March 15, 2001

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

University of Wyoming senior Craig Rumsey was victorious in his first match at the 2001 NCAA Wrestling Championships, held in Iowa City, Iowa.

Rumsey, a native of Norfolk, Neb., defeated sixth-seeded Chael Sonnen of Oregon 8-7 to move on in the championship bracket. Rumsey earned his 22nd victory of the season and will face #11 seed Mike Fickell of Pennsylvania in the second round. Rumsey qualified for nationals by winning the 197 pound bracket at the West Regional in Laramie on March 3.

Wyoming's other senior, Steven Schenk, lost his first round match in the 174 pound bracket to Luke Moore of Ohio 6-2. With the loss, Schenk will now wrestle Louis Taylor of Eastern Illinois in the wrestleback round. Schenk defeated Taylor 5-3 in the championship match at the West Regional.

Freshman Levi Prevost lost to #5 seed Kirk White of Boise State by technical fall 21-6 in the 157 pound weight class. Prevost had wrestled White in December and lost 11-4. White is a former national champion at 165 pounds. Prevost will now wrestle Timothy Huxel of Air Force in the wrestlebacks. Huxel defeated Prevost 6-4 in the true second-place match at the West Regional.