March 20, 2014

Updated Results | Updated Taffur Info Sheet

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senior Nestor Taffur (157) picked up a pair of falls, including one with two seconds left in regulation, to become the first Boston University wrestler in four years to advance to the national quarterfinals on Thursday at the 2014 NCAA Championships at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

After opening with a pin just 1:11 into his first-round match against Austin Matthews of Clarion, Taffur faced a 9-6 deficit heading into the third period of his second-round bout versus 11th-seeded Taylor Walsh of Indiana.

The sixth-seeded Taffur secured a takedown with 45 seconds left in regulation to get within one and then let Walsh go before adding another takedown to make it a 10-10 affair. With riding time not a factor, Taffur did not settle for overtime, getting Walsh on his back before pinning him at the 6:58 mark.

Taffur moves to 37-2 on the year and will face third-seeded Alex Dieringer (30-1) of Oklahoma State in Friday morning's quarterfinals. The last Terrier to make a quarterfinal appearance was Fred Santaite in 2010 and the only BU grappler to ever advance to the NCAA semifinals was Earl Walker in 1994.

Making their first appearance at nationals, juniors Tyler Scotton (141) and Mitchell Wightman (165) each dropped both of their matches on Thursday.

In the pigtail round to open the day, Wightman fell to Rider's Ramon Santiago by a score of 7-0. Santiago got his first takedown in the opening period before adding another in the second. A stalling point and riding time completed the scoring.

Wightman's loss put him in the wrestleback pigtail, where he dropped a 3-1 match to Navy's Peyton Walsh. The junior finishes his season with a record of 23-15.

Scotton allowed only one takedown in his opening-round bout against 14th-seeded Edgar Bright of Pittsburgh, but dropped a 3-1 decision. After opening the scoring with an escape to start the second period, Scotton did an impressive job avoiding a takedown but could not get back up on his feet in time before Bright pounced to get the two points.

In the wrestlebacks, Scotton faced Oklahoma's Nick Lester and the home crowd. Lester got a takedown midway through the first and controlled the bout before coming away a 7-0 victor. Scotton wraps up his junior campaign with a record of 17-14.

Thanks to Taffur's six team points, the Terriers are in a tie for 24th in the team standings after the first day of competition.

Tyler Scotton (141)
1st Rd.: Lost to #14 Edgar Bright (Pittsburgh), 3-1
Consolation 1st Rd.: Lost to Nick Lester (Oklahoma), 7-0

#6 Nestor Taffur (157)
1st Rd.: Pinned Austin Matthews (Clarion), 1:11
2nd Rd.: Pinned #11 Taylor Walsh (Indiana), 6:58
Quarterfinal (Fri. morning) vs. #3 Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State)

Mitchell Wightman (165)
1st Rd. Pigtail: Lost to Ramon Santiago (Rider), 7-0
Consolation Pigtail: Lost to Peyton Walsh (Navy), 3-1