Reversal Gives McGonagle Overtime Win at NWCA All-Star Classic

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Lehigh junior Connor McGonagle won a 7-5 overtime decision over Sam Latona of Virginia Tech Tuesday night at 133 pounds at the NWCA All-Star Classic at Penn State’s Rec Hall. McGonagle scored the first takedown of the bout, and reversed Latona in the first half of the tiebreakers to knock off the sixth-ranked Hokie in the annual exhibition showcase.
McGonagle opened the scoring by countering a Latona shot and getting behind for a three-point takedown near the midway point of the opening period. Latona escaped 32 seconds later as McGonagle led 3-1 after one period.
Latona chose bottom in the second period and escaped before McGonagle could go over a minute of advantage time as McGonagle led 3-2 after two periods.
McGonagle was granted an escape to begin the third period to go ahead 4-2 but Latona scored a takedown with just over a minute remaining to take a 5-4 lead. A McGonagle escape sent the match to sudden victory tied 5-5.
After a scoreless two-minute sudden victory period, McGonagle was down in the first half of the tiebreaker. McGonagle’s initial escape attempts were thwarted but he was able to score a reversal with two seconds remaining in the sudden victory period to lead 7-5. Latona chose neutral in the second half of the tiebreaker but was unable to take McGonagle down as McGonagle knocked off his second top 10-ranked opponent this season.
Tuesday’s bout is an exhibition that won’t count towards either wrestler’s official record. McGonagle is officially 2-0 on the season with one of his victories at the Nov. 12 Journeymen Collegiate Classic coming against then-No. 8 Michael Colaiocco of Penn.
McGonagle’s win was the first for a Lehigh wrestler in the main NWCA All-Star Classic since 2015 when Mitch Minotti pinned South Dakota State’s Cody Pack in sudden victory. Gordon Wolf won a match at the 2017 All-Star Classic but that was one of the “showcase” bouts. Wolf and Darian Cruz were the last Mountain Hawks to represent Lehigh at the NWCA All-Star Classic back in 2017.
The Mountain Hawks will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 3 when they visit No. 1 Penn State at 2 p.m. The match will be televised on Big Ten Network, with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM in Easton.
The 2023-24 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
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