Michigan State University
NCAA Championship
Simmons Brothers Lock Up Top-Five Finishes At NCAA Championships
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 18, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY - Nick Simmons claimed fourth place for the second-consecutive year, and Andy Simmons improved on last season's finish by taking fifth as the Michigan State wrestling team wrapped up its season at the 2006 NCAA Championships. The junior brothers garnered All-America honors for the second-straight season, as the team finished in a tie for 18th place with 35 points.
It marks the first time since 1998 that two MSU wrestlers have finished in the top five at the NCAA Championships. David Morgan (second at 118) and Pat McNamara (fifth at 126 pounds) accomplished that feat for the Spartans in Cleveland, Ohio, that season.
Oklahoma State wrapped up its third-straight national championship while 10 of 11 Big Ten teams finished in the Top 25, led by Minnesota's second-place finish.
"We're all disappointed that Nick and Andy were not able to reach their ultimate goals of winning national titles this season, but at the same time, everyone is very proud of their All-America finishes and how hard they both worked to get here," head coach Tom Minkel said. "R.J. Boudro and Darren McKnight also had very solid seniors years and as we send them off, I want to thank them for all their contributions to Michigan State and the wrestling program. Our team will miss them both next season."
In the consolation semifinals, Nick Simmons and Oklahoma State's Coleman Scott battled tough in front of a Cowboy-dominated crowd, but the Spartan prevailed by a 7-4 score. Simmons came out of the gates aggressively, taking Scott down in the opening 30 seconds of the bout and using that momentum to catapult him to his second-straight appearance in the consolation finals at the NCAA Championships. Two escapes by the OSU grappler tied the score heading into the final frame, but Simmons tallied two reversals and tacked on a riding-time point for his fourth victory of the tournament.
Nick Simmons could not defeat Oklahoma's Sam Hazewinkel for the second-consecutive time this season, as the elder Simmons fell in a rematch of last season's third-place match, 6-2. Hazewinkel tallied two takedowns early in the opening period and maintained the top position for nearly four minutes of the bout.
"It's obviously very disheartening that I didn't accomplish my goal of winning a national title," Nick Simmons said. "This off-season, I will just be training harder, and I will compete at the upcoming Senior Nationals and World Team Trials."
An All-American in each of his first three collegiate seasons, Nick Simmons had his most successful season as a junior, going 36-2 with 16 falls. His 36 wins are good for a five-way tie for 13th on MSU's single-season list while his pins total ranks sixth for a single year. Simmons' 13 NCAA victories put him in a four-way tie for fifth in school history. The Williamston, Mich., native will enter his senior year with 97 career victories and 35 career falls, just 10 pins away from reaching MSU's all-time record-holder Jim Mason (45 career falls).
Andy Simmons improved on last season's sixth-place finish at nationals with a dominating, 11-2, major-decision over West Virginia's Brandon Rader in the fifth-place match. Simmons was firing on all cylinders from the get go, as he dropped Rader for takedowns twice in the first and third periods, and once more in the middle frame. The 11 points was Andy's highest total since a 16-0 technical fall versus Dan Manzella in a dual meet against Illinois Feb. 12.
Andy Simmons could not claim his third win of the season against Northwestern's Ryan Lang in their consolation semifinals match, as Lang notched a 3-0 shutout, sending Simmons to the fifth-place match. The rematch of the Big Ten 141-pound finals entered the third period scoreless, after an uneventful first three minutes and a mad scramble in the second resulting in no points awarded. Simmons chose the bottom position at the start of the third, and had his back exposed for a three count, securing the win for Lang.
"I really thought that I had a good shot to win this tournament, so right now, I'm disappointed with my finish," Andy Simmons said. "But at the same time, there are quite a few former All-Americans and NCAA finalist that didn't even get All-America honors this season. I'm going to go back to the drawing board this summer and try to gain any edge that I can for next year."
Like his brother, Andy Simmons finishes the 2005-06 season with 36 victories, good for 13th on MSU's single-season chart. Four victories this weekend give him 101 for his career, placing him 15th on MSU's all-time list in that category. He also ranks 15th on Green and White's NCAA tournament wins list, with 10 in three appearances.
The annual Michigan State wrestling banquet - to reflect on the 2005-06 season and its accomplishments - will be April 8 at the Kellogg Center on the MSU campus. Reservations can be made through Nancy Wing, by calling (517) 355-5270.
Session V
Consolation Semifinals
125 pounds - No. 1 Nick Simmons dec. No. 6 Coleman Scott (Okla. State) 7-4
141 pounds - No. 6 Ryan Lang (Northwestern) dec. No. 4 Andy Simmons 3-0
Consolation Finals
125 pounds - No. 2 Sam Hazewinkel (Okla.) dec. Nick Simmons 6-2
Fifth-Place Match
141 pounds -Andy Simmons maj. dec. No. 9 Brandon Rader (West Va.) MD, 11-2
Players Mentioned
