Mark McKnight

ST. LOUIS, MO - Sophomore Mark McKnight (McDonald, PA/South Fayette) took the long road to get there, but he's reached the same exact spot where his season ended last year: knocking on the doorstep of All-American status after Friday afternoon's action at the NCAA Championships at the Savvis Center.

McKnight goes on to face Cal. State-Bakersfield's Efren Ceballos, an 8-7 loser to Illinois' Kyle Ott in the quarterfinals, in the All-America round of the consolation bracket in this evening's action, which begins at 7:00 pm. McKnight has lost to Ceballos twice this year, losing 9-6 at Midlands on Dec. 29 and 10-4 on Jan. 14 at the Virginia Duals.

In 2004, McKnight, ranked 19th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Intermat poll, won his first two matches at the NCAA Championships to reach the quarterfinals, where he lost to Ott, 8-5 and dropped down to the All-American round, where he suffered a heartbreaking 6-4 loss to Joseph Dubuque of Indiana.

This year, McKnight, now 31-14 overall, lost to second-seeded Nick Simmons of Michigan State in the first round on Friday, forcing him to fight through five consolation bracket matches to reach All-American status. So far, the 125-pounder has won four.

McKnight continued his consolation bracket quest for All-American status by earning his third straight win at the NCAA Championships, an 8-5 decision against Big 10 qualifer Grant Nakamura of Iowa State. Nakamura fell behind early, as McKnight scored two first period takedowns to control the match.

McKnight then ensured a place in the Top 12 in the nation with a 5-3 win against UNC-Greensboro's Joe Kemmerer, earning a first period takedown and three escapes throughout the match to help stave off a third-period takedown from Kemmerer.

McKnight started his consolation bracket quest by beating Obe Blanc from Lock Haven, 7-5, before posting a 19-4 major decision against Duquesne's Jonathon Bittinger.