Valley Sports ReportTULSA, Okla. — Tioga grad John Worthing capped a strong sophomore season at Clarion University with two wins at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, but saw his trip to Nationals come to an end in heart-breaking fashion Friday afternoon in the second round of the consolation bracket.
Worthing, the 33rd seed in the 174-pound bracket, opened the tournament with an 8-4 win over 32nd-seed Will Miller of Apalachin State, but lost to two-time defending national champion and top seed Carter Starocci of Penn State via fall in 1:21.
Worthing bounced back, using three takedowns to forge a 12-1 major decision over 16th-seeded Sam Wolfe of Air Force in the first round of wrestlebacks.
On Friday, Worthing scored a takedown late in the first period against Utah Valley’s Demetrius Romero, then turned him to his back with arm bar for more than 20 seconds for four near-fall points to take a 6-0 lead after the first three minutes.
Worthing chose bottom to star the second period, and promptly sat out at the whistle. Romero looped an arm around Worthing neck, and "sucked" him back to the mat, where he captured both his arms, and secured the fall at 3:33.
Worthing, who was a runner-up at the Mid-American Conference Championships, finishes his season at 21-11. Worthing has a 61-30 career record.
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IN PHOTO: John Worthing.
