Wisconsin’s Isaac Jordan will wrestle for the national championship at 165 pounds on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Jordan, the No.2 seed, topped his cousin, No.3 Bo Jordan of Ohio State, 5-4 in Friday night’s national semifinals to punch his ticket to the championship match.
In the opening period, Isaac scored a takedown to grab a 2-0 lead. Bo cut the deficit in half with an escape to make the score 2-1 heading into the second.
After a scoreless middle period, Isaac tallied a quick escape to push his lead back to two early in the third. Moments later, Bo knotted the score at three with a takedown.
A reversal put Isaac back on top with 1:26 to go. Bo escaped to draw within one, but Isaac was able to hang on for the win.
Friday marked the fourth time in as many meetings that Isaac got the better of his cousin.
Earlier in the day, Jordan bested the No.10 seed, Austin Wilson of Nebraska, 3-1 in the quarterfinals.
The redshirt junior is seeking to become the Badgers’ first national champion since Andrew Howe won it all at 165 back in 2010.
Jordan’s opponent will be the No.1 seed, two-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State. Dieringer, a Port Washington, Wis. native enters Saturday’s title tilt with a record of 32-0.
UW’s last NCAA finalist was Tyler Graff who was runner-up at 133 in 2014.
In consolation action, No.12 Ryan Taylor fell one match short of being an All-American.
Seventh-seeded Eric Montoya (Nebraska) pinned Taylor in 3:23 in the blood round.
Taylor, a redshirt junior, topped Dalton Brady (Arizona State) and Joey Palmer (Oregon State) earlier in the day to advance to the Friday night session.
The 2015 All-American finished the year with a 12-7 record, including a 3-2 mark at the NCAAs. He is 9-5 in three appearances at the national tournament.
Saturday night’s championship session begins at 7 p.m. CT and will be aired live on ESPN.
Photo credit: Pam Ruschell
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