http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Fea...l-Championships160 qualify for NAIA National Championships through four qualifying events
By Alan Grosbach NAIA | Feb. 22, 2015, 6:04 p.m. (ET)
NAIA National Qualifier Schedule/Results
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Six defending national champions headline a group of 160 wrestlers that punched their ticket to the 2015 NAIA Wrestling National Championships, presented by Blue Chip Wrestling, Saturday with a top four finish at one of the 2015 NAIA Wrestling National Qualifying Tournaments. Concordia (Neb.), Grand View (Iowa), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Southern Oregon won each group’s team titles.
The 58th annual national championships will take place for the second-straight year at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka, Kan. The four-session event begins on Friday, March 6 and concludes with the 10 championship bouts on Saturday, March 7 starting at 7 p.m. Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video streaming provider, will broadcast the final session live on
www.NAIANetwork.com.Three-time defending national champion Grand View (Iowa) cruised to a fifth-straight central team title, garnering 218 points – 93 points more than second-place Missouri Valley (124.5). For the second-consecutive year, all 12 Viking grapplers automatically qualify with top-four finishes, including individual titles by Ryak Finch (125), Brandon Wright (141), Dallas Houchins (157), Jimmie Schuessler (165), Thomas Moman (174) and Dean Broghammer (285).
Runner-up Missouri Valley had six individuals earn automatic spots, highlighted by Jake Ekster’s title at 149 pounds. The Houston, Texas, native pinned top-ranked Gustavo Martinez (6:52) in the championship match. Ekster had finished runner-up at the 2013 and 2014 Central Qualifier.
The final notable win out of the Central came at 133 pounds, as Baker’s (Kan.) defending national champion Bryce Shoemaker won his first-ever individual title at the qualifier. The sophomore pinned his first two opponents – DeMarco Speller of Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Andrew Wallace of Missouri Baptist – in a combined 5:20, before claiming an 18-1 technical fall in the semifinals against Adrian gains of Oklahoma City. His win against Grand View’s Jacob Colon was due to an injury. The Wildcats finished fourth overall with 89.5 points.
At the East Qualifier, Lindsey Wilson won its second area title in the last three seasons. The Blue Raiders, who picked up 165.5 points, boast five individual champions – Daniel Leonard (141), Joe Cozart (157), Michael Pixley (184), Jake Maupin (197) and Chico Adams (285).
Cozart is the most decorated of the Lindsey Wilson individuals. The senior finished runner-up in 2013 before winning the national title a season ago. Cozart owns a 48-7 record over the last two seasons, including a 24-5 mark this year.
Jake Williams of Cumberland (Tenn.) defended his 2014 East title at 149 pounds after pinning Isaac Thomas of Lindsey Wilson in 4:10. He now sets his sight on defending the national crown he won a season ago.
Concordia picked up the North Qualifier team title with 165 points, while Dickinson State (N.D.) (120.5) was second, Midland (Neb.) (91.5) was third and group host York (Neb.) (85.5) took fourth.
The Bulldogs, who had five individuals at the field in the 2014 national championships, had nine grapplers finish among the top four. Andrew Schulte – No. 3 at 141 pounds entering the tournament – and Enrique Barajas at 149 pounds earned Concordia’s two individual titles. Schulte claimed a 6-2 decision over Scottie Bonds of William Penn (Iowa). With the win, the sophomore from Carona, Calif., improved to 17-2 on the season.
Barajas downed Seth Ehlang of Dickinson State, 6-5.
Overall, all 10 weight classes at the North Qualifier had a new individual champion.
Southern Oregon won its sixth group title in the last seven years with 158.5 points, edging second-place Great Falls (Mont.) (154.0) by 4.5 points. Ten-of-12 Raiders that took the mat at the qualifier automatically advance to the national championships.
Brock Gutches continued his quest to go down as one of the most successful wrestlers in NAIA history. The 174-pounder one the West title after sticking Shawn Lau of Great Falls (2:48) in the championship bout. The three-time national champion is searching for his fourth national title this season – an accomplishment that has only been done six times previously. Gutches is now 27-2 on the season.
The complete list of national championships participants will be announced on Monday, Feb. 23.
For additional information on the 2015 NAIA Wrestling National Championships, presented by Blue Chip Wrestling, click here.
