PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Penn College senior wrestler Noah Hunt, a Warrior Run graduate, saw his season and career end after he dropped his first two matches in the NCAA Division III Championships on Friday.

In his opening 141-pound pigtail match, Hunt lost an 18-4 major decision to Sean Conway of the University of Chicago. Conway went on to knock off the No. 2 seed and guaranteed himself at least an All-American honor by reaching the semifinals.

In the first consolation-round bout against North Central Illinois’ Bradley Rosen, and three-time NCAA qualifier, Hunt was pinned in 2:54. Rosen dropped his opening match against top-seeded Josh Wilson of Greensboro on an 8-6 decision in final 30 seconds.

“Although not the outcome Noah or our coaching staff wanted, we all walked out of the arena with our heads held high. Everybody at the NCAA tournament is an elite wrestler and unfortunately sometimes the matches just don’t go your way,” coach Dalton Rohrbaugh said.

“As I’ve said to our wrestlers before when they lose, sometimes you didn’t do anything wrong, but your opponent did something right,” the first-year coach continued, adding, “I’m extremely proud of the way Noah competed. Even in the losses he competed to the best of his ability and gave himself 100%, which is all you can ask of him.”

Hunt closed out a 19-8 season and finished his career with a program-record 103 wins, and 50 defeats. Hunt also ended his career as the only Wildcat in history to have four podium finishes and the NCAA Regionals and was just second wrestler to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

“Today is a difficult day for him as his goal was to be standing on the podium, but today does not take away from the storied career he has had,” Rohrbaugh added. “I’ve said it before that Noah Hunt embodies what we are trying to do as a program at Penn College wrestling and I will use him as an example for years to come.”

“All we can really say right now is thank you, Noah Hunt,” the coach added.