MOUNT VERNON - Cornell College came away with two all-Americans in senior Nick Nothern (Salina, Kan./Salina South) and junior Kevin Donahue (Mechanicsville, Va./St. Christopher's) at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, which concluded Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
Nothern (24-9), seeded seventh at 133 pounds, came up short in his bid to return to the national finals for the second consecutive year with a tough 3-2 semifinal defeat to third-seeded Paul Bjorkstrand of Augsburg. A second-period escape for Bjorkstrand proved to be the difference in the outcome.
Nothern, however, joined an elite group of Ram wrestlers by earning all-America honors for the third time in his career. Nothern's fifth-place finish made him the sixth three-time all-American in school history, joining the likes of Chris Heilman (2006, 2007, 2008), Shawn Voigt (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990), Rodger Snook (1947, 1949, 1950), Lowell Lange (1947, 1949, 1950) and Lyle Morford (1930, 1931, 1932).
Nothern dropped a 6-2 decision to Centenary's William Livingston in the consolation semifinals, but rebounded to win the final match of his stellar career, a 5-1 verdict over fifth-seeded Chad Winowich of Ithaca in the fifth-place bout.
Nothern was a 2009 national runner-up and took sixth in 2008. He finished sixth on Cornell's career wins list with a 118-45 record.
"I'm extremely proud of him, obviously," Cornell head coach Mike Duroe said. "Any time a guy can muster up enough energy to win that last match of the tournament, that says a lot about him as a competitor. He wrestled hard in every match this weekend and ends his career in a very elite group. We're going to miss him in the lineup and in our program. He's been a good leader."
Seventh-seeded Donahue (35-9) claimed all-America accolades for the second year in a row, placing fourth at 141. He improved on last year's seventh-place showing. Donahue is the 19th Ram to garner all-America honors at least two years.
Donahue recovered from an opening-round loss Friday and reeled off four consecutive victories in the consolation side. His 4-2 tournament run ended with an 8-5 setback to Matt Kelly of Wartburg in the third-place match.
Donahue's Saturday was highlighted with a second-period fall over fourth-seeded John Starzyk in the consolation quarterfinals. He trailed 6-1 before sending Starzyk to his back for the sudden pin in 4 minutes, 40 seconds. Donahue then avenged a first-round loss to Southern Maine's Matt Ulrich with a dominating 7-1 victory in the consolation semifinals.
Cornell's Nicholas Loughlin (Cherokee/Washington), seeded second at 157, was eliminated Friday in Session II, finishing 1-2 in his national tournament debut. He closed a fine sophomore campaign at 33-4.
The Rams finished in a tie for 12th place in the team standings with 25 points.
"This tournament was very indicative of our season," Duroe said. "It was an emotional roller-coaster... about the only way I can describe it. All in all, it's not what this program is about. It's not what the coaches expect and I hope it's not what the athletes expect. We were not looking for moral victories."
Duroe has now crowned 12 all-Americans in five seasons at Cornell. The 2009-10 Rams finished the season ranked 11th in the NWCA Poll and went 14-11 in dual competition.
"We will analyze this weekend and move forward," Duroe said. "We have a young team. I'm real optimistic about the future."
NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships
Day 2
Saturday, March 6
U.S. Cellular Center
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cornell results
Semifinals
133 - #3 Paul Bjorkstrand (Augsburg) dec. #7 Nick Nothern (Cor), 3-2.
Consolation quarterfinals
141 - #7 Kevin Donahue (Cor) pinned #4 John Starzyk (North Central), 4:40.
Consolation semifinals
133 - William Livingston (Centenary) dec. Nothern (Cor), 6-2. 141 - Donahue (Cor) dec. Matt Ulrich (S. Maine), 7-1.
Third place
141 - Matt Kelly (Wartburg) dec. Donahue (Cor), 8-5.
Fifth place
133 - Nothern (Cor) dec. #5 Chad Winowich (Ithaca), 5-1.
