Second Match: Chase Scene

Many of Alex Blank's friends and supporters were unable to watch his second-round match at the NCAA Championships.  For these people, there is a simple solution.  Look at the still photo above, taken from that match.  Note that the opposing wrestler appears to be running away from Blank, who is chasing him unrelentingly.

You're all caught up.  You have now seen the entire match.

In a frustrating bout that deviated from the National tournament's usual policy of penalizing stalling aggressively (or at all), Blank fell to Springfield's Joe Grippi by a score of 3-0.  Two periods of offensive wrestling by Blank bookended the only one in which scoring took place.  Blank was the aggressor throughout the first period, maintaining strong position and controlling most of the tie-ups.  However, in the second period, Grippi demonstrated the scrambling ability that has allowed him to succeed at such a high level, and earned a quick escape-and-takedown that looked, at first, like a reversal.  He carried that 3-0 lead into the third period.  Coaches Racich and Curry elected to put Blank on his feet, where he continued to take the action to Grippi, only narrowly missing out on several key takedown opportunities.  Grippi wrestled shrewdly on the edge of the mat, preventing Blank from making the best use of his potent offense by steering the action out of bounds.  Although Blank was the only wrestler to physically take a step forward during the third period, Grippi was able to avoid being called for stalling, and maintained his lead through the end of the bout.

Losing the bout ends Blank's bid for All-American status.  It also ends Blank's senior wrestling season, during which he posted an impressive 26-11 record.  He owns 90 career wins as an Ursinus Bear.  However, it might be better to say that he registered 90 wins of his own, 90 personal wins; he can rightly claim a share of countless dual meet victories Ursinus has earned over the past four years, and as a leader, a captain, and a role model, he has shaped the character of this team through his own dedication and irrepressible will to succeed.  Ursinus Wrestling is a better, stronger, and nobler team for having had Alex Blank as its captain, and the walls of the wrestling room are more decorated for his having succeeded as completely as he has.

Congratulations to Alex Blank on a career of which he can and should be forever proud.  And from everyone who was inspired and encouraged by his example, he has our gratitude.  There will not be another wrestler like him, at Ursinus or anywhere else.