BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Dustin Kirk and Bryce Killian completed the NCAA Wrestling Championships with a pair of All-American performances. Kirk posted the highest finish by a King wrestler at the event, third, and Killian finished second, giving King their first All-Americans since 2011-12.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Starting in the consolation quarterfinals on Saturday at 133 pounds, Kirk defeated 12th-ranked David Bavery of Notre Dame College 7-1 to reach the semifinals.
- Kirk then reached the third place bout with a 4-2 double overtime victory over 10th-ranked Carmine Ciotti of Gannon University.
- In the third place bout, Kirk defeated ninth-ranked Dustin Wamer of Wheeling Jesuit University 4-2, giving him a third place finish.
- Killian dropped a close 6-5 decision to 10th-ranked Brandon Ball of Fort Hays State, dropping him to the seventh place match at 141 pounds.
- He then took a win by medical forfeit to finish seventh, earning All-American recognition.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Kirk and Killian become King's third and fourth NCAA Division II All-American's, and first since assistant coach Frank Morgan and Tywan Claxton earned All-American recognition in 2011-12.
- That season Morgan finished fifth and Claxton took eighth.
- The third place finish by Kirk is the highest in program history.
KING RESULTS BY WEIGHT CLASS
133 – No. 3 Dustin Kirk 5-1
141 – No. 4 Bryce Killian 3-2
