Half Dozen Grapplers Place at Briar Cliff Tourney
William Penn University Athletics
Sioux City–The Statesmen wrestling team hit the mat in its final tourney before the national qualifier, competing at the Briar Cliff Open Saturday.
133-pounder Joao Vicente (Fr., East Providence, R.I., Secondary Education) and 197-pounder Kyle Soderblom (So., Newton, Iowa, Biology) both entered the day as their weight classes’ top seeds, but unfortunately both fell to AF Prep athletes in their attempts at crowns.
Vicente finished second with a 3-1 mark, including one fall and one major decision, while Soderblom was third at 3-1 with two falls.
141-pounder Brad Watson (Fr., Rolla, Wis., Physical Education) and heavyweight Nathan Veverka (Jr., Montezuma, Iowa, Industrial Technology) both owned 4-2 records to take fourth at the Open. Watson won two matches by fall, while Veverka was victorious three times by fall and once by major decision.
Ishmael Rempson (So., Olympia Fields, Ill., Industrial Technology) was sixth at 157 pounds as was heavyweight David Jones (Fr., Bryan, Texas, Industrial Technology). Rempson was 2-3 (one major decision), while Jones was 3-2 (three falls).
157-pounder Christian Padilla (So., Tampa, Fla., Secondary Education) won three of his five matches, but concluded his day one win shy of placing in the top six. The sophomore recorded two falls and one major decision.
Lane Colwell (Fr., Knoxville, Iowa, Computer Science), with two falls at 149 pounds, Elson Civilma (So., Deerfield Beach, Fla., Communications), with two major decisions at 184 pounds, Tylor Pilcher (So., Fairfield, Iowa, Business Management), with one fall at 165 pounds, and Jay Fresh (Fr., Knoxville, Iowa, Sociology), with two decisions at 133 pounds, were all 2-2 Saturday.
Heavyweight Nathan Merical (Jr., Grinnell, Iowa, Secondary Education) pinned one foe and 149-pounder Marshawn Lacy (So., Chicago Heights, Ill., Computer Science) defeated one opponent by major decision.
Five other Statesmen also had their hands raised in victory. That list included 141-pounder Clint Doty (Fr., Warren, Mich., Biology), 149-pounder Charlton Benjamin (So., Atlanta, Ga., Sociology), 157-pounder Tyler Schneider (Jr., Belleville, Mich., Software Engineering), 165-pounder Robert Pohlman (So., Tinley Park, Ill., Secondary Education), and heavyweight Tyler Styrk (So., Belleville, Mich., Physical Education).
Next: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Thursday for its regular season finale, hosting Hannibal-LaGrange in dual-meet action at 6 p.m.
