Abri, Leon Wrestle At NCAA Tournament
March 23, 2002 | Men's Wrestling
Albany, NY- Senior Ali Abri (Ashland, VA) and junior Jose Leon (Santa Ana, CA) competed at the NCAA Tournament March 21-23. Abri lost his two matches at 184 pounds, while Leon went 1-2 and recorded his team-leading eighth pin of the year.
Abri faced second-seeded Damion Hahn of Minnesota in the first round of the 184-pound weight class. Abri lost the match, 4-1, and was placed in the consolation bracket where he met Isaac Weber of Oregon State. Despite a valiant effort Abri was defeated, 8-6.
The NCAA Tournament marked the end of Abri's career at B.U. This season has been Abri's most successful. His overall record on the year was 31-11, a mark that included six victories by way of pinfall. Abri was perfect in the CAA with a 10-0 record and posted an 18-9 record in tournament matches.
Leon faced off against Stephen Abas of Fresno State, seeded first in the 125-pound weight class. After a hard-fought match, Leon fell to Abas, 2-0. In the consolation round, Leon rebounded from the loss with a pin of Cleveland State's Rocco Mansueto 39 seconds into the match. Leon advanced to take on Matt Ridings of Oklahoma. In another tough match, Leon came up on the losing end 3-2.
Leon finished up his junior season with an overall record of 24-8, including a 14-1 record in dual-matches.
As a team the Terriers finished the season 11-4 overall and 5-2 in the CAA. The 11 wins are the most by a B.U. wrestling squad since the 1993-94 season in which it went 12-1.
