Bonds Secures Second All-America Honor with Perfect First Day of Nationals
William Penn University Athletics
Topeka, Kan.–Scottie Bonds (So., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) took care of business and will once again find himself on the podium when the dust clears as the first day of wrestling has concluded at the NAIA National Championships Friday.
Bonds, who entered the Championships ranked #6 at 141 pounds, went 2-0 to reach the semifinals. His advancement has qualified the sophomore to finish no worse than sixth place. Bonds was in the same position at this time last year and eventually placed third, but will be seeking a higher finish on Saturday.
Friday could not have started better for him as he pinned #10 Chris Hart of Wayland Baptist (Texas) in a time of 2:30. He then held off #5 Daniel Leonard of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 2-0 and will now meet #2 Kyle Wilson of Great Falls (Mont.) in Saturday’s ‘placing’ session.
BRACKETS THROUGH SESSION II at http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/2015WR%282%29/2015WRNC_SessionII.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=27900
Unfortunately, Bonds’ three national-qualifying teammates were unable to match his success. Seniors Ishmael Rempson (Olympia Heights, Ill., Industrial Technology) and Kyle Soderblom (Newton, Iowa, Biology) and freshman Angel Villa (Deming, N.M., General Accounting) were all eliminated from competition on Friday.
#16-ranked Rempson could not hold onto an early lead over #13 David Fenton of Missouri Valley, falling 6-3 in his opening matchup at 174. He responded with a 13-5 major decision upset of #9 Cole McArthur (Montana State-Northern) before bowing out against #11 Khalil Abdush-Shakur of Life (Ga.) in an 11-7 defeat.
197-pounder Soderblom, who was looking for his second All-American award (seventh as a sophomore), came out on fire with a 45-second fall over Henry Campos of Simpson (Calif.). It was downhill from there, however, with a fall loss (2:13) to #6 Jake Maupin (Lindsey Wilson-KY) and a 10-6 setback to Miguel Tovar (Oklahoma City).
Villa battled through a severe knee injury suffered at the North Qualifying Group Tournament, but never got going at the national event. He first lost by technical fall (21-4) to #4 Jake Sinkovics of Cumberlands (Ky.) and then came up short in a 22-10 major decision to #13 Chandler Strand (Embry-Riddle-AZ). The freshman 125-pounder was ranked 16th going into nationals.
Paced by Bonds, William Penn is 20th in the team standings with 16 points, while #1 Grand View is comfortably in first with 83 points. Great Falls is a distant second with 64 points.
