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Lindenwood Crowned 2008 Champions
Lindenwood Crowned 2008 Champions
 
Lions win fourth wrestling title in school history

 

March 9, 2008 



By Steven Allspach, Journal sports writer 

Lindenwood is NAIA wrestling's acknowledged power.

Coach Joe Parisi's program relies on solid mechanics and a machine-like approach to business on the mat.

Saturday night, though, when the Lions successfully defended their title at the Tyson Events Center and claimed championship hardware for the third time in four years, raw emotions plucked at the heartstrings of the St. Charles, Mo., collegians.

Lindenwood had four in the finals and after Dennis Kakrah lost at 125 pounds, Raymond Stephens (133), Ryan Moyer (149) and Matt Cauley (174) captured individual championships.

The Lions needed just one win to clinch the title and Stephens did that at 133.

Stephens, ranked No. 1, was on a mission. Last Sept. 11, a son, Rameon, was stillborn.

"When I was behind in the first period (4-3) there were a couple times when I felt like giving it up, but I honestly felt the presence of my son and that kept me going,''said Stephens, who defeated second-ranked Burke Barnes of Dana, 18-7. "With that sort of feeling, I can't really explain, how it filled me, but from then on I had this new energy, new drive.

"I'd never in my life in wrestling ever dedicated a match to anyone, but this one was for my son, win or lose. I was overcome with emotion at the end.''

Stephens prevailed in an exciting exchange of scrambles in the third period, scoring three takedowns and getting three back points.

Stephens, a junior, was a two-time state prep champ in Florida and then won a junior college national crown at Waubonsee College in Sugar Grove, Ill.

"Every team is special, but with different qualities and I can't compare this group to others I've had at Lindenwood,'' said Parisi, wiping away some obvious tears, "but, let's put it this way, there was some extra emotion out there all night.''

Lindenwood won the title with 130 points. McKendree was second (109.5), Dickinson State third (107.5), Great Falls, Mont. fourth (101) and Dana fifth (91.5).

Lindenwood's success continued to mushroom in the 149-pound finals when the top-ranked Moyer defeated Missouri Valley's Brian Graham, 12-8.

The showdown was a duel of former prep teammates at Parkhill High School in Kansas City.

Moyer, a junior, closed out a 35-6 campaign and the sixth-ranked Graham, a sophomore, finished 29-10.

Montana State-Northern's Cory Borges opened the Saturday night festivities in the 51st NAIA National Championships by defending his No. 1 national ranking in fine fashion, knocking off Lindenwood's Kakrah, 10-5.

Borges, the national runner-up last year, broke a 3-3 draw after a period with an escape and takedown in the second period. Kakrah, ranked fourth and the sixth-place finisher at 125 last year, closed out a 14-4 season.

Borges, a junior from Hickman, Calif., finished the season 29-5.

Notre Dame College of Cleveland, Ohio, an all-female school of less than a 1,000 students until five years ago, has a two-year-old program.

But, in two short years, veteran Coach Frank Romano has produced a national champ.

Victer Crenshaw, a transfer from NCAA Division I Cleveland State, upset No. 1-ranked Wayne French of the University of Great Falls in the 157-pound championship struggle, 7-2.

Romano, who coached 23 years at Division I Kent State, had been retired for five years before he was coaxed back into coaching to start the Notre Dame program two years ago.

Earlier in the evening, Notre Dame's other finalist, unranked Adam Koballa, lost a 5-2 decision to No. 1-ranked Kyle Jahn of McKendree at 141 pounds.

Jahn improved to 30-7 and Koballa, who transferred to Notre Dame from Division I Old Dominion at semester time, posted a 12-3 record for the Falcons.

Jahn's victory was also an emotional one.

The former state prep champ at Bolingbrook, Ill., suffered a broken bone is his lower leg in November and basically missed half the season.

"It's been a long, hard climb to the championship, but it's a great feeling,'' said Jahn. "I've got seven metal screws in my leg. It hasn't been easy.''

Jahn, too, dedicated his title to a family member, his late father Robert, who passed away during Kyle's senior year in high school.

"I picked McKendree because Coach Kisgen (James) reminded me so much of my father, but he's always with me,'' said Jahn, pointing to a tattoo in his dad's memory on his left side.

Kisgen was named the NAIA national coach of the year at the conclusion of the competition.

At 157 pounds, Robert Davis of Menlo defeated , 10-3, thereby preventing a possible history-making evening because Stanton's older brother, No. 1-ranked Justin, later won his third straight national title, pinning McKendree freshman Andrew Sanchez in 4:06 at 197 pounds.

Schlecht was named the meet's outstanding wrestler and also the National Wrestling Coaches Association NAIA wrestler of the year.

"I think of it as one year at a time,'' said the sculpted art education major at the North Dakota college. "Winning three times feels great, but you have a new approach every year.''

No. 1-ranked Mike Kummer of Great Falls scored a takedown with 21 seconds left to beat Menlo's Mitchell Eichenauer in the finals at 184 pounds, 4-3.

The takedown put Kummer (29-8) in front 4-2 and he let Eichenauer up for an escape with four seconds left.

Kummer had edged Morningside's Jake Stevenson, last year's 184-pound champ, in the Friday semifinals with a dramatic takedown on the edge of the mat in overtime, 6-4.

Lindenwood's Cauley was also dominant in his final, rolling past Brandon DeCock of Great Falls, 22-7.

Menlo's Jesse Ruiz, a former California state junior college runner-up at 184 pounds, defeated Dana's Wade Jordan at heavyweight, 10-3.

Morningside was awarded the team sportsmanship award and NAIA Champions of Character Award and Matt Collum of Missouri Baptist won the award for most falls in the least amount of time. 


 


Article courtesy of NAIA National Website at http://naia.cstv.com/