By Patrick Carey
CSU-Pueblo’s wrestling team crowned their first All-American last weekend. Senior heavyweight, Patrick Carey finished in eight place receiving the honors.
The NCAA division II nationals were held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. It was a two day event held from March 11-12. The University of Nebraska-Omaha won the team national title.
Carey became the wrestling teams first All-American since the school brought their program back in 2008 and the first since 2001.
![sportsdefault](https://csupueblotoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/sportsdefault2.jpg)
Carey was the only wrestler to qualify for the national tournament; this was his second appearance at the tournament. He came up short of being an All-American last year missing out on placing in the top eight by one match.
Carey faced No. 8 ranked Brandon Hayes of Central Missouri in his first match. He came out flat first match losing a 5-2 decision. It was a tough loss with him giving up two takedowns at the end of the third period. He gave up a desperation takedown as time expired trying to get the win.
With that loss Carey was put into the consolation brackets, he defeated two consecutive opponents who were nationally -ranked. His first match was against West Liberty’s J.D. Ramsey who was No. 6 in the nation.
Carey defeated Ramsey by a 5-2 decision. He came out strong early, scoring a takedown in the first thirty seconds and then riding him out for the rest of the period. With that lead he was able to control the match scoring a reversal and receiving an additional point for riding time.
Carey then faced Upper Iowa’s Zach Rosol who was ranked No.4 nationally. Carey came out strong early going for the takedown right away and missing out on the takedown, but received a penalty point for Rosol fleeing the hold. With a 1-0 lead he was able to build on it earning an escape point and takedown in the second period to go up 4-2. In the Third, he scored another takedown and did not let up winning a 6-3 decision.
Carey would go on to finish in eighth place. He finished the season with a 19-16 record. He had a career record of 37-22 while at CSU-Pueblo and was a two time national qualifier. He transferred to CSU-Pueblo from Northern Colorado in the spring of 2010.
“This was my first All-American and hopefully there will be many more to come in the near future,” said Dax Charles
Charles is the head coach for CSU-Pueblo; this is his third year as head coach. This is his second year that he has sent someone to nationals and his first All-American.