Vicente Crowned Again at Missouri Valley Tourney

William Penn University Athletics

Marshall, Mo.–Joao Vicente (Fr., East Providence, R.I., Secondary Education) cruised to the championship match and then won his third title the unconventional way at the Missouri Valley Invitational Saturday.

As a team, the Statesmen placed seventh with 73.5 points, while NCAA Division II Maryville (Mo.) won the trophy with 163 points.

Vicente picked up back-to-back falls to reach the semifinals at 133 pounds. He then won another match to earn his fourth finals appearance of the season. Unfortunately, he did not get a chance to ‘earn’ his third gold as Maryville’s Terrel McKinney was unable to compete and the freshman won by injury default.

197-pounder Kyle Soderblom (So., Newton, Iowa, Biology) matched Vicente by reaching the finals. The sophomore slipped by his first two foes, but could not finish off the run in falling 11-4 to Matthew Baker of Maryville in the championship match.

Although he did not ‘medal’ in the top three, Nathan Veverka (Jr., Montezuma, Iowa, Industrial Technology) may have had the most impressive day by going 4-2 at heavyweight. The junior won all four of his matches by fall to place fourth overall.

Ishmael Rempson (So., Olympia Fields, Ill., Industrial Technology) was only a win away from placing as well, going 2-2 at 157 pounds, while 174-pounder Joe Sumner (Jr., Delaware, Ohio, Physical Education) pinned a pair of opponents. Christian Padilla (So., Tampa, Fla., Secondary Education) also had his hand raised once in victory.

Next: William Penn hosts Grand View in dual-meet action Tuesday at 7 p.m.