NCAA Championship Site

La CROSSE, Wis. - The Elmhurst College wrestling team closed out the 2011 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships by placing 10th in the team standings. Three Bluejays earned All-America honors, including Mark Corsello who finished as the national runner-up at 285 pounds. 

Joe Rau (seventh at 184 pounds) and Frank Savegnago (eighth 174 pounds) also brought home All-America honors for the Bluejays.

The three wrestlers secured top-eight finishes and All-America accolades by making it to the second day of the championships. 

Corsello finished as the national runner-up at 285 pounds after falling in the final seconds to Wartburg's John Helgerson in the championship match. After a scoreless first period, Helgerson grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the second period with an escape. Starting in the down position to start period three, Corsello quickly evened the score at one with an escape. In a mad scramble in the closing seconds of the match, Helgerson caught one of Corsello's legs in midair and gained control for a takedown with three seconds remaining. Corsello attempted to reverse control but ran out of time. 

"That was a heck of a national championship match," said Elmhurst head coach Steve Marianetti. "I know Mark might be disappointed in the finish, but he still finished as the national runner-up and left everything he had on the mat. As a coach, I can't ask for much more."

Corsello advanced to the championship match by upending Concordia-Moorhead's Tom Bouressa 4-0 in the semifinals. Corsello scored a takedown with just four seconds remaining in the opening period to grab a 2-0 lead. After riding Bouressa for the entire second period, Corsello earned a point with an escape in the third and the riding time point gave him the 4-0 victory. 

Corsello finished the season with a 34-1 record and earned the third All-America honor of his career.

Savegnago, who advanced to the consolation quarterfinals after a pair of opening day wins, dropped his consolation quarterfinal match to Ithaca's David Priest. Trailing late in the third period, Savegnago was pinned by priest with one second remaining. Savegnago fell to St. John's Matt Pfarr 9-2 to finish in eighth place. Savegnago completed the season with a 26-10 record.

Rau, who also advanced to the consolation quarterfinals with a 2-1 opening day record, fell 4-3 in his consolation quarterfinal match to York's Alex Martocello. Martocello used a pair of takedowns in the opening period to score a 4-1 lead and held on the 4-3 victory. Rau rebounded from the loss and avenged an early season loss in the seventh place match by toppling Wabash's Greg Rhoads 9-5. Rau scored a takedown just 18 seconds into the match and added a pair of near falls in the opening period to build a 6-0 lead. Rau hung on for the 9-5 win to secure seventh place. He finished the season with a 31-5 record. 

Elmhurst closed out the championships with 32 points, placing 10th in the final standings. Wartburg College won the team title with 117 points. 

"Overall, I'm extremly pleased with our performance," Marianetti said. "We came here with three wrestlers and all three are leaving as All-Americans and a top-10 national finish."