Charger News
Sat, Mar 7, 2009 | Wrestling
The 52nd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships concluded today, at Abe Lemons Arena, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Senior Julian Gunnels went 4-1 and finished third.  He registered three pins on his way to becoming only Briar Cliff's second two-time all-American.  Dave Pogge (133) finished seventh at nationals in both 2003 and 2004.  After a first round bye, Gunnels pinned Caleb Myers.  Gunnels then picked up a victory by fall over Wade Lowe.  Lowe handed Gunnels both of his national tournament losses a season ago.  Southern Oregon's Trevor Lofstedt then defeated Gunnels, 6-3.  Gunnels bounced back on Saturday, defeating Kyle Williams, 7-1 and pinning Lowe again in the third place match.  Gunnels finished fourth at 133 a year ago.  Gunnels finished the year with a record of 30-5.  Freshmen Justian Dixon (141) and Jeremy Garvin (157) each went 2-2.  Garvin was eliminated from the tournament by all-American Matt Collum from Missouri Baptist by a slim 8-7 margin.  Collum spent most of the season as the nation's No. 1 ranked wrestler at 157.  Sophomore Zack Mullins (141), sophomore Sam Vice (125) and freshman Sammy Johnson (165) all went 1-2.  Junior John Shrader (149) and freshman Ben Taylor each went 0-2.  As a team, the Chargers placed 18th in the nation, the highest finish of any GPAC school. Match-by-match results from this year's national tournament are below: 
 
Sam Vice- 125
L to Mitchell Lofstedt (SOU), Fall-3:48
W over Jeff Holmes (DWU), Fall-2:32
L to Taylor Louie (WPU), 12-4
 
Julian Gunnels- 133
Bye
W over Caleb Myers (KC), Fall-4:58
W over Wade Lowe (MU), Fall-4:00
L to Trevor Lofstedt (SOU), 6-3
W over Kyle Williams (MU), 7-1
W over Wade Lowe (MU), Fall-4:40 (Third Place Match)
 
Justian Dixon- 141
L to Jason Costello (UGF), 16-1
W over Isai Gomez (ERAU), Fall-6:29
W over Anthoni Hefferman (UGF), Fall-0:56
L to Shad Rissler (KC), 13-0
 
Zack Mullins- 141
L to Adam Koballa (NDC), 17-0
W over Matt David (CaU), 17-8
L to Alptekin Oziclic (LU), Injury Default
 
John Shrader- 149
L to Matt Burns (GV), 17-2
L to Noah Hatton (UGF), 11-9
 
Jeremy Garvin- 157
W over Shayne Funk (KC), 12-3
L to Josh Emmett (C), 8-5
W over Issiah Sullivan (GV), 12-5
L to Matt Collum (MBU), 8-7
  
Ben Taylor- 157
L to Nik Turner (OCU), 20-8
L to Sabas Cruz (MC), 18-3
 
Sammy Johnson- 165
W over Austin Vanderford (SOU), 3-2
L to Rashad Moss (WC), 3-2
L to Brandon Porter (WC), 6-3
 
For three Chargers, it was their second-straight national tournament appearance; Gunnels, Vice and Mullins. Gunnels earned all-American status a year ago, finishing fourth at 133. The fourth place finish equaled the best-ever by a Briar Cliff wrestler. Vice went 0-2 last year, while Mullins went 1-2. As a team, the Chargers finished 19th a year ago. Gunnels took a team-best 26-4 record into this year's tournament. Vice was 13-8 this season, while Mullins was 11-16. For five Chargers, this year's tournament was their first taste of championship action. Shrader (9-11) made his first national tournament appearance as did Dixon (13-21), Garvin (24-6), Johnson (24-20) and Taylor (9-17). Freshman Adnan Kasapovic qualified for nationals after posting a heavyweight record of 16-13, but did not compete.
 
The three-day tournament featured athletes from 32 teams.  Each team was allowed to bring a maximum roster of 12 wrestlers.
   
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