OSWEGO, N.Y. – Isaac Mathews - of the wrestling team - has been named Oswego State Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 27.
Mathews won four elimination matches in the closing seconds, including two come-from-behind victories and one sudden victory, to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
After dropping his opening match, Mathews rebounded with a 5-3 decision and the 8-6 sudden victory on Saturday night. On Sunday, the Wappingers native was tied with New Jersey City's Matt Armamento at 1-1 with 20 seconds to go.
Mathews got the key take down and earned 'back' points to win 6-1 and advance to the Consolation Semifinal.
In his semifinal match against Brian Schneider of host school Elizabethtown, Mathews earned a reversal in the closing seconds to score two and win by a 5-4 decision. With a bid to the National Championships on the line, Mathews was down 3-2 late in the third period against Jackson Gray of Ithaca College before scoring a takedown and winning, 4-3, and finishing third.
Mathews earned all region honors over the weekend, and looks to keep his magical run going when he heads to Cedar Rapids with teammate Charlie Gyrgas to compete in the Division III national championship on March 11 & 12.