Dudziak Moves on to Quarterfinal Round

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Thursday, March 18

Omaha, Neb.

6:30 p.m.

Duke University

Session II

Dudziak Earns No. 4 Seed in NCAA Tournament

Dudziak Moves on to Quarterfinal Round

3/18/2010 10:00:00 PM | Wrestling

By: Duke Sports Information

OMAHA, Neb.-Duke senior wrestler Konrad Dudziak advanced for the second time today in the NCAA Wrestling Championship, winning a 4-3 decision over Nebraska's Tucker Lane in the heavyweight round of 16. Dudziak will compete in the quarterfinal round on March 19 at the Qwest Center.

"Konrad [Dudziak] did what it took to win tonight," head coach Clar Anderson said. "[Tucker Lane] defended well and Konrad scored when he needed to. It was a well calculated match."

Returning for session II after posting a 6-0 victory in his opening match, fourth-seeded Dudziak scored first with a two-point takedown of Lane. The Nebraska senior responded with an escape to make it a 2-1 score in favor of Dudziak after the first period.

Lane started down in the second session and earned a reversal for two points to go ahead 3-2. The lead was very brief for the Cornhusker wrestler as Dudziak immediately came back with an escape to even the score after five minutes of action.

Duke's Dudziak needed just 13 seconds in the third period to score again as he escaped the grasp of Lane for the 4-3 lead. Lane took shots in the final minute, but the native of Bayonne, N.J., was able to get away to earn the victory.

The win was Dudziak's 16th of the season as he heads into the quarterfinal round with an unblemished 16-0 mark. He will face No. 5 seed Daniel Erekson of Iowa who is 14-0 on the year. Erekson registered a fall in the round of 16 to move into the quarterfinal.

"Iowa is just across the river and they brought a big fan base so he's going to be facing a vocal crowd tomorrow," Anderson said. "I think it's going to be a very exciting match."

Quarterfinal action is slated to begin at 10:30 and will be televised live on ESPNU. Coverage will run from 10:30 until 1:30 p.m., ET.

-d-u-k-e-