Men's Wrestling 3/4/2010 12:00:00 AM

Tigers begin NAIA Wrestling Championship hopes today

The 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships will get underway today at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The event will feature three days of action on the mat, capped off with 10 individuals earning national titles on Saturday night and the crowning of a team champion.

Campbellsville University has 11 wrestlers with high hopes when the action gets underway today at 1 p.m. CST. The Tigers' best finish has been seventh two of the last three years. They look to top that this week.

"If we didn't have confidence our guys could beat any of these guys across the nation, we wouldn't be taking them to nationals," CU head coach Franky James said. "I think we're wrestling our best at the end and that's what you want to do. I think we wrestled our tails off last weekend at the East Qualifier, and I think we'll wrestle even better going into the national tournament."

The road to the top will not be easy for the Tigers, as Lindenwood (Mo.) is seeking its fourth consecutive team title and sixth in program history. However, the Lions will have to do it with only five returning wrestlers from the 2009 championship squad. Lindenwood captured five championships during the 2000s, becoming the second most dominant program in one decade since Central State (Okla.) won seven in the 1980s. However, the 2010s may open up room for a first time national champ.

Five national champions from a year ago will be back to defend their titles, with a pair of grapplers looking to make their third appearance in the championship bout of their respective weight class. Notre Dame (Ohio) senior Adam Koballa captured the 141-pound title as a junior after taking runner-up honors in 2008. The Falcon is 27-2 in his final season.

Andrew Sanchez, a junior 197-pounder from McKendree (Ill.), will also be eyeing a spot in the finals for the third time in as many trips to the NAIA Wrestling National Championships. As a freshman in 2008, Sanchez took runner-up honors and followed up with the title in 2009. The junior Bearcat has registered a 33-6 mark heading into Oklahoma City.

McKendree's other national champ, senior Aaron Winning, will look to repeat at 165 pounds and earn his third All-America honor. Winning took seventh at 165 in 2008. Chris Platt, a junior 184-pounder from Southern Oregon, and Simon Fraser (B.C.) heavyweight Arjan Bhullar return to the field to defend their titles.

CU brings to the arena four of the 46 returning All-Americans from last year.

Leading the Tigers is 133-pound All-American Tommy Pretty, who placed eighth last season to become an All-American. With former 133-pound All-American Kyle Williams of McKendree qualifying at 141 pounds, Pretty may have one of the best paths to the championship round. Ranked fifth in the NAIA at the end of the season, Pretty will not face a higher ranked opponent prior to the championship, according to an unofficial bracket released by the NAIA late Wednesday night. He could meet teammate Daphilo Succes in the national semifinal, just as he did in numerous tournaments through the year. Should Pretty reach the championship Saturday night, he will become only the second Tiger to do so, following 2007 national champion and 2009 runner-up Zach Flake.

MEET THE TIGERS
125 Pounds
Johnny Papesh, a sophomore from Aurora, Ohio - 2009 All-American. Record: 18-10

133 Pounds
Tommy Pretty, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio - 2009 All-American. Record: 27-4
Daphilo Succes, a sophomore from Bell Glads, Fla. - First-time Qualifier. Record: 27-14

141 Pounds
Matt David, a sophomore from Pullman, Wash. - Two-time Qualifier. Record: 17-12

149 Pounds
Nick Waldrop, a freshman from Oakland, Calif. - Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year. Record: 20-9

157 Pounds
Conor Young, a freshman from Rome, Ga. - First-Time Qualifier. Record: 23-17

165 Pounds
James Linker, a senior from Louisville, Ky. - 2009 All-American. Record: 20-15

174 Pounds
Bryan Wells, a senior from Virginia Beach, Va. - Three-time Qualifier. Record: 19-12

184 Pounds
Spencer Adams, a sophomore from Marion, Ohio - 2009 All-American. Record: 28-13
Allen Scruggs, a freshman from Valdosta, Ga. - First-Time Qualifier. Record: 20-11

285 Pounds
Jeremiah Fennell, a junior from Sandusky, Ohio - First-Time Qualifier. Record: 16-13

Thursday's action will include a single session of championship round preliminary and first round matches. Two sessions will take place on Friday, starting with a 10 a.m. CST round of championship quarterfinals along with preliminary, first, second and third round matches of consolation action. The third session, starting at 6 p.m. CST Friday, will feature championship semifinal matches and two rounds of consolation wrestling. Medal matches will get underway at 10 a.m. CST Saturday, followed by the championship finals starting at 6:30 p.m. CST.

The Wrestling National Championships will be streamed live via NeuLion, the parent company of JumpTV. All 10 individual weight class Championship bouts on March 6 will be available to view starting at approximately 6:30 p.m. CST. A fee of $7.95 is set to view the Saturday Championship finals event.

UNOFFICIAL BRACKET

TIGERS' TOURNAMENT PAGE

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Spencer Adams: Sophomore

Matt David: Sophomore

Jeremiah Fennell: Junior

Zach Flake: Senior

James Linker: Senior

Johnny Papesh: Sophomore

Tommy Pretty: Sophomore

Allen Scruggs: Freshman

Daphilo Succes: Sophomore

Nick Waldrop: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Spencer Adams
: Sophomore

Matt David
: Sophomore

Jeremiah Fennell
: Junior

Zach Flake
: Senior

James Linker
: Senior

Johnny Papesh
: Sophomore

Tommy Pretty
: Sophomore

Allen Scruggs
: Freshman

Daphilo Succes
: Sophomore

Nick Waldrop
: Freshman