Add national runner up to Christopher Minto’s growing list of accomplishments in wrestling.
After reaching his first NCAA final, the University of Nebraska redshirt sophomore and Cape Coral native fell by 2-1 decision Penn State’s Levi Haines, the top seed, in the 174-pound championship at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday.
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Minto, who won three state titles at Mariner High, fell behind 2-0 on an escape and a stalling call and couldn’t get past the defenses of the four-time All-American to turn the tide.
This was the third time Haines defeated Minto this season, including a victory by the same score at the Big Ten Championships. Each of their matches this season have been tightly contested.
Haines finishes his NCAA career with his second national title, going out on top with a 26-0 record in his final season with the Nittany Lions.
“I really appreciate guys like Christopher,” Haines said in a press conference before the final. “He’s a tough competitor. Those are the guys that get me out of bed everyday to keep training.”
Minto defeated Missouri’s Cam Steed by 5-1 decision to advance to his first national championship match. In the quartfinals, he downed Iowa State’s MJ Gaitan by 11-3 major decision.
Minto finished his sophomore season with a 24-6 record, earning All-American honors for the second time. He placed fourth at the NCAA Championships last year.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Mariner grad Christopher Minto finishes sophomore wrestling season as NCAA runner-up
Reporting by Dustin B Levy, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
