Cornell’s Darmstadt finishes 6th at NCAAs

The national Division I NCAA wrestling championships did not work out the way that Ben Darmstadt wanted. But the Elyria alumni managed to get All-American status.

Cornell redshirt freshman and Elyria grad Ben Darmstadt (197) didn’t finish the Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships March 17 at Quicken Loans Arena the way he hoped.

Darmstadt entered the day with an opportunity to finish as high as third, nut wound up sixth.

But Darmstadt still achieved All-American status — only the fourth Elyria alumni to do so.

In a consolation semifinal match, No. 2-seeded Darmstadt squared off against No. 1 Kollin Moore of Ohio State. It was a matchup some anticipated to be in the final.

Moore hit an early takedown before Darmstadt picked up an escape. Moore got another takedown for a 4-1 lead in the second, Darmstadt escaped, and Moore converted another takedown for a 6-2 lead. Darmstadt got two points off a reversal and entered the third trailing, 6-4.

Darmstadt chose top, and Moore escaped for a 7-4 lead and held on.

In the fifth-place match against Northern Iowa’s Jacob Holschlag, Holschlag scored quickly, picking up a takedown and 2-point nearfall for a 4-0 lead. Holschlag then pinned Darmstadt with 23 seconds left in the first.

Finishing sixth isn’t what Darmstadt wanted, but gaining All-American status along with three of his teammates has helped boost Cornell’s wrestling program. And as Darmstadt said after a quarterfinal win over Chris Weiler (Lehigh) on March 16, he believes Elyria’s program is among the best and can see future All-Americans.

“We’re putting Elyria on the map,” he said. “Erik Burnett is a great coach.”

Darmstadt finished his freshman season 34-4.