Ferguson eliminated from National Championships

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – University of Wisconsin-Platteville sophomore 125-pound wrestler Cole Ferguson was eliminated after one day at the NCAA Wrestling National Championships.

Ferguson's day started with a tough match against the No. 2 seed in the bracket, Wartburg's Gilberto Camacho, in which Ferguson lost 15-4.

In the first period, Camacho took the lead on a takedown and a subsequent near fall, putting four points on the board quickly. Ferguson escaped and both wrestlers spent the rest of the round fending off the other's takedown attempts.

Ferguson started the second round in the down position, and Camacho was able to turn him to his back twice, picking up a total of four near fall points to push the score to 8-1. 

Ferguson escaped again, but Camacho used a powerful double-leg takedown to regain control and take a big 10-2 lead. Ferguson again escaped, but the period ended before he was able to mount an offensive attack.

In need of points, Ferguson was aggressive from the start of the third round, but Camacho held him off and secured a pair of takedowns of his own. Ferguson escaped from each takedown, but could not make up the point difference.

Ferguson then squared off with SUNY-Cortland's Sean Kempf. Ferguson again had difficulty mounting any offense in the match, as Kempf won the match 10-1.

Ferguson ends the year with a 19-8 record.