There were myriad expectations for Cornell's Brian Realbuto entering the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Madison Square Garden.

But perhaps there were none bigger among New York state wrestling fans than this: This would be the year that Realbuto, a Somers High School alumnus, would stand atop the podium at the World's Most Famous Arena and bask in the cheers of a hometown crowd, taking home the NCAA Championship at 174 pounds that had been predicted since he upset a two-seed as a freshman and lost in the 157-pound finals to Isaiah Martinez of Illinois last season as a sophomore.

And then Thursday afternoon, suddenly, it was Iowa State's Lelund Weatherspoon looking to upset the second-seeded Realbuto. Trailing 7-4, Realbuto desperately tried to score big with a lateral drop in the final seconds, only to have a knee come apart on him for the second time in three appearances at the NCAA Championships.

Weatherspoon advanced with a 7-4 decision.