CLEVELAND — Before leaving his home state for his third and final NCAA Championships, Bryce Meredith said it "will break (his) heart" if he returns home without a national title.
After winning his semifinal match at 141 pounds Friday, Meredith used those same words, referring to his loss Dec. 2 to Cornell's Yianni Diakomihalis at the Cliff Keen Invite.
It makes sense. Meredith hadn't had a chance to get accustomed to losing this season. That December match against the true freshman phenom was, in fact, Meredith's only loss of the season before nationals. The fact that Meredith has only lost to Diakomihalis this season didn't change Saturday night.