By Adam Zundell
March 22, 2003

KANSAS CITY – Senior Shane Cunanan placed sixth and Brandon Lauer finished eighth to help lead West Virginia to an 17th place finish (33.50 points) at the 2003 NCAA championships. Oklahoma State won the team title with 143 points, followed by Minnesota (104.40), Oklahoma (78) and Lehigh (69).

Cunanan and Lauer are WVU’s first multiple All-Americans since 1999 when Vertus Jones, Whitey Chlebove and Sam Kline placed at the NCAA tournament.

After advancing to the championship semifinals, Cunanan lost two matches on Saturday to fall to sixth place. In the consolation semifinals, he lost a 13-7 decision to Philip Simpson of Army. In the match to determine fifth place, Cunanan again up short losing a 6-3 decision to Jason Mester of Central Michigan.

Lauer lost his only match on Saturday, a 4-0 decision to North Carolina’s Evan Sola. Lauer, who was slowed by a knee injury during the match, gave up a takedown and an escape in the match. Sola also racked up over two minutes of riding time for the additional point.

Consolation Semifinals
141 -- Philip Simpson (Army) dec. Shane Cunanan (WV), 13-7

Fifth Place Match
141 -- Jason Mester (Central Michigan) dec. Shane Cunanan (WV), 6-3

Seventh Place Match
133 -- Evan Sola (North Carolina) dec. Brandon Lauer (WV), 4-0