SOURCE: web.archive.org

March 07, 2009

McInally earns runner-up honors at 125 lbs. in 2009 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Baum finishes fifth

ROCHESTER, NY - Junior Mike McInally (Bergen, NY/Byron-Bergen) earned runner-up honors at 125 lbs. at the 2009 NCAA Championships on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, IA at the U.S. Cellular Center. He dropped a tough decision to top-seed Jake Oster of Elmhurst College in the championship, 8-7. Senior Luke Baum (Ontario, NY/Wayne) went 4-2 on the the weekend to finish fifth. Both men garnered their first All-American honors. RIT finished 12th overall out 62 teams.

McInally, ranked sixth at 125 lbs., finished 35-2 this season. In the championship match against Oster, McInally was called for a controversial penalty for slamming his opponent that may have proved to be the difference. Both men led a at various points throughout.

He opened the weekend by defeating Jayson Swanson of Luther College via pin in 6:09 in the first round. He then defeated No. 3 Chris Sheetz of Delaware Valley in the quarterfinals, 9-6. McInally then defeated #2 Clayton Rush of Coe College, 7-6, in the semifinals on Saturday morning. McInally will garner All-American status for 2009 and is now 103-18 all-time at RIT.

McInally qualified as a wild card entry for the NCAA Tournament after finishing second at the Empire Championships on Feb. 21. He was ranked as high as third in the nation, before dropping his first match of the season to Rob Ecker of Ithaca in the championship match at the Empire Championships. McInally just missed earning All-American honors last season after winning his opening round match. He also won a first round match in 2007.

Baum, seeded third, was upset in the opening round at 141 lbs. by Corey Paulish of Williams College, 3-1 in the opening round. He rebounded to defeat Craig Fechko of Heidelberg College, 6-1 in the consolation round. Baum then defeated Jordan Loy of Loras College, 6-1 in the next consolation match to secure an All-American berth. On Saturday, Baum defeated Kevin Donahue of Cornell College, via technical fall before losing to Paulish. Baum rebounded to defeat Chase DeCleene of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the fifth place match

Baum finished 42-9 this season at 141 lbs., breaking his own school record for wins in a season. He holds the RIT record for most career wins with 146. Baum automatically qualified for the NCAA Tourmament by winning his weight class at the 2009 Empire Championships on Feb. 21. He was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet. Baum has won two consolation matches in two previous trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Head Coach Scott Stever was ecstatic with both finishes.

"Mike had a fantastic tournament and wrestled great in the championship match," said Stever. "It was a very exciting final that went back and forth. Unfortunately, he was penalized on an extremely questionable slam foul that hurt his cause.

Luke wrestled great all weekend, going the tougher route to gain All-American status. It was a great way for Luke to end his collegiate career."

Baum and McInally are RIT's first All-Americans since Pat North did so in 2002 and 2003. Matt Hamill was RIT's last individual champion, three straight years from 1997-1999. Darrell Leslie was also a national champion for RIT in 1983.