MARCH 7, 2012
 
KING'S REILLY EYEING NATIONAL TITLE IN FOURTH TRIP TO DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIPS

Visit the Tournament Web Site for information and results: 
http://uwlathletics.com/sports/2012/3/1/WREST_0301123551.aspx?id=97
 
View Online Virtual Tourney Program:  www.ncaa.com/DIIIWrestling

WILKES-BARRE -- For King's College senior wrestler Mike Reilly, competing in the NCAA Division III National Championships Friday and Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse may seem like it's old hat. Afterall, it is Reilly fourth trip to the national tournament.

But to Reilly, there is unfinished business after earning all-American honors by placing sixth a year ago at 174-pounds. A fifth-year senior, Reilly is looking to cap off his career by achieving his goal of winning a national championship.  Should he do so, Reilly would win the third national title in King's history, joining David Morgan who won back-to-back crowns at 133-pounds in 2007 and 2008.
 
Reilly stands as the second all-time winningest wrestler in King's history, posting a 123-18 record, including a 28-3 mark this season despite missing three weeks with a knee injury. Mitch Marcks holds the school record with 144 wins from 2001-04.

In the Metropolitan Conference Championships, Reilly finished short of winning a fourth league title by suffering a 8-2 loss to fellow all-American Mike Denver of the College of New Jersey, the top-ranked wrestler in the nation. Reilly may have a chance to avenge the defeat to Denver if both grapplers, who are on opposite sides of the bracket, can reach the finals.

Reilly's other two losses this year came at the hands of two other nationally-ranked performers. Reilly fell to second-ranked Alex Martocello 11-9 at the season-opening Monarch Invitationsl but came back to avenge the defeat with a 3-1 win in the Metropolitan Tournament semi-finals. Reilly's third loss was a 5-1 overtime decision to seventh-ranked David Dwyer of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Denver, Martocello, and Dwyer are all on the opposite side of the Reilly's half of the bracket.  Martocello is seeded fourth while Dwyer is seeded fifth.

Reilly is seeded sixth in the event and will receive a first-round bye. He is then slated to will meet Samuel Pennisi (23-12) of the University of Chicago in his first match. Should Reilly emerge victorious, he would likely face third-seeded third-seeded Dylan Azinger of national power Wartburg who stands at 28-2 and owns a 23-match winning streak. Second seeded Josef Rau of Elmhurst looms as a possible semi-final opponent if Reilly advances that far. Rau is 30-3 with each of his losses coming to NCAA Division I opponents from Oklahoma, Purdue, and Lehigh.

"I have to go out and wrestle aggressive and not be afraid of anything," Reilly stated.  "I feel like I have improved a lot from last year, especially with my takedowns. I haven't wrestled anyone on my side of the bracket so if will be fun to wrestle some different people. My goal is to win a national championship.  I have accomplished a lot at King's and am proud of what I have done here, but is still more to do."

Reilly came to King's in January of 2008 after spending his first semester at Division I Bloomsburg. His older brother Jason had been a standout grappler for the Monarchs, winning 109 matches from 2004-07 while placing fourth nationally at 197-pounds as a senior. The following year, Mike made his way to King's and picked up right where Jason left off.

As a freshman, Mike won the Metropolitan Conference championship at 174 and earned a Division III National Tournament berth; repeating the feat as a sophomore.  As a junior in 2009-10, Reilly suffered an early-season injury and missed the rest of the season. He was awarded an NCAA medical redshirt, essentially retaining junior eligibility.  Reilly returned in 2010-11 and won his third Metro Tourney title at 174-pounds, earning his third trip to the national tournament.  There, he reached the semi-finals where he lost and slipped into the consolation bracket.  In his first wrestle-back match Reilly suffered a rib injury and was forced to default, later withdrawing from the competition where he settled for sixth-place."

"Mike is primed and ready to put forth a great effort and he has both the ability and desire to go all the way," King's coach Ned McGinley stated.  "There are some very talented guys on his side of the bracket but we just have to take it one match at a time. This is Mike's last trip to nationals so hopefully he will go out achieving his ultimate goal.  He has been a great representative of King's College both on and off the mat."