July 19, 2013
This summer, GoTerriers.com is counting down the top 12 achievements of Boston University teams and student-athletes in 2012-13. Check back each Tuesday and Friday as we reveal this year's Terrier Twelve.
Coming in at No. 7 in this year's Terrier Twelve is the wrestling team earning a pair of individual titles at the CAA Championships and sending three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships.
For the first time in program history, two wrestlers made their way to the top of the CAA podium, as redshirt junior Nestor Taffur claimed the 157-pound title and junior Kevin Innis won the 285-pound bracket. The conference championship was held at BU's Case Gym on March 9.
Freshman Dane Harlowe placed third at 133 to give the Terriers three national qualifiers. The trio combined for four victories at the NCAA Championships with each grappler earning at least one win.
BU placed fourth at the CAA tournament thanks to Taffur and Innis earning their first-ever titles. Harlowe, junior Bubba McGinley (125) and sophomore Mitchell Wightman (165) all rebounded from difficult losses to place third overall in their respective bracket, while junior Nick Tourville (149) and senior Kyle Czarnecki (184) placed fourth.
After missing last year's CAA tournament due to injury, Taffur won all three of his matches, including his fourth win of the year over Rider's Zachary Cibula in the championship to earn his first career NCAA bid.
Innis earned a return trip to nationals with a 3-0 day that culminated with a 7-3 triumph over George Mason's Jacob Kettler in the title bout to avenge an earlier loss in the season.
Harlowe added BU's third individual NCAA berth by stunning his bracket's top two seeds. In the third-place match, he pinned top-seeded Scott Festejo of Old Dominion with 21 seconds remaining in the third period.
At NCAAs, Taffur rebounded from an opening-round loss to the top seed and posted victories over Wyoming's Andy McCulley and Air Force's Joshua Kreimier. Harlowe made some early noise with a 9-7 upset of Virginia's George DiCamillo in the opening round. Innis also earned a win, topping Rutgers' William Smith in the opening round of the wrestlebacks.
In addition to the trio of NCAA qualifiers, the Terriers will return five more starters for the 2013-14 season.
The Terrier Twelve
No. 8 - Golf Team Completes Best Season in Program History
No. 9 - All-Americans, Save % Champ Pace Field Hockey
No. 10 - Third Place Finish at Eastern Sprints Highlights Season
No. 11 - Parker Era Closes with Hockey East Run
No. 12 - Men's Basketball Develops Into Postseason Squad
