[Stevewalt]

Christian wins first match 7-6. Tough one but he prevailed in 3rd.
Tim Harner losses 6-4 to Prater of Illinois. Tough one too, injury time almost out for Harner in this one but he fought back but to little to late. He goes to wrestle backs. Tough draw for him.

[Stevewalt]

Just a note that one our former NCAA All-Americans , MAtt Derlan, who is now an assistant coach at Penn State could be looking for a job soon. Alot of turmoil up in Happy Valley over the wrestling programs downturn this year. We here in PA expect PSU to always be a top 10 team and things really went south this year for them. NO fault of Derlans but coaches go before wrestlers alot of times.

[Stevewalt]

Shaun Smith rough going. First match against Gregor Gillespie #1 overall in 157lbs. Lost by tech fall 16-0

going to wrestle backs. This was a rough first match and Gregor is thought by many to be #1 wrestler in the country this year.

[Stevewalt]

Dagget loses 13-5. tough loss but he wrestled hard.

[Stevewalt]

Christian losses next match 16-7 major. He goes to wrestle backs

[Stevewalt]

Harner, Smith, and Daggett all finished with losses in the wrestle back brackets.
Tough for Tim Harner I really thought this may be the year for him to be an all-american.

Christian is in the wrestle backs and going this morning.

[Stevewalt]

Christian Smith Losses in consies 3rd round 9-5. Nationals are over for the Liberty wrestlers.

Good year but tough draws at Nationals did them in this year.
Congrates to the four that made it and hopefully an even better year next year.

[Dan P]

Steve- Any idea what weight class Matt Derlan wrestled at? Did he AA while at PSU? (NCAA D-I?). I agree with you that the LU guys didn't get the best draws in the tournament. In fact, the entire East Regional seemed to "draw fire" right from the get-go. Cathell (undefeated 149lber from Del.St>) didn't get seeded and was placed in the bracket in about the worst place he could be.

Already looking forward to next year, but alot of work needs to take place before now and then (March, 2010). It's a shame to lose these seniors ... great team leadership. They should be extremely proud of what they did accomplish.

[Stevewalt]

No he was an AA at Liberty back in the early 90's just before it was absolved .

1991-92
Steve Derlan 150 NCAA Division I - Top 12

http://www.libertyflames.com/media/1912 ... 026-37.pdf

We had a decent wrestling program back then shame it went the way of title nine bull. Derlan is a great coach and hopefully for my sake stays at PSU because everyone around the program know he can coach the lite and middle weights good. PSU's problem is their heavy weigth coach and bad recruiting the heavys.

[Dan P]

Thanks Steve --

Well ... maybe PSU's loss could be our gain?? I saw the name Steve Derlan (round of 12 at D-I) on the LU media guide. Is that the same person (you called him "Matt" Derlan).
Given that LU is now a firmly entrenched into D-I level of warfare, it would be great to have someone to help out that had success at the D-I level. Round of 12 is pretty good in my book.

On your other post --- I believe Steward's children both placed at AA states (mid size schools) this past year, and that the older one (Jeb, I think is his name), made a pretty good run at almost getting a state title.

[Stevewalt]

your right Steve was his brother both wrestled here and I know Matt was a qualifier for Nationals and I think a AA too. ( I checked it out and sorry he was not a AA but a qualifier to NAts) I will do some more checking on that. MAtt is an excellent coach and if he did get the ax would be an excellent recruiter here and lite and middle weight coach. All that said only if he would be available and choose to come back to the mountain.

[matshark]

Yeah, there were quite a few hurt feelings when the program got axed... and for good reason.