With their performances this past weekend at the 2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., UW wrestlers Tom Clum and Craig Henning earned All-American honors, placing fifth and eighth respectively in their individual weight classes.
Battling from the consolation bracket after an early loss, Clum, the No. 3, seed squared off against No. 1 Shawn Bunch of Edinboro, Scotland with the winner advancing to the consolation finals at 133 lbs.
Bunch scored an early takedown, but Clum escaped and earned a takedown of his own and took a 3-2 lead. Bunch fired back with a five-point near fall and two escapes of his own to go up 9-3 at the end of the first period and went on to defeat the UW senior 9-5, sending him into the fifth-place match against No. 2 Nathan Morgan of Oklahoma State.
After an even first period with both grapplers, Clum took a two-point lead one minute into the second period with a reversal. An escape and a score by Morgan evened the score at the beginning of the third period, but Clum answered with two takedowns of his own to win 9-6 and claimed fifth place.
It was nice to see Tom Clum end his career in style with a win,\ said assistant coach Tony Black, whose team accumulated 33.5 points to place 21st overall in the tournament. ""Wisconsin wrestling is going to miss his ability and leadership next season.""
The senior tri-captain finished the season with a 19-4 overall record, 5-2 at the NCAAs.
At 157 lbs., Henning faced conference rival Brandon Becker of Indiana, who in the Big Ten championships took a 5-4 decision from Henning.
Holding true to form, the No. 6 seed Becker exploded to a 7-0 advantage after a takedown and five near fall points in the first period. Henning earned two takedowns in the remaining two periods, but fell to the Hoosier sophomore 9-6. Henning ended his season with a 29-10 overall record.
Oklahoma State captured the tournament crown with 122.5 points, while Minnesota and Iowa represented the Big Ten strongly with second and fourth place finishes respectively.
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