Lister advances in wrestling

OMAHA, Neb. — Binghamton University's Justin Lister, a former South Jefferson standout, made school history Friday night as he advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I wrestling championships at the Qwest Center.

Lister's improbable run to the final four at 157 pounds, as an unseeded competitor, was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. But California Polytechnic's Chase Pami ended the redshirt sophomore's title quest for this year, outlasting Lister 13-5 to earn a berth in today's final.

Still, Lister can finish no worse than sixth place, which locks up his status as the Bearcats' second-ever Division I all-American.

"This is the big show. This is where it all happens," Lister said of competing in the NCAA championships for the first time. "I just had to start believing I belong with the best 157-pounders in the nation. Hopefully I put a big dent in the rankings for next year."

Lister (31-9) registered his biggest win of the season in the quarterfinals, pinning No. 3 seed Jesse Dong (Virginia Tech) in 1:33 after locking a cradle that couldn't be broken.

Lister, a three-time New York state runner-up in high school, avenged early season losses by defeating 11th seeded Robert Erisman (Oklahoma St.) and Thomas Scotton (North Carolina) in the opening two rounds, and then earned his unexpected triumph over Dong.

Lister said he had all Thursday night to envision his quarterfinal winning move.

"I sat up really late thinking of a way to beat that kid, and, I kid you not, the move happened the identical way I pictured it in my head," he said.

Even if he loses today, Lister will have earned Binghamton's best-ever NCAA finish.

"He had a great run," Bearcats' coach Pat Popolizio said.

BASEBALL

FREDERICK (MD.) 2-11,

JEFFERSON CC 1-0

The Cannoneers generated just five totals hits in their first two games of the season, and were swept in a doubleheader at Frederick, Md.

Josh Cox struck out six in game one. But the Cannoneers (0-2) struggled offensively, getting a base hit each from Joe Pagan and Michael Yeash.

Cox added a pair of hits in the second game, but Frederick (8-4) pulled away.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

GROMACKI COACH OF YEAR

The WBCA has selected ex-St. Lawrence women's basketball coach G.P. Gromacki as the 2010 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year.

Gromacki is in his third season as the head coach at Amherst College and has made back-to-back Final Four appearences. Amherst (31-0) is the last undefeated team remaining in Division III this year and has set the school mark for most wins in a season.