CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Senior Zach Pizarro (Easton, Pa./Easton) has had a career this year and capped off his final collegiate season by achieving All-American Status after winning a pair of matches in the wrestlebacks at the NCAA Championships. His teammate Frank Heffernan (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh), however, came up short in his quest to be an All-American for the second- straight year.

Pizarro, who is competing at 197, drew top-seeded Jared Massey of Augsburg and was seconds away from reversing him before Massey escaped with a 3-1 win. Pizarro made the most of the situation as he bounced back with an 11-2 win over Connor McNamara of Ursinus before beating seventh seeded Rob Kramer of Coe College.

Pizarro will continue tomorrow in the wrestlebacks where he will take on the winner of t he Adam Latella of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Bill Schindel of Mount Union match.

Heffernan, competing at 174, entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed and received an opening-round bye before beating Christopher Karl of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 4-1. In his second match of the day he took fourth seed Kyle Kwiat of Ohio Northern to overtime, but eventually fell 6-4. In the wrestlebacks he fell to Dylan Azinger of Wartburg for his second loss, eliminating him from the competition.

More coverage on Pizarro and his All-American run will continue tomorrow.