DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - For the first time since the 2003 season, the eighth-ranked Loras wrestling team qualified seven wrestlers for the NCAA Championships. The Duhawks finished second in the team race by 18.0 points to Wartburg in what was the closest finish in the Central/Lower Midwest since the regional model was adopted in 2013.
133# | Brice Everson
In his first match of the day, Everson clinched a top-three finish with his win by decision over Jaime Suarez, 8-3. Later in Session V, Everson was unable to replicate a similar performance against Wartburg's Brock Rathbun, settling for second place against a 15-4 major decision setback. With his win over Suarez, Everson qualified for nationals for the first time in his career.
141# | Clint Lembeck
The Marion native looked like his old self on Sunday, topping third-seeded Brady Fritz of Wartburg, 3-0, before a 5-2 win over two-time All-American Chris Williams of Millikin, to win his second regional championship in his career. Lembeck qualified for nationals for the second time in his career and could certainly be looking at a seeded draw in the bracket.
149# | Kevin Kelly
All that was standing between Kelly and a second consecutive trip to nationals on Sunday was Dubuque's Greg Krulas, who had upset Westminster's third-seeded Sean Sax in the quarterfinals. Kelly left little doubt and booked his trip with an 11-1 major decision. In the regional final, Wartburg's Kris Rumph bested Kelly with a 3-0 decision.
157# | Brandon Murray
In a rematch from the Key City Classic that Loras hosted in December, Murray faced Bradan Birt of Millikin in the semifinal. Back in December, Murray won by a narrow 8-6 margin. On Sunday, it was Murray who once again held the upper-hand, this time by a 4-3 decision. In the final against top-seeded and top-ranked Cross Cannone of Wartburg, Murray's effort came up short, falling 6-2.
165# | Eddie Smith
For an individual who has had as much regular season success as Smith has, one thing had avoided him until Sunday, a bid to nationals. Sitting in the same place in the bracket as he did a year ago, Smith made sure that history would not repeat itself. In a rematch from the regular season dual, Smith scored the lone takedown of the bout and added an escape to defeat Ben Hewson of Cornell, 3-1. Smith finished his day on top with a 9-0 major decision over Brad Kerkhoff of Buena Vista for his first regional championship.
174# | Jacob Krakow
Much like his teammates, Krakow entered Sunday in the semifinals, but a 9-5 loss to Jake Voss of Coe. In the wrestleback, Krakow defeated Shane Vaughn of Buena vista by decision, 10-4 to advance to the third place match. Nathan Fritz of Central awaited Krakow and the two battled it out until the third period when Krakow opened up to score thanks to a takedown and four-point near fall in the final 30 seconds. The win earned Krawkow his first bid to nationals in his collegiate career.
197# | Guy Patron Jr.
A two-time All-American, Patron Jr. set out to add a new trophy to his bookshelf on Sunday: a regional championship. As a freshman, Patron Jr. had to wrestleback for third and in last year's regional final, Patron Jr. finished second. The semifinal pitted the No. 1 seed in Patron Jr. against the No. 4 seed in Taylor Mehmen of Coe. When these two met in the regular season dual, Patron Jr. worked Mehmen for a 17-1 tech fall. Sunday's meeting would follow a different script but end at a similar result, with Patron Jr. winning by decision, 6-2. In the final, a common opponent once again awaited the Jesuit prep in Millikin's Keajion Jennings. When the two met in December, Patron Jr. handed Jennings a 8-3 setback. On Sunday, it was all Patron Jr. as he would not be denied a regional title, pinning Jennings in 1:16.
Awards
Following the conclusion of the tournament, head coach
TJ Miller was named the Regional Coach of the Year while
Trevor Kittleson was named the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.
UP NEXT
With its largest contingent in 16 years, Loras begins preparations for the 2019 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Va. Since taking over as head coach, Miller has led the Duhawks to two top-25 finishes, including a sixth-place finish in 2017.
