Wrestlers prepare for national tournament
Chad Kriz
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Sports
The Viking wrestling team enters NAIA National Wrestling Tournament with high goals and 12 qualifiers March 4-6 in Oklahoma City.
The Vikings, rated No. 9 nationally, enter the tournament with six rated individuals, one returning All-American and two NJCAA national champions. The Vikings are coming off a strong second-place finish at the Central National Qualifying Tournament, behind No. 3 Missouri Valley.
Junior Brad Lower is the top-rated 165 lb wrestler in the nation and leads the team with 19 falls during the season. Lower transferred from Iowa Central Community College, where he claimed NJCAA All-American honors twice, winning the 165 lb national title as a sophomore.
"Some kids have been up and down," Lower said. "If everyone wrestles to the best of their ability, we could easily do well."
Lower said wrestling his style and not looking past anyone are going to be a necessity in winning an individual and team title.
Junior Glenn Rhees is rated No. 2 at 174 lbs and was voted Outstanding Wrestler at the regional tournament. Rhees transferred from Northern Iowa Area Community College, where he was an All-American, claiming the 174 lb national title as a sophomore.
"My goal is to dominate every wrestler and hopefully get the Outstanding Wrestler award," Rhees said. "I feel that if I never quit and wrestle the whole match, I will be successful and win."
Sophomore Nick Coffman, returning national qualifier, is rated No. 12 at 141 lbs and returns to the line-up after missing the regional tournament with a knee injury. Coffman qualified for nationals earlier in the season and was able to use a medical waiver to bypass the tournament.
Junior Michael Schultz is rated No. 7 at 133 lbs and is coming off a fourth-place regional finish. The Vikings lone senior, Jordaryl Logan, is rated No. 11 at 184 lbs and placed third at the regional tournament. Returning All-American Justin Rau, sophomore, was a regional runner-up and enters the tournament as the No. 11-rated wrestler at 197 lbs.
133 lb sophomore Travis Evans, 157 lb sophomore Issiah Sullivan and 165 lb sophomore Ty Knowler are returning qualifiers competing for the Vikings in this year's national tournament. Other qualifiers are 149 lb junior Adam Kurimski and heavyweight freshman Derek Nightster.
The Vikings, rated No. 9 nationally, enter the tournament with six rated individuals, one returning All-American and two NJCAA national champions. The Vikings are coming off a strong second-place finish at the Central National Qualifying Tournament, behind No. 3 Missouri Valley.
Junior Brad Lower is the top-rated 165 lb wrestler in the nation and leads the team with 19 falls during the season. Lower transferred from Iowa Central Community College, where he claimed NJCAA All-American honors twice, winning the 165 lb national title as a sophomore.
"Some kids have been up and down," Lower said. "If everyone wrestles to the best of their ability, we could easily do well."
Lower said wrestling his style and not looking past anyone are going to be a necessity in winning an individual and team title.
Junior Glenn Rhees is rated No. 2 at 174 lbs and was voted Outstanding Wrestler at the regional tournament. Rhees transferred from Northern Iowa Area Community College, where he was an All-American, claiming the 174 lb national title as a sophomore.
"My goal is to dominate every wrestler and hopefully get the Outstanding Wrestler award," Rhees said. "I feel that if I never quit and wrestle the whole match, I will be successful and win."
Sophomore Nick Coffman, returning national qualifier, is rated No. 12 at 141 lbs and returns to the line-up after missing the regional tournament with a knee injury. Coffman qualified for nationals earlier in the season and was able to use a medical waiver to bypass the tournament.
Junior Michael Schultz is rated No. 7 at 133 lbs and is coming off a fourth-place regional finish. The Vikings lone senior, Jordaryl Logan, is rated No. 11 at 184 lbs and placed third at the regional tournament. Returning All-American Justin Rau, sophomore, was a regional runner-up and enters the tournament as the No. 11-rated wrestler at 197 lbs.
133 lb sophomore Travis Evans, 157 lb sophomore Issiah Sullivan and 165 lb sophomore Ty Knowler are returning qualifiers competing for the Vikings in this year's national tournament. Other qualifiers are 149 lb junior Adam Kurimski and heavyweight freshman Derek Nightster.
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