Cal Poly Wrestling — TULSA, Okla. — For the third straight year, Bernie Truax is No. 4 in the nation.
The Cal Poly redshirt junior split two matches, both 5-2 decisions, in the consolation semifinals and medal round at the 2023 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships on Saturday at BOK Center.
Truax scored a takedown with five seconds remaining to clinch a 5-2 win over Ethan Laird of Rider, then an hour later gave up a takedown with three seconds left in a 5-2 setback against Rocky Elam of Missouri.
Truax was seeded second at 197 pounds while Elam was third and Laird fourth.
Truax finishes the nationals with a 5-2 record, 18-3 for the season and Cal Poly’s second three-time Division I All-American, equalling the feat of Boris Novachkov from 2010-12. Truax was fourth at 174 pounds in 2021 and fourth at 184 last year.
Against Laird, Truax scored a first-period takedown and an escape and takedown in the final period. Versus Elam, Truax managed an escape in both the first and third periods while Elam notched a takedown in the first period, an escape in the second period and the late takedown at the edge of the mat in the final period.
A graduate of Rancho Buena Vista High School in Oceanside, Calif. Truax has one year of eligibility remaining, should he choose to return. He currently sports an 82-28 career mark as a Mustang.
The championship finals are set for 4 p.m. on ESPN. Penn State has a commanding 45-point lead over Iowa in the team standings followed by Ohio State, Cornell and Missouri. Cal Poly is 27th with 17.5 points.
