Wrestling | 3/11/2017 3:54:00 PM

Shippensburg University junior Evan Ramos earned All-America honors on Saturday, placing fifth in the 197-pound bracket at the 2017 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships being held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Ramos is the first SU All-American wrestler since 125-pounder Chris Kochinsky placed fourth in 2011. The two victories attained by Ramos on Friday guaranteed him a spot on Saturday's All-America podium.
 
In his first match Saturday, Ramos dropped a 10-2 major decision to California Baptist's Jacob Waste (31-3) – a reigning All-American and top-ranked wrestler who extended his winning streak to 24 matches. He then dropped a 10-2 major decision to Simon Fraser's Morgan Smith, setting up the fifth-place bout.
 
To claim fifth place, Ramos won a re-match with Limestone's Matt Rudy. On Friday, Ramos posted an 8-6 decision over Rudy, scoring six points in the first period. It was the second period that proved decisive for Ramos on Saturday – as he turned a 2-1 lead into a 6-1 lead with a four-point near fall. He built an 8-2 lead after two periods, and settled for a 9-4 win when factoring in his riding-time advantage.
 
Ramos, the 2017 Super Region One champion, finishes his season with a 27-4 record in making his second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.