Cloud, Mayorquin Join National Qualifier List at Briar Cliff Open
William Penn University Athletics
Sioux City–The Statesmen wrestling team had one of its best overall performances of the year as two more grapplers garnered national-qualifying status at the Briar Cliff Open Saturday.
125-pounder Isaiah Mayorquin (Fr., Yuma, Ariz., Cibola HS) and 149-pounder Carey Cloud (Fr., Havelock, N.C., Tucker HS) both met qualifying standards by placing fourth with 4-2 records in their respective weight classes. They are the 12th and 13th qualifiers for William Penn, although each institution is only allowed 12 representatives at nationals with a maximum of two individuals per weight.
Mayorquin claimed one victory by fall and one by major decision, while Cloud had one major decision win.
Christian Padilla (Fr., Tampa, Fla., Robinson HS) nearly joined his teammates, finishing one victory shy of being a national qualifier. The freshman won two matches, both by major decision, at 157 pounds.
Having already reserved his spot on the bus for March’s national meet, 184-pounder Kyle Soderblom (Fr., Newton, Lynnville-Sully HS) is merely adding to his resume as the year winds down. He again showed he will be a tough out as he finished in fifth place with a 5-2 record. The team’s leader in pins, he added four more on Saturday in addition to a technical fall.
Fellow qualifier Charlton Benjamin (Fr., Atlanta, Ga., Miller Grove HS) won a pair of matches (one major decision) at 141 pounds.
A half dozen other Statesmen had their hands raised as well, including 125-pounder Aaron Shaffer (Fr., Longmont, Colo., Longmont HS), 133-pounders O’Darius Williamson (Jr., Spartanburg, S.C., Paul M. Dorman HS) and Eric Van Wagoner (Fr., Portland, Ore., Westview HS), 141-pounders Tyler Schneider (So., Belleville, Mich., Belleville HS) and Tommy Kozak (So., Belleville, Mich., Thiel), and 174-pounder Joe Sumner (So., Delaware, Ohio, Rutherford B. Hayes HS).
Shaffer, Van Wagoner, and Kozak all won by fall, while Schneider claimed a technical fall and Williamson posted a major decision.
Next: William Penn travels to Hannibal, Mo. Tuesday to face Hannibal-LaGrange in dual-meet action at 6 p.m.
