HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker College wrestling team competed at the NCAA Super Region II Championship on Friday (Feb. 22), finishing sixth as a team.
The story of the day was Ramon Correa and his run to become just the fourth wrestler in Coker history to make it all the way to the NCAA Division II Championships. After receiving a bye in the first round Correa picked up an easy fall early in the first period against Benjamin Austin of Queens to move into the winners bracket. Correa was matched up with Daniel Bland of Limestone in the next round and he would fall for the first time of the day and have to fight hard for that last ticket to Cleveland, Ohio. His first match in the consolation bracket would be against Cade Ridley of King and once again Correa dominated his opponent. After surrendering an early takedown, Correa got one of his own and quickly overpowered his opponent to earn the win by way of fall for the second time on the day. The win put him into the third-place match where all he needed was one more win to qualify for the finals and this time he was tasked with facing off with Mike Siwiec of Belmont Abbey. Correa picked up the first point of the match in the third period after an escape and secured enough riding time in the third period to give him the 2-0 victory and punch his ticket to Cleveland.
Bret Shurina just missed a third-place finish as he came in fourth after falling in the third-place match. Shurina did pick up three wins on the day, including a tech fall over Micah Marcin of Queens and a major decision over Sean Glasgow of Limestone. Alex Braden notched a fifth-place finish after winning by way of fall over Nicholas Vollies of Emmanuel and he also picked up a fall in the consolation round over Hauoli Caparida of Ohio Valley. Marco Mason Jr. also tallied a pair of wins on the day, while Corey Christie added one.
Correa will hit the mat next on Friday (Mar. 8) for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio.