Levi Price leads a list of five Red Raider wrestlers still competing at the 2008 NAIA Wrestling National Championships held in Sioux City, Iowa. The junior from Cannon Falls, Minn. is a perfect 3-0 and in the semifinals in the 149-pound weight class. Price defeated Jarell Price (Menlo) 6-2 in the opening round and followed with a 2-1 decision over sixth-ranked Brandon Graham (William Penn). He then defeated Ryan Jahn (McKendree) in the quarterfinals by fall (3:58). Price, now 36-10 this season, will face the top-ranked wrestler, Ryan Moyer of Lindenwood, in the semifinals later today. Moyer is 33-6 this season.
Both D.J. Jackson and Enock Francois reached the quarterfinals in their respective weight classes before falling to the wrestlebacks. A sophomore from District Heights, Md., Jackson defeated Gerald Harris (Missouri Baptist) in the opening round, 6-4, but lost to fifth-ranked Victer Crenshaw (Notre Dame) in the quarterfinals, 6-4. Jackson, now 35-12, will wrestle either Nik Turner (Oklahoma City) or Nick Zumwalt (Dickinson State) in a wrestleback match. Francois, a junior from Lake Park, Fla. who is ranked third at 174, defeated sixth-ranked Charles Simmons (U. of Cumberlands), 2-1 in his first match. He then lost to Brendon DeCock in the quarterfinals, 2-1, and is now in the wrestleback round. Francois will wrestle either Brett Owen (Dickinson State) or Chris Tabor (Notre Dame) in his next match.
Two other Red Raider wrestlers are also still competing in the wrestleback rounds. Junior Tom Eaton (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) defeated Gary Nelson (Menlo) in the opening round, 8-1, but lost to seventh-ranked Josh Bryant 9-6 in the round of 16. Eaton, ranked tied for seventh in the 174-pound weight class, is now 35-11 and will face Jameson Rush (Hastings) in the wrestlebacks. Rush is 28-24 this season. Cole Spree is 2-1 in the 184-pound weight class. The junior from Parkersburg, Iowa, defeated Andre Franco (Waldorf) 6-5 in the first round but then lost to Robert Nusekabel (University of Cumberlands) 13-4 in the second round. Spree (27-15) defeated Richard Farrell (Southern Oregon) 4-2 in the wrestlebacks and will face fourth-ranked Jeremiah Toavs (Dickinson State) next.
Three NWC grapplers have been eliminated at the national championships. Lamar Reed, a sophomore from Tarzana, Calif., finished 0-2 at 165. He lost to Aaron Winning (McKendree) 11-5 in his first match and then lost to Austin Quellette (Montana State-Northern), 9-0. Reed ends his season 36-17 record. David Carter, a freshman from Springfield, Ore., went 0-2 in the 184-pound weight class. He lost to sixth-ranked Mitchell Eichenauer (Oklahoma City) by fall (5:11) in his first match and then was defeated by Neil Kemp (Lindenwood), 17-6. Carter ends his season at 15-18. Martin Beeler (Ripon, Calif.) finished the championships with a 0-2 record at 197. He lost to Alex Calvi (U. of Great Falls), 4-2, and then to Chase Locke (Southern Oregon) 4-3. Beeler finishes the season with an 11-21 overall record.
Northwestern is currently tied for 17th place (through 3:15 on Friday) out of 28 teams with 17.5 points. Defending champion Lindenwood is in first place with 71 points.
2007-08 media guide
