By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - Representing the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire wrestling team, Zackary Sirny (Sr.-Wild Rose, WI) competed in the first day of the 2017 NCAA National Championships on Friday.
Sirny received arguably one of the toughest opening draws of the tournament in defending National Champion and three-time finalist, Messiah College's Lucas Malmberg. Despite the odds against him, Sirny stepped up to the challenge quite well, yet it was the senior being defeated by a close score of 7-3.
Malmberg notched a pair of takedowns in the opening period and took a 4-2 lead into the second. After a Sirny escape cut the lead to one, a major turning point in the match took place. Sirny nearly scored a takedown with a go-behind, but Malmberg fended it off, just as he did other attempts throughout the match. Without the lead potentially surrendered, Malmberg led 6-3 following a third takedown before heading to the final period.
A second stalling call on Sirny increased Malmberg's lead to four where it would remain, as Sirny rode out the opposition the rest of the way.
The loss set up a wrestleback match against West Regional counterpart, Aaron Dick, of Concordia College-Moorhead. Though the two did not face each other at the regional two weeks ago, Dick finished third to Sirny's second place at the tournament. That said, Sirny did defeat Dick previously this season at the Don Parker Open.
In the rematch from February, Sirny once again got the best of the Cobber 125-pounder, winning 12-6. Sirny got a quick takedown right out of the gate and tilted for two nearfall points. He finished the period with a farside fireman's carry to lead 6-1 going to the second.
Sirny started the period down and got a reversal rather quickly and increased his lead to 8-2. Dick pushed the pace in the final period, getting a takedown and a point for Sirny's second stalling warning. However, late in the match, Sirny sealed the win with another takedown on the edge of the mat to advance into the third round of consolation, where a win would make him an All-American.
Unfortunately, he would finish one win shy of All-American honors, as he was defeated by College at Brockport's Jonathan Haas in a heartbreaker.
Haas topped Sirny by a score of 3-1 in a match where the former led the latter for a grand total of one second. After a scoreless first period, Sirny broke the tie with an escape in the second period. Haas would tie things up with an escape of his own early in the third period, setting up for a highlight finish. Haas shot for a takedown, and after Sirny was able to defend for about ten seconds, it was Haas who stacked Sirny enough for two and the win at the buzzer.
Sirny finished his senior season with a record of 28-9.
