The First All-American Since....  

Thursday March 17th when the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships kick off, 330 wrestlers will be fighting for 10 National Titles and 80 All-American Honors.  Some of the school's with All-American threats are looking to break long All-American-less droughts.  Let's look at a few of these possible All-American's.....

                   Air Force Academy's Cole Von Ohlen (141 LBS)

The Air Force Academy's Cole Von Ohlen comes into the NCAA Championships with a #9 seed after dominating the West Regional with a pin and two technical falls.  Von Ohlen racked up 42 wins during his 2010-11 Sophomore campaign.

The Last Air Force All-American: 285 LBS Kevin Hoy 2nd Place (2003)

                           Buffalo's Desi Green (149 LBS)

Desi Green, a MAC Champion for the Buffalo Bulls, has earned a seed for the second consecutive season at 149LBS.  Last year Green was the #11 seed and won two matches before being eliminated.  This season he registered 32 victories en route to earning a #12 seed.

The Last Buffalo All-American: 197 LBS Kyle Cerminara 8th Place (2004)

                           Clarion's James Fleming (157 LBS)

The 9th seed at 157lbs is Clarion's EWL Champ James Fleming.  James breezed through the EWL Championships with a fall and scores of 8-0 and 16-0.  The high-flying Fleming won by either techinical fall or pin in 17 of his 32 victories.

The Last Clarion All-American:  157 LBS Chris Horning 8th Place (2005)

                                    Rutgers Wrestlers

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights enter the NCAA Championships with eight wrestlers competing.  Four of the eight (Mario Mason, Daryl Cocozzo, Scott Winston, and DJ Russo) have earned top 12 seeds.  If Rutgers were to have a wrestler get on the podium, it would be the first for Coach Scott Goodale.

The Last Rutgers All-American: 184 LBS Tom Tanis 4th Place (2002)

                   North Dakota State's Vince Salminen (157 LBS)

2010-11 saw the Bison's Vince Salminen win his second consecutive West Regional Title at 157 LBS.  Salminen's Senior season featured 37 wins against only 5 losses.  Three of Vince's 37 wins were over fellow NCAA qualifiers, two of which came by fall.

The Last North Dakota State DI All-American:  177 Pat Johannes  7th Place  (1988)

               The Citadel's Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (165 LBS)

Even though Turtogtokh Luvsandorj was not able to win a second consecutive SoCon Championship, he did register a victory over the eventual Champ Kyle Blevins.  The Bulldogs Luvsandorj spent a portion of the season ranked in the top-10 by most wrestling polls.  Over the course of the 2010-11 year he earned wins over seven different NCAA Qualifiers.

The Last All-American for The Citadel:  165 Dan Thompson  7th Place  (2006)