Michigan State University
NCAA Championships
Rizqallah Closes Spartan Career at NCAA Championships
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ST. LOUIS - Senior 184-pounder John Rizqallah battled fourth-seeded Jack Dechow of Old Dominion, but eventually lost a tough 4-2 decision in the second sudden victory period on Friday in the second consolation round of the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center.
On Thursday, Rizqallah lost to third-seeded Blake Stauffer of Arizona State in the first round, 4-1, and topped Nick Fiegener of Cal Poly in the first consolation round, 8-3.
Friday's match against Dechow went down to the wire, but Rizqallah (18-14) gave up a takedown 20 seconds into the second sudden victory period to fall, 4-2.
After a scoreless first period, Dechow quickly escaped to start the second. Rizqallah held off a late shot from Dechow at the end of the second period, and tallied an escaped of his own at the 1:40 mark in the third period to it at 1.
Neither wrestler scored in the first sudden victory session, and both escaped during the first round of rideouts to make it 2-2. But in the second sudden victory period, Dechow delivered the match-winning takedown near the edge of the mat to improve to 31-2 on the season.
A three-year NCAA Championships qualifier, Rizqallah closes his career with a 75-45 record.
"John had a really strong career at Michigan State," said MSU head coach Tom Minkel. "He reached the NCAAs three times and that's not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately, he had a very difficult draw in this tournament; two of his three matches were against the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. He wrestled well and was right in it, but came up just short.
"John really did everything he could and gave it his all as a Michigan State wrestler. We certainly feel his pain (with his career coming to an end), but at the same time, we're proud of his accomplishments, his effort, and what he's brought to this program."
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