Cullen at the NCAA National Tournament
Lycoming Standout Wins First Match in a Tough Field

DUBUQUE, Iowa—Lycoming 133-pound wrestler Sean Cullen (Cinnaminson, NJ) won his first match at the NCAA Division III National Tournament, but fell in the second round and again in the third-place bracket on Friday.

After a long plane ride on Tuesday to Iowa, Cullen (32-6) and head coach Roger Crebs, worked out at Loras College preparing for Cullen’s third straight NCAA National Tournament. The senior was seeded seventh going into the event and drew Adam Pizzurro of John Carroll in the first round. Cullen defeated Pizzurro handily, winning an 8-1 decision to advance to the second round.

In round two, Cullen fell to number-two seed Jafari Vanier of Augsburg in a 10-3 decision. Augsburg is ranked second in the country and has an inside track to the 2007 national title. Vanier was 14-0 in the regular season.

Dropping to the third-place bracket, Cullen was surprised in the second round by Coe College’s Gannon Hjerleid. Hjerleid was unseeded and edged Cullen 5-4 to advance.

For his career, Cullen earned NCAA All-America status in 2005 and was the 2007 Middle Atlantic Conference Champion. He was 102-11 as a Warrior and will graduate this spring. Congratulations Sean!