Boris Novachkov, Senior, 141 Pounds, Sunnyvale, Calif. (Fremont HS)
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Senior wrestler Boris Novachkov, who became Cal Poly's
first three-time NCAA Division I All-American with a third-place
finish in the NCAA National Championships over the weekend, has
been named Coca-Cola/Cal Poly Student-Athlete of the Week.
Novachkov won six of seven matches in the three-day event at the
Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Fremont High School (Sunnyvale) graduate won his first two
matches before falling in the quarterfinal round, then put together
a four-match winning streak in the wrestlebacks to claim third
place at 141 pounds.
In his final match as a Mustang, Novachkov won because of a
15-second advantage in riding time in the second overtime after he
and second-seeded Kendric Maple of Oklahoma battled to a 3-3
draw.
Both Novachkov and Maple of Oklahoma earned escapes in regulation
as well as the first and second overtime series of periods in the
takedown-free match. In the second overtime, Novachkov escaped in
seven seconds while Maple needed 22 seconds. The marathon match
spanned 11 minutes –- seven in regulation and two for each
overtime series before it was decided on a tiebreaker (riding
time).
Novachkov, who nearly gave up a takedown in the final seconds of
the first sudden death period, had beaten Maple 6-3 in the opening
round of the 2010 NCAA Championships.
Novachkov placed seventh at 133 pounds in 2010 and second at 141
pounds in 2011.
Nine other former Mustang wrestlers earned a pair of All-American
certificates by placing in the top eight in their weight class.
Novachkov, a two-time Pac-12 champion and four-time national
qualifier, finished his Cal Poly career with a 121-33 record,
including a 34-4 mark as a senior. He finished second in the Pac-12
finals in 2012 and third in 2008.
Novachkov also earned Coca-Cola/Cal Poly Student-Athlete of the Week honors Dec. 19 after winning a title at the Reno Tournament of Champions.