Luther Finishes Second at IIAC Championships - Seven Qualify for National Meet
Feb. 17, 2007
A 5-0 decision by Alec Bonander in the championship match at 197, gave the Norse the points needed to secure a second place finish in the final Iowa Conference standings this evening here in the Regents Center. The league title was Bonander's first of his career and also makes him a four-time national qualifier. Bonander, who has been ranked #1 all season, placed 5th at the 2008 National Championships, and third in 2007.
Luther finished the meet with 138 points, finishing one point ahead of Coe College. Wartburg College won its 17th consecutive league title posting a team total of 187 points.
Also reaching tonight's championship bouts was Jason Pyle at 149, Nic Barclay at 184 and Allyn Plattner at 285. Pyle will be making his first trip to the national championships after dropping a 5-2 decision to defending national champion Jacob Naig of Wartburg. Barclay will be making his second consecutive appearance at the national finale, despite losing by fall to defending national champion Romeo Djoumessi of Wartburg. Plattner lost a hard fought 5-4 decision to #2 ranked John Helgerson of Wartburg and will be making his first trip to the national championships.
Also qualifying for the national championships thanks to third place finishes was Jayson Swanson at 125, Zac Bartlett at 133 and Yonny Quist at 157. Swanson defeated Tom Drosopoulos of Loras by fall (1:42), completing his first IIAC Championship with a record of 3-1. Bartlett posted a 2-1 decision over Nick Nothern of Cornell. Nothern defeated Bartlett in the opening round of this weight class 2-1 by tie-breaker. Quist, who wrestled at 149 all season until the last dual of the year, posted a 10-5 decision over Aron Kindelsperger of Cornell. Quist and Barlett will be making their second consecutive trip to the national championships, while Swanson will be making his first. Both Bartlett and Quist were 2008 All-Americans. Bartlett placed 7th at last year's national championship and Quist placed eigth at 149.
Luther's seven national qualifiers was one shy of the school record of eight established in 2007.
"I am very proud of our team's performance today," stated Head Coach Dave Mitchell. "These guys faced a great deal of adversity throughout the year with injuries and tough losses. The kept believing in themselves and each other and really performed well today. A month ago we were at a low with five of our starters injured and a bunch of our guys struggling. The great thing about wrestling is that performance at the end of the year is what is remembered and we have been fortunate to have guys wrestle their best at the Iowa Conference Championships and the NCAA III Championships."
The NCAA III National Championships will be held held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the U. S. Cellular Center Mar. 6-7. Luther fans can still join the "Sea of Blue" and support Luther's seven national qualifiers
