DES MOINES, Iowa - Campbellsville University claimed its first Top 3 finish in the NAIA Wrestling Tournament Saturday after placing a school record seven All-Americans in the Top 8 individually. Two of those - Chris Teague (141) and Allen Scruggs (184) - battled Saturday evening for a shot at joining Zach Flake and Tommy Pretty as the program's national champions.

Both fell short though, eliminating any chance of the Tigers catching Southern Oregon University in second place. CU collected 121.5 points in the tournament, while SOU finished with 141. Host school Grand View University won its first national title with 172 points. Lindsey Wilson College finished fourth with 96.5 points after Charles Pingleton won the 157-pound title to leap Oklahoma City University (94).
 

"I have mixed emotions about this tournament. I hate feeling so bad about finishing third, because we had a team that could have won it, and just came up short," CU head coach Franky James said. "But I'm really proud of our guys and the way they competed and the kind of people they are. This is really a great group of young guys that made it an exciting year for Tiger wrestling."

At 141 pounds, Teague battled constantly with defending champion Anthony Varnell of Great Falls. Tied 8-8 entering sudden death overtime, Varnell scored a takedown in the first 30 seconds to clinch the win, 10-8.

Teague, who became the only first-year Campbellsville Tiger to ever advance to an NAIA championship match, gives credit to his coaching staff.

"Coach (Jams) Hicks and Coach James are good coaches. I give a lot of credit for how I've done this season because of those two," Teague said. "James is real good at getting our minds ready and getting us together as a team. Hicks is good for me personally, because he tells it like it is. You know what he tells you is what to expect."

In the 184-pound final, Scruggs fell, 8-0, to first-time champion Austin Vanderford of Southern Oregon. The first period was scoreless for both teams, setting up a similar feel as Scruggs' previous two overtime wins. However, after Vanderford scored his escape point to start the second period, Scruggs was hit with three stalling points through the second period and in the third. Vanderford managed to get three near fall points as time expired, as Scruggs avoided a pin. Riding time helped give Vanderford a major decision.

While Scruggs fell short of becoming the Tigers' first upper-weight national champion, he finished the season with a 22-7 record. After missing most of December with a shoulder injury, Scruggs rolled off a 15-1 run from January 7 through the NAIA semifinals.

He also credits the Tiger coaching staff and his workout partner, Jamelle Jones, for his national tournament success.

"I made the finals, and that takes hard work," Scruggs said. "I have to give it up to Coach James, Coach Hicks and Coach (James) Linker for pushing me, and a big, big thanks to Jamelle Jones. He's a two time (junior college) national champion, and I work out with him every day. It's hard to score on somebody like that. If I can score on him, I can score on anybody."

That ability to score escape and riding points showed in the championship quarterfinals and semifinals.

In addition to having two finalists, Campbellsville had two third-place finishers (Tim Thurston at 133 and Jones at 197). CU also had Conor Young place fifth at 157 pounds, Spencer Adams was sixth at 197 pounds, and Nick Waldrop was eighth at 157 pounds.

For a recap of Saturday morning's third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches, click here.

Campbellsville's record-setting performance in the 55^th annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships continues a season of individual or program best records.

For a list of evening session matches and complete match-by-match updates of CU in the NAIA Tournament, visit the CU Tournament Central page, here.

FINAL BRACKETS

SEASON RECORDS SET OR TIED IN 2011-12
Best Duals Record: 12-4*
Highest Final Ranking: 2^nd
Most East Region Individual Champions: 6
Highest East Region Team Finish: 1st
Highest MSC Tournament Team Finish: 1st **
Most Tech Falls: Conor Young (6)
Most Major Decisions: Tyler Alsip (12)
Most Career Wins by a Mid-South Conference Wrestler: Tommy Pretty (121)

*Tied
**Three-time winner