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Needle, Moran Named All-Americans At University Nationals

Ryan Needle

At 145.5 lbs., junior Ryan Needle (Newfane, NY/Newfane) bounced back in dramatic fashion following a sub-par 2006-07 season to claim fifth out of 60 participants. New York State Section VI's all-time winningest wrestler advanced to the semifinals after defeating four straight opponents, including Michael Keefe of Chattanooga, who was crowned the SoCon Championship at 141 pounds. However, Needle met stiff competition from Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska, who took the decision 4-2, 3-2. A second consecutive defeat positioned Needle for a fifth-place finish, as he decisioned Nathaniel Holt of Central Michigan, 1-0, 3-0.

Mickey Moran

Junior Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) entered the weekend's festivities after having redshirted this past season. Moran shook off the rust by winning seven matches in the 185 lbs. bracket, en route to a seventh-place finish. Moran's first loss came in the form of Matt Pell of Missouri, who placed third at the NCAA Championships this past March. Pell decisioned Moran, 3-1, 1-1, sending the junior Bull into the wrestleback. After battling past five straight opponents, Moran met Pell once again, who in turn sent Moran to the seventh-place match with Kent State's Eric Chine. Having never faced his Mid-American Conference adversary, Moran earned the decision, 1-0, 2-1.

Redshirt freshman Dan Bishop (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall) and freshman Jimmy Hamel (Natick, MA/Natick) were both on the verge of earning All-American finishes, providing strong efforts in the wrestlebacks. Bishop was handed his first loss against 2007 NCAA All-American Obe Blanc of Lock Haven, 2-0, 3-0, before earning two victories in the wrestlebacks. Bishop would be denied an All-American placing after falling to Matt Steintrager of Central Michigan, 2-1, 9-0. Hamel was another Bull who redshirted the 2006-07 season, providing a glimpse of next season as he went 4-2 on the weekend. Hamel fell to Kent State's Eric Chine, 2-0, 2-0 in the wrestlebacks.

The Bulls finished the 2006-07 season with a 8-7 record.