Donahue places fourth for second straight year

LA CROSSE, Wis. - Cornell's Kevin Donahue joined a select group of wrestlers.

The Rams senior became just the school's seventh three-time All-American, placing fourth at 141 pounds for the second straight year Saturday at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the La Crosse Center. Donahue was seventh as a sophomore.

Donahue (30-7) reached the semifinals for the first time in his three trips, beating Mount Union's Josh Malave, 4-2, in overtime, and Nick Garber of Waynesburg by an 11-2 major decision Friday. The sixth-seeded Donahue lost to second-seeded Jeremy Stierly before beating No. 3-seed Aljamain Sterling of SUNY-Cortland in the consolation semifinal to notch the top-four finish.

“Coach Duroe and the coaching staff and everyone I had around me got me believing I could win the whole thing,” Donahue said. “So going into this tournament anything short of first place was going to be a disappointment, but I definitely found the silver lining. It's a great way to end a terrific career.”

Donahue, from Mechanicsville, Va., has nudged his way into the upper-tier of Cornell wrestlers. He is ninth all-time with 109 career wins and is third wrestler to earn three NCAA medals under Rams Coach Mike Duroe, joining Chris Heilman (2006-08) and Nick Nothern (2008-10). Donahue also earned his second straight Iowa Conference title last month to qualify for the national tournament.

“Coach Duroe has given me a first-class experience as a college wrestler,” Donahue said. “When it comes down to it, I couldn't ask for more than that.”

Rams teammate Tim Hood also earned All-American honors, placing eighth at 125.