senior started regularly for the 10th-ranked Mountaineers in 2003. McMath, ranked 17th in the final InterMat poll, is making his second consecutive appearance in the tournament. Last year, he missed becoming an All-American by one win.
Erwinski went a team-best 12-5 in dual competition and set a personal best with his 21 wins thus far.
