Watch Darian Cruz's Unlikely Road To An NCAA Champioship
Watch Darian Cruz's Unlikely Road To An NCAA Champioship
Lehigh's Darian Cruz strung together a run to a NCAA title that was amazing to watch. Check out his less-than-likely road.
Lehigh's Darian Cruz strung together a run to a NCAA title at 125 pounds that was amazing to watch. Check out his less-than-likely road this past weekend in St. Louis.
Dylan Peters is a stud and Darain Cruz catches him in the first round. Darian is one of the best in the country at getting a fall from a tilt, and he earns another one through some real crafty top work here.
Cruz got the job done against No. 13 seed Shakur Laney of the University of Ohio, but it wasn't easy. The only point scored in the match came on an escape by Cruz.
Cruz's quarterfinal was left no doubt that he belonged on the big stage, as he handled North Carolina State's Sean Fausz with two takedowns and riding time.
The Scotttrade Center's walls were vibrating when Cruz got a takedown on Thomas Gilman with 12 seconds left in the third to take the lead. The energy level in the arena stayed high as Gilman quickly kicked away to send the match to overtime. The rest, as they say, is history.
Cruz capped off his run with some of the most creative wrestling that we have seen all year. He stayed away from Lizak's strengths and instead wrestled to his own by getting an early takedown on a Merkel.
Round Of 32
Darian Cruz (Lehigh) F Dylan Peters (Uni), 0:52Dylan Peters is a stud and Darain Cruz catches him in the first round. Darian is one of the best in the country at getting a fall from a tilt, and he earns another one through some real crafty top work here.
Round Of 16
Darian Cruz (Lehigh) DEC Shakur Laney (Ohio), 1-0Cruz got the job done against No. 13 seed Shakur Laney of the University of Ohio, but it wasn't easy. The only point scored in the match came on an escape by Cruz.
Quarterfinals
Darian Cruz (Lehigh) DEC Sean Fausz (North Carolina St.), 5-2Cruz's quarterfinal was left no doubt that he belonged on the big stage, as he handled North Carolina State's Sean Fausz with two takedowns and riding time.
Semifinals
Darian Cruz (Lehigh) DEC Thomas Gilman (Iowa), 4-2 SVThe Scotttrade Center's walls were vibrating when Cruz got a takedown on Thomas Gilman with 12 seconds left in the third to take the lead. The energy level in the arena stayed high as Gilman quickly kicked away to send the match to overtime. The rest, as they say, is history.
Finals
Darian Cruz (Lehigh) DEC Ethan Lizak (Minnesota), 6-3Cruz capped off his run with some of the most creative wrestling that we have seen all year. He stayed away from Lizak's strengths and instead wrestled to his own by getting an early takedown on a Merkel.